Grace Series

No Filter

Pt. 2 - Grace

In an age where things that are not real are promoted as reality it would serve to reason that in church, we would tell you to live with no filter since we are taught by our Savior to live authentic and genuine lives. However, I want to tell you that filters are an important and essential part of life.

Filters catch and hide flaws and impurities. They keep some things in and they keep some things out! A filter is essential if we are going to represent Christ. A filter is essential if we are going to live like Christ. I want to address the fact that many of us have no filters. We have lost some essential filters in our life that were designed to catch impurities, to help us look and act more like Jesus and to protect us. We need to check our filters!

Text: 1 Samuel 20:30-33 (CEV), 2 Samuel 4:4, 9:3-9 (NLT)

Saul was furious with Jonathan and yelled, “You’re no son of mine, you traitor! I know you’ve chosen to be loyal to that son of Jesse. You should be ashamed of yourself! And your own mother should be ashamed that you were ever born. You’ll never be safe, and your kingdom will be in danger as long as that son of Jesse is alive. Turn him over to me now! He deserves to die!” “Why do you want to kill David?” Jonathan asked. “What has he done?” Saul threw his spear at Jonathan and tried to kill him. Then Jonathan was sure that his father really did want to kill David.

Saul’s son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth, who was crippled as a child. He was five years old when the report came from Jezreel that Saul and Jonathan had been killed in battle. When the child’s nurse heard the news, she picked him up and fled. But as she hurried away, she dropped him, and he became crippled.

The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.” Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.” “Where is he?” the king asked. “In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him, “at the home of Makir son of Ammiel.” So David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home. His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.” Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.” “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!” Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?” Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master’s household. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will always eat here at my table.” (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

Many of you know this account. For those who aren't as familiar let me just set the scene. Saul has been handpicked by God to be Israel's first king. Goliath shows up during a routine battle and a shepherd boy by the name of David saves the day. Saul takes David into the palace and because of David's success in battle Saul becomes jealous and suspicious to the point of throwing spears at David to try to kill him. In the meantime, Saul's son Jonathan, the heir apparent, the next in line to serve as king, befriends David and they end up in covenant with another. Loyal to each other even at their own expense. This brings us to the scene I read to you. Saul is trying to find out where David is so that he can kill him. Jonathan covers for David and Saul erupts in anger and throws a spear at his own son. Finally, Saul and Jonathan are killed in battle. David ascends to the vacant thrown. It was the custom of the day that when a new family took the thrown that they would kill every descendent of the previous king so as to avoid an uprising or misplaced allegiances. David, however, responds differently. Based on the covenant he had with Jonathan his response is to ask if there is anyone left in the lineage of Saul that he can "show God’s kindness to them." The response brings a young man who is dealing with layers of brokenness. He was born broken and then he is broken even further by the mishandling of someone else. He has been living in Lodebar - a dry place, a place of no word, a place of no pasture. Now David brings him to the table for the rest of his life. Mephibosheth sits at the table and his brokenness is covered.