19. Mephibosheth

I don’t know about you, but I can remember language and intolerance directed at disabled people that would horrify us today. Thankfully attitudes and approaches to those living with disability have improved in recent years, though there remain significant issues and prejudices that still leave some disadvantaged and neglected.  The kindness shown by David to Mephibosheth, a man “crippled in both feet”, was certainly unusual in Israel 3,000 years ago.

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Idea 1: Free Offer to All! Mephibosheth is a great example of the redemption available to those who come humbly before the King of kings. Jesus is that King and offers to everyone a chance to eat at the King’s table forever. Nobody is excluded: rich or poor, shamed and rejected, able bodied or disabled, the healthy and hurting, young or old, black or white; wherever or in whatever situation we find ourselves, we are all offered the inheritance of royalty. 

• What’s holding you back from receiving that inheritance?
• How about admitting the mistakes and taking the first step towards dealing with them? 

Idea 2: The Actions of Others We don’t know a great deal about Mephibosheth’s early years, but we are told that he became crippled as a result of a fall from the arms of his nurse (2 Sam 4:4). Dropped by the very person charged with caring for him. Sometimes someone else’s stumbling can cause us to become weaker. In the same way, our stumbling can weaken others. In both cases God can bring about good and make us spiritually stronger.

• Have you been weakened by the actions of others?
• Have you caused others to fall?
• If there is unresolved stuff, take it to God in repentance and ask Him to use the situation for good (Rom 8:28).

Idea 3: Not part of the ‘In Crowd’ Being ‘crippled’ was certain to render you an ‘outsider’ in Mephibosheth’s time. In that respect, David’s first actions, referred by him as ‘God’s kindness’ (v3), were quite extraordinary. Nevertheless, it wasn’t long before Mephibosheth was deceived by Ziba, his servant, and made to feel an outsider again. Even when David heard Mephibosheth’s side of the story the ‘injustice’ continued, with Mephibosheth being offered back just a half share in his property with Ziba. Extraordinarily, Mephibosheth declined David’s offer, asking that it all be given to Ziba, as all that mattered to him was that David was back in Jerusalem as King (2 Sam 19:30).

• Have you ever felt like an ‘outsider’?
• How did you respond on an occasion when you were deceived?
• Can you be generous with those less deserving?

Action

The story of Mephibosheth is a great illustration of following through on a promise: David kept his promise to Jonathan, God keeps his promises to us. Call to mind a promise you have made, but not yet delivered on, and make it a priority to honour it as soon as you can.