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Like Mephibosheth, You Are Valued!
Contributed by Howard Strickland on Feb 1, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: David was so moved by his friendship with Jonathan that he just wanted to pay respect to someone in Jonathan’s family. David wanted that “feel” or “association” with his best friend Jonathan! David refused to let his memories and the covenant that he and
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You are Valued Like Mephibosheth! Text: 2 Samuel 9:1-8,11b
1.Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”2 And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “At your service!” 3 Then the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet.” 4 So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.” 5 Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar. 6 Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth And he answered, “Here is your servant!” 7 So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.” 8 Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?” 11b. “As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.”
Medical science informed mankind years ago that the human body is pretty much useless after death, but now because of the harvesting of organs everything has changed. Some people would pretty much give up everything they own to have one of your kidneys. However, I imagine according to science it all depends on how long a person lives. (Myself, I plan on wearing my body out for Jesus!)
David was so moved by his friendship with Jonathan that he just wanted to pay respect to someone in Jonathan’s family. David wanted that “feel” or “association” with his best friend Jonathan! David refused to let his memories and the covenant that he and Jonathan had go! (Jesus refuses to let you go!)
Have you ever noticed or heard of someone who lost their spouse or someone close, and that person wanted to keep something that smelled like that love one? That’s very normal.
II Samuel 9: 7-8 So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.” 8Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?”
Every time David saw or heard of Mephibosheth he didn’t see or remember a crippled, no! David remembered his love and the covenant he and Jonathan had!
When God looks at you He doesn’t see mere flesh, but He sees His only Son Jesus Christ! Exodus say’s we are His treasure, Psalm say’s we are the apple of His eye!
When God thinks about you He remembers at least 3 important things about every redeemed person. #1. You are highly valued!
As Father God looks at you He sees His Son! Remember the old song “ When He was On the Cross You Were On His Mind!”
A British factory worker and his wife were excited when, after many years of marriage, they discovered they were going to have their first child. According to author Jill Briscoe, who told this story, the man eagerly told his fellow workers that God had answered his prayers. But they made fun of him for asking God for a child.
When the baby was born, he was diagnosed with Down syndrome. As the father made his way to work for the first time after the birth, he wondered how to face his co-workers. “God, please give me wisdom,” he prayed. Just as he feared, some mocked, “So, God gave you this child!” The new father stood for a long time, silently asking God for help. At last he said, “I’m glad the Lord gave this child to me and not to you.”
Earlier, when David and Jonathan were younger they made a covenant together. Listen to I Samuel 20:14-16 And you shall not only show me the kindness of the LORD while I still live, that I may not die; 15 but you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when the LORD has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” 16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “Let the LORD require it at the hand of David’s enemies.”