I Am Redeemed
Note: We opened up with a dance to the song I Am Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave
Is it not great to be redeemed?
What does that mean?
You were bought with a price. To be set free.
1 Peter 1:18–19: “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God Please” (NLT).
From Desiring God
The redemption of Christ frees sinners from guilt, being “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). The benefits of redemption include the following:
- Eternal life (Revelation 5:9-10).
- Forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7).
- Righteousness (Romans 5:17).
- Freedom from the law’s curse (Galatians 3:13).
- Adoption into God’s family (Galatians 4:5).
- Deliverance from sin’s bondage (Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:14-18).
- Peace with God (Colossians 1:18-20).
- The indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
This must have been how Mephibosheth felt as he sat at David’s table. You say, “Who is Mephibosheth?” He is little known character found in 2 Samuel 9. He was invited to the kings table to sit for life.
Don’t’ feel bad if you don’t know who Mephibosheth is, David didn’t either.
(2Sa 9:1) 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?"
There is a lot to unpack in this verse. David had now become settled in the kingdom. After being on the run for Saul for many years. Hiding in caves and pretending to be a mad man. David is now king. The nations around him have been conquered or at least are fearful of Israel. There is a settling moment.
Yet David’s best friend had been Jonathan, the son of Saul. Jonathan had protected him for the wrath of his father a few times.
So David made a promise, when he became king he would show kindness to the children of Jonathan. 1 Samuel 18
(2Sa 9:2) 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?" And 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."
So David calls Saul’s servant Ziba. Notice his answer. He doesn’t give David his name. It is almost as if Ziba is fearful of David’s reaction. He doesn’t know the heart of David. Ziba is saying, “Now David there is a young man but he is lame”. 2 Samuel 4
This reminds me how we are when God approaches us. God is wanting to bless us but we are walking in fear. God is wanting to draw close to us yet we are afraid.
John_10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
James_1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
(2Sa 9:4) 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."
This is how far Mephibosheth. Living in Lo Debar “pasturless, a desolate place.
Mephibosheth was dropped He was dropped at the age of five.
Dropped by his nurse
Dropped by his family
Dropped by his inheritance
Living in a borrowed home in 6. He was living in Lodebar, a ghetto town in Biblical times. The word means "no pasture,"(2 Samuel 17:27) "no word" or "no communication" [Wikipedia].
More than likely he was living in fear. Afraid that David would find out where he was and kill him. He had settled to just live.
Another Lesson: He was dropped but not bitter.
Our condition
We were once crippled by sin. Slaves to sin.
For some have settled to stay here. They are just barely passing by. Living in addiction, just existing. Living in a desolate place.
Let me tell you, you don’t have to stay here.
We are no longer slaves but we have been redeemed.
1 Peter 1:18–19: “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God” (NLT).
Galatians 4:3-7 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. (4) But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, (5) to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (6) And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" (7) Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
(2Sa 9:5) Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar. (2Sa 9:6) 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?"
David was in shock. Shocked at his condition. Shocked at his manner of falling on his face. This was Jonathan’s son. He had the kings blood in his veins. Yet here he was living in this condition.
We don’t have to live under the curse. We don’t have to live a life of desolation and loss joy. Jesus has come to set us free. He has come to give us live.
And he answered, "Here is your servant!"
(2Sa 9:7) 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."
What a place where David has brought him to. From a desolate place living from day to day to a place of abundance.
Restore – to return back.
God restores our relationship with Him.
For some Satan has beaten down. Telling us we are no good. Yet God wants to restore us.
1 Peter_2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
(2Sa 9:8) Then he bowed himself, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?" (2Sa 9:9) And the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, "I have given to your master's son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house.
This is an interesting statement made by Mephibosheth. He referred to himself as a dog. Now dogs were not held in high regard back then. Today some dogs have their own palace, doctors, food and clothing. Actually when someone says today you are going to “get into the doghouse” people get excited.
(2Sa 9:10) You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master's son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master's son shall eat bread at my table always." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
It was enough to have a place to live but David said he is going to eat at my table. Wow!
Lesson: When you have been redeemed you now are join heirs with Christ Jesus. You get to eat at His table.
(2Sa 9:11) Then Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do." "As for Mephibosheth," said the king, "he shall eat at my table [24] like one of the king's sons." (2Sa 9:12) Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. (2Sa 9:13) So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king's table. And he was lame in both his feet.
God’s Call
In yet while we were sinners Christ died for us.
Redeemed
We have been redeemed “bought with a price”
You are worth something.
Restored – A table fit for a king
Not only were you bought. It was enough for David to say, “Your land has been restored”. You have everything back. But he said, “Come sit at my table”. You will eat with the best.
Isaiah 53:5
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Conclusion
Do you need restoration? Do you need life? Do you need to regain hope? Jesus is here to speak life back into your situation.
