2 Samuel 9
There was one person who lived in King David’s house in Jerusalem and ate his meals with the king’s sons, who did not really belong there. He was a poor cripple, the son of Jonathan and the grandson of King Saul.
When Saul and his sons were killed in battle, and the sad news was told to their families, they were greatly frightened, for they knew the enemy would come to capture their city. So they all fled away.
Jonathan had a little son who was carried by a woman who had the care of him, but in her great hurry she let him fall, and that fall made him lame on both his feet all his life (2 Sam. 4:44And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. (2 Samuel 4:4)). We do not know if he could walk at all or not, and perhaps he did not have a good home, for the name of the place where he was taken was Lodebar and means “there was no pasture.” We do not know how long he lived there.
At last, one day after David was king he asked if anyone knew if there were any of Saul’s family left, for he would like to help them for the sake of his friend Jonathan. So he was told of the cripple son of Jonathan, and David sent for him to be brought to Jerusalem.
The cripple boy had grown older, and seems to have known how wicked his grandfather had been to David, and so was afraid to come before David; but David said, “Fear not,” and told him he would surely treat him kindly for his father Jonathan’s sake. And David said he should have the lands which had belonged to his father’s family, and that a servant should have charge of them and bring him the fruit and grain, but he should himself eat with the king’s sons at his table. So he stayed at Jerusalem, and runt have been much happier, but was always lame.
Once King David had trouble and had to leave Jerusalem for a time. The lame man stayed there but he loved David and felt very bad for him. When David came back he was so happy, he was willing to lose all his lands since King David was home safe again.
This lame man had a long hard name, Me-phib-o-sheth. Say it over a few times and you will remember it.
Do you know there is a way we are like that lame boy? The Lord, who is King over all, has invited us to come to him.
We could not get to Him ourselves, any more than the lame boy could get to Jerusalem, and we could not work for Him, as the lame boy could be of no use to a king. We, too, in our hearts, have been against God because of sin, much more than the lame boy had been against David. Yet, He invites us for the sake of the Lord Jesus.
We do not here on earth enter God’s palace, but even now He will give each of us the place of His own child, if we believe His Words. We. will no longer fear Him, but we will love Him as the lame man loved King David.
“We love Him because He first loved us.” John 4:1919The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. (John 4:19), also read Gospel of John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12) and Ephesians 2:4-104But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:4‑10).
ML 12/04/1938