Mephibosheth

By Guest Writer

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 4:4, 2 Samuel 9:1-13

Do you have trouble with kindness? Both extending and receiving it?

I know I do. When my soul tank is empty, it’s difficult for me to pump out grace, patience, and kindness when I’m asked for one more favor or have to make one more decision.

Sometimes, we don’t want to receive kindness because we feel we don’t deserve it. Maybe we’ve been exceptionally cruel with our words to someone close to us. Or we’ve been so focused on our work and the tasks at hand we think the little requests that come in from family aren’t worth our time.

Shame and fear can cloud our heads and hearts, but God asks us to come to Him with it all because His kindness actually calls us closer.

Despite the pain of his past, King David still wanted to show kindness to someone from the house of Saul. So he asked around and found a son of Jonathan, Mephibosheth, who had lived most of his life impaired, unable to carve out a life of his own—dependent on others, aware of his disability, and sensitive to the strife within his family. And with his family gone, he lived as an orphan with no standing in society. What did he think would happen? Would David mock him for his appearance and the loss of his family? Throw him out into the street?

In 2 Samuel 9:7 we see how David told him not to be afraid, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

Mephibosheth became a recipient of the king’s kindness, and that changed everything. God is actively looking to share His love and kindness. When we come to Him, we are ushered into the King’s presence, and everything changes for us too. We are the recipients of His unmerited favor and grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Not by anything we’ve done but on Christ alone. We were lame, helpless, unable to do anything to get ourselves out of sin. Only by the kindness of God are we restored to His table.

We are also shown kindness, restored, and brought into right standing as heirs, and we always have a place at God’s table. We’ve become children of God and grafted into His royalty through Jesus. We have a place and inheritance in Him.

We have no need to be afraid to come before God because we stand confidently on the cross of Christ. The family of God is a wonderful place to make our home as we live out our days unafraid, satisfied, and full of the kindness and care of our King.

Written by Sarah Freymuth