COMPELLING COMPASSION: LESSONS FROM DAVID'S ENCOUNTER WITH MEPHIBOSHETH IN 2 SAMUEL 9
By Emmanuel Kipkemboi
Text: 2 Samuel 9
INTRODUCTION
This passage appears in the middle of chaotic historical scenes. 2 Samuel 8 records David's victories against his enemies. It is a bloody record. The succeeding passages of 2 Samuel 10-11 speak about David's defeat of the Ammonites and his sin with Bathsheba, respectively.
David was a man of war but he was also a man of compassion and sincerity. King Saul was until his death David's arch enemy. David could have eliminated the entire family of Saul since this was the practice among Middle Eastern kingdoms. The reigning monarch completely liquidated real or perceived rivals in order to secure his royal authority. Instead, David sought to fulfill his covenant commitment to Jonathan despite the evil that Saul, Jonathan's father, brought upon him during his fugitive days.
Mephibosheth was Saul's grandson by Jonathan and was undoubtedly a crown prince who could potentially lay claim to Israel's throne, given opportunity. David's love for Jonathan was by any standards both extraordinary and perplexing. It overshadowed David's royal conflict with Saul. It is instructive to note that Jonathan and his father Saul were killed during the battle recorded in 1 Samuel 29-31 following God's decree by Samuel in 1 Samuel 28.
1. THE CONDITION OF MEPHIBOSHETH
Mephibosheth was a crippled son of Jonathan. He was a vulnerable person living with disability. When he appeared before David, Mephibosheth possibly feared for the worst. He demonstrated great humility, revealing his helpless and destitute condition following the loss of royal privilege. He tactfully debased himself, referring to himself as a dead dog.
The writer reveals that Mephibosheth lived in Lo Debar, a place whose Hebrew meaning translates "not worth mentioning". This is perhaps evidence of the insignificance of his lowly life as a remnant of a royal nobility gone by. The Hebrew meaning of his name is "from the mouth of shame", perhaps reflecting his fate after the fall of his father and grandfather.
Mephibosheth was completely at the mercy of David.
2. THE COMPASSION OF DAVID
David's compassion for Mephibosheth reminds us about God's incomprehensible grace in Christ Jesus. Scripture elsewhere teaches that we [believers] were dead in our trespasses before God reached out to us in Christ Jesus (Romans 5:8). Mephibosheth's life mirrors our state of helplessness in sinful depravity outside Christ. David's rescue of the helpless cripple mirrors on the compassion of God in Christ's that led to our redemption.
David elevated Mephibosheth instead of condemning him to die under his royal authority. He was an outsider brought into the inner circles of royalty solely by reason of David's compassion.
David's kindness was extraordinary. He was committed both in attitude and action to honoring Jonathan posthumously following his covenant with Jonathan that is recorded in 1 Samuel 18.
David therefore went beyond his covenant obligations and issued royal orders for the restoration of Saul's estate for Jonathan's sake. His actions of kindness were not governed by any prior obligations on his part. He could simply have taken over Saul's royal estate as the custom then was!
3. THE CONTOURS OF THE GOSPEL
God has invited us to join Him at His kingly table and to an inheritance that we did not deserve. This is purely because of His immeasurable grace in Christ Jesus. Scripture says "For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV).
We are not good enough but Christ is. Mephibosheth was treated with royal honor yet he was undeserving of this special grace. God has extended His unmerited compassion to us in Jesus Christ.
MORAL LESSONS
We can draw three moral lessons from the passage of 2 Samuel 9:
1. God's compassion is radical in nature. His compassion for us in Christ Jesus is incomprehensible. It breaks the confines of divinity, culture and social class. This is the reason that Scripture attests that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think... (Ephesians 3:20).
2. God's compassion is transformational. Mephibosheth's status was completely changed in one stroke drawn from royal privilege. He rose from a nobody to somebody; from obscurity to royalty, from bondage to liberty. This is what God does for those who respond to His saving in Jesus Christ. His grace finds us where we are but it never leaves us as we are! The Bible says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (1 Corinthians 5:17).
Have you experienced this transformation?
3. God's compassion brings communion and community. In Christ Jesus, we are no longer lonely and isolated. We are drawn into the company of multitudes of people from the whole Earth who all belong to Christ, having been purchased by His sinless blood (Acts 20:28-29). Believers are privileged to sit around the table of the heavenly King. We learn from Revelation 19:6-8 that multitudes from diverse nations and tongues will gather in the great celebration of the wedding feast in heaven. Yes, are not alone in Christ. We belong.
CONCLUSION
Are you part of God's covenant people or are you like Mephibosheth crippled and rendered destitute by the power and bondage of sin? Do you feel worthless and hopeless in this passing evil world?
Here's good news for you...
God has extended His saving grace to any sinner who repents and turns to Christ. No matter what race, gender, ethnicity or social class you belong, you too can reach out to God today and He will redeem you through Jesus' cleansing blood. God is not a respecter of persons!
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
######
[These notes were distilled and modestly expanded from a sermon delivered by Pastor Emmanuel Kipkemboi at AIC Milimani on 7th May 2023 during the second service. Pastor Kipkemboi is the Teens pastor at AIC Milimani, Nairobi Kenya]
No comments:
Post a Comment