Perhaps in the whole of the Old Testament there is not a greater example of grace than what we get here with David and Mephibosheth. 

 

Here was a man who, by all accounts should have been immediately put to death. After all, he was a direct descendant of King Saul, who not only had tried to kill David on numerous occasions, but also because David had taken over Saul’s kingdom, it would have been customary for all of Saul’s family to be killed.

 

I think that is what Mephibosheth was expecting when David summoned him, but instead what he got was a beautiful display of God’s grace manifesting itself through David.

 

The Bible says that before we were saved we were enemies of God. Not just indifferent, but against him! Something to think about. 

 

But before we get onto Mephibosheth, lets look at another character in this story. Ziba.

 

Now Ziba, it says, was a servant of Saul. This should set a few alarm bells ringing! It shows that Ziba was still hanging onto his old master! His affections weren’t with David but with Saul.

 

David asks Ziba if he knows of any of Saul’s decendents that are still are alive so he can show them kindness. Now Ziba’s response is interesting. Instead of just saying 

“Yeah sure Dave, there’s this guy, Jonathan’s son” he adds, “but he is lame on his feet” Ziba immediately is looking down upon Mephibosheth because he has a disability. He can’t bear the thought of somebody with a weakness entering into the Kings blessings. 

 

This would draw parallel with that of the Jew in the New Testament. The Jews could not stand the thought of the Gentiles being brought into the same blessing they could be brought into. 

 

Ziba is constantly referred to as a servant through this chapter, while Mephibosheth enjoys what is a son’s portion.

 

The obvious parallel in the New Tesement with this passage would be that of the prodigal son. Mephibosheth is the younger son, totally unmeriting the favour placed upon him, while Ziba would represent the older son, the Jew who would not, because of his own pride, enter into the blessings that God had prepared.

 

It says in verse 6, that David sent for Mephibosheth. Its a lovely touch here. We cannot move towards God, but God has to send or search for us! A fact that comes out further with Mephibosheth’s lame feet. It says both feet are lame, totally incapable of movement. Now it is very rare for anyone to admit that are completely undone by sin.  Most people will admit they are a little bit bad, but they think in the long run, the good will outweigh the bad in their lives. But thats not how it works, we must be like Mephibosheth, who knew he was totally unable to move towards his blesser. 

 

After not being killed by David, which actually is a blessing in itself, Mephibosheth then gets a further surprise by being asked to come to the King’s table. Not just once, but continually.

 

That is our position as well, we are not just saved, but there are so many blessings God wants to give us, inheritance (v7) and sonship (v13) to name just two. 

 

So when we worship God, we are doing what Mephibosheth is doing here, eating at the kings table. When we worship God we come together aware we still have one foot on the ground. We are in eternity when we worship God, while at the same time, very aware that we have the flesh inside working against us trying to divert our minds and get us to focus on things down here rather than having our minds on the things above. 

 

Now Mephibosheth was still lame when he was at the King’s table, that didn’t change. But heres the clever part. When he was sitting down, nobody would have noticed that he was lame. His feet would have been tucked under the table. Its the same with us.

 

When we come before God, all He sees is what is above the table. We stand before Him as perfect in Jesus. 

 

What a great thought! While we are still down here in mortal bodies, when we come before God, He sees us as perfect. What an encouragement. What a God we serve!