One day , long , long ago, a baby was born.
The baby’s birth was celebrated as only the birth of a King’s son can be.
Loving arms and affluence withheld nothing needful or desired for the baby.
His name? Mephibosheth.
A difficult name to pronounce was perhaps the first indication that an easy life was not to be for this dear child.
His loving father , however, hid hope in the meaning of the name he bestowed upon his son - ‘dispeller of shame’.
It was because of the child’s grandfather, Saul, that the events unfolded that changed the course of his life, bringing shame upon him.
The child was only five years old when disaster struck the house of King Saul.
When news that the battle had taken the lives of both King Saul and Mephibosheth’s father came to the palace, panic ensued. Fear spread like flames of fire and everyone fled for their life.
The young child’s nurse could not bear to leave her charge behind and snatched him up to carry him with her. In her frantic hurry, she stumbled and dropped him . Mephibosheth's legs were injured , leaving him permanently crippled.
We hear nothing more of this boy through the rest of his childhood and into his adult life until years later.
One day Mephiboseth had a visitor. Not someone he knew but a stranger, who demanded that Mephiboseth immediately accompany him. The King was demanding that he be brought to the palace to appear before him.
Mephiboseth was terrified. He knew the stories of how wickedly his grandfather had treated David and tried many times to take his life. Now David was king and obviously wanting to even the score. Take his just revenge!
Trembling , he was led to the throne of King David and there fell on his face before him in pleading tones offering himself as a willing servant!
Imagine how his trembling fear turned to disbelief - when he heard the words…. “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for Jonathan , your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather ….. “ and best of all, the words …… “You shall eat bread at my table continually!”
Mephibosheth, having lived with shame all his life was unable to grasp the ‘dispelling’ of it … and questioned … “Why ? why would you do this… why even look at a dead dog such as I?”
***
This story is such a beautiful picture of us , isn’t it ?
Each of us fell through Adam and Eve and were crippled under the shame of sin, fearful of the judgment we deserved.
Yet, we are called by God, chosen by Him … for the sake of His Son … exchanging our shame for His righteousness.
He calls us His sons/daughters and invites us to eat at His table forever !
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God….” I John 3:1
“... That you may eat eat and drink at My table in My Kingdom …” Luke 22:30
5 comments:
That truly is a beautiful story for us to be encouraged by...
Thanks for reminding me of it.
I love how Max Lucado puts emphasis on the fact that the tablecloth covered Mephibosheth's legs. This story is a beautiful picture of what has been done for us!
Ohh .. yes.. Anneliese.. that is a beautiful detail! our 'crippled soul' is covered over by Christ's righteousness!
I love this story. We heard it in church again recently and found it encouraging then and now.
A beautiful picture, indeed! We can exchange our shame for His righteousness and eat at His table...forever.
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