Sermon: An Identity Crisis
Scripture: 2 Samuel 9:1-13
“One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked. “Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied. 3 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.” 4 “Where is he?” the king asked. “In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him, “at the home of Makir son of Ammiel.”
5 So David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home. 6 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.” 7“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!”
8 Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?” 9 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. 10 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 eat here at my table.” (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
11 Ziba replied, “Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded.” And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table, like one of the king’s own sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. From then on, all the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king’s table.
Introduction: The message today is intitled “An Identity Crisis.” Knowing your true Identity is important to living a full and productive life. We all must answer the questions: Who am I? How do I see myself? Who are you and How do you see yourself? Do You love who you are and what you do? Do you love your Life? If we ever want to love who we are, we must first know who we are. As believers, we can discover our true identity in Jesus Christ. Whether you’re questioning your identity or just haven’t taken the time to develop your own identity to begin with, getting to know your true identity is an important part of living a full and happy life.
Identity answers the question “Who am I?” My identity is based on how I view myself, the foundation I build my life upon, and where I find my sense of worth, acceptance, and well-being. I’ve heard it said that character is what I do when no one else is watching. I’ve also heard it said that character is what I do when everyone else is watching. I think one’s identity is exposed in both scenarios and maybe more clearly when everyone is watching. If my identity is based on what others think or on the size of my audience, then what I do will change when people watching are more likely to give praise or criticism. If my identity is based on something else more essential, then I will be stable. My effort and performance will remain level and more consistent. What happens when your identity is stolen or hidden? This story is about a boy who Identity was stolen and hidden. Discovering his identity opens the door to new life.
In this striking story, King David shows Kindness and love showed to Mephibosheth, the crippled son of Jonathan. Mephibosheth has an identity crisis. He is living in Lodebar as a poor servant, living on the handouts of Ziba, a former servant of king Saul. David is a good man, full of gratitude toward his former friend Jonathan. David seeks out the family of Saul. Regardless of their rank and position, good men are generally grateful and kind.
The friendship between Jonathan and David is well documented in scripture. Jonathan, Saul’s son had shown David great kindness from David’s first visit to the palace. Now things had changed. Nearly twenty years after the Prophet Samuel anointed David as the new king of Israel, David ascended to the throne of Israel. Because of David’s love for God and His righteousness, David had refused promote himself or injure King Saul in any way to gain the throne. He waited on God, believing that what God has promised He will bring it to pass. In the process of time, King Saul and his sons had met their doom at the hands of the Philistines in Jezreel. After that battle, Saul’s descendants and servants scattered and went into hiding.
In Hebron, David proved himself to be a wise and good king in public administration, and a faithful, loyal, and generous friend to others. Soon King David had subdued the neighboring kingdoms around him and secured peace throughout his nation. Then he remembers his great obligations to Jonathan. Neither the splendor of his victories, nor the pleasure of prosperity, could make him unmindful of his covenant and oath with his former friend. Therefore, he inquired, Are there any of King Saul’s family remaining that he might show kindness unto them? Those that are sincere in religion, are also faithful his friendship. Some people who claim to be religious and holy have a short memory. You can help them rise, find advancement, but when they arrive, they act as if they made it by them. There is no excuse for ingratitude. You can see it in the church, in family and in society. Yet because David’s heart was right, his memory was intact.
“And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?” It was probably surprising to everyone that the king would make such an inquiry. Normally, when a reigning king made such a request, he was seeking revenge. The king was told, if anyone knows it would be Ziba, a former servant of King Saul. He was living in the country in isolation, on a piece of land that was a part of King Saul’s estate called Lodebar. If anyone knows, Ziba will know. Though everyone thought and perhaps feared that David might be seeking revenge. David’s desire was for good, not harm. We are often afraid of the people who may turn out to be a blessing to us. The word is out, “the king is looking for you.”
I imagine, Ziba was both awed and alarmed about being summoned by the king. King David soon comforted Ziba’s heart and mind in the kindest manner. Ziba was able to point the king in the right direction. Jonathan has a son, a young man crippled in both feet named Mephibosheth living in Lo-debar. A young man with royal blood, born with so much promise finds himself lost in Lodebar. Mephibosheth has lost his identity. When you lose your identity, you don’t know who you are, what you are capable of and you view life with limited possibilities.
1. When You Don’t Know Your Identity You May Be Satisfied Anywhere.
This prince end up in Lodebar on the welfare of Ziba. Mephibosheth was 5 years old when his father and grandfather were slain. He was living under the care of a nurse. We are not told what happened to his mother. Tidings of the disaster at Jezreel, which left the king and his sons dead, and Israel’s army scattered, terrified the nation. Fearing the Philistines, the terrified nurse grabbed the child and ran for safety. As she fled with little Mephibosheth, she fell upon the child, leaving the little prince crippled in both feet for life. He is dropped and crippled by a friend.
Mephibosheth’s life was a series of disasters, disappointments, and distresses. He is a weary, broken, dispirited man, you can hear it every time he opens his mouth. He is a prince but he sees himself as a dead dog! His nurse carried him to Lo-debar among the mountains of Gilead, a place without pasture, where he was brought up by Machir, son of Ammiel (2Sa 9:4). When people are dropped, they usually end up in Lodebar. In Lodebar, he lost his identity, his royalty, and his dignity. Eventually, he fathered a son Mica. No mention is made of a wife. When Mephibosheth heard about King David's request, he must have thought the worst. Yet the king desires to do him good and not harm. Since David had settled the affairs of the state, he turned his attention to Saul's household to see whether there were any survivors to whom he might show kindness for Jonathan's sake (2Sa 9:1).
2. When You Don’t Know Your Identity People Will Take Advantage of you.
Ziba, who had been a servant of Saul had become a prosperous man while controlling the estate of King Saul. He controlled everything, if be told everything really belonged to Mephibosheth, Saul’s heir. When you don’t know who you are, people can take advantage of you. When you don’t know who you are, you won’t what belongs to you, you may find yourself living on handouts. Mephilbosheth was living in Lodebar on the charity of Ziba. The truth of the matter, being the legal heir of Saul, Ziba and his family were his servants and living on him. David learned about Mephibosheth and sent for him. One can only imagine what Mephibosheth felt when he heard, the king is looking for you. Change begins when we discovery who we are and who we belong to. Nothing happens without discovery.
This story also shows us the far-reaching effect of kindness. Jonathan did not know the far-reaching effect of his kindness to David. As people of God, we need to learn to be kind and generous! When you have received help in your time of need, we should help to others in our prosperity. If you have been favored and blessed in your lack, you should be willing to pay it forward. Never let it be said that a child of God is ungrateful and stingy. For we have been commanded to do good to those who have mistreated us, how much more should we show favor to those who have been good to us and our friends. Ga 6:9, 10 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” This prince lived like a pauper because He did not know who he was. Although we are children of God, will unlimited potential, unlimited resources, we may find ourselves living in Lodebar. “My people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge.” When You Don’t Know Your Identity, You May Be Satisfied Anywhere. When You Don’t Know Your Identity People Will Take Advantage of you. Finally, Identity recovery begins with Discovery.
3. Identity Recovery Begins With Discovery.
There is unlimited power available with we discover who we really are. In the king’s presence, Mephibosheth discovers who he really is and learns about a covenant made on his behalf. Our God is a covenant keeping God. A covenant was made on the behalf of every person who believes and accepts Jesus Christ.
Mephibosheth learns about David and Jonathan’s covenant, and David was faithful and a man of his word. Even though Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son was unaware of it, David was going make good on his promise. One of greatest hindrance today is the failure of many in keeping their word. Yet, when we do not keep our word, others see us differently, we see ourselves differently and our character is questioned, and our value is diminished. Mephibosheth had been living in ignorance, obscurity, poverty, and with a deformity. Although he is the beneficiary of a life changing, life-giving covenant with the power to change everything.
Mephibosheth does not feel qualified to receive such a blessing because he would probably never be able to repay the king for his kindness, yet this is his moment! He bows himself and calls himself the king’s servant. David was faithful to the covenant he made with Jonathan years before. David shows kindness for Jonathan’s sake. Mephibosheth’s whole life was changed.
In like manner, God came looking for us for Jesus’ sake. Our covenant keeping God would not stop until He found us. He will not forsake those who come to him and put their trust in him. Though many of us were as lame and helpless as Mephibosheth, yet God remembers us for Jesus’ sake. God is looking for us and invites us to sit at his table in communion with him. The Lord is not ashamed of our ignorance, obscurity, poverty, and abnormality. By His grace, we who are poor, feeble friends of Jesus, are accepted in the beloved. God is calling us that we might to eat continually at the king's table. We can come even if we have been dropped, even though we are lame on both their feet, we came come! At his table our identity is restore, our royalty can be reclaimed, our property can be reclaimed, and we can experience a new kind of life. Finally, the power of the covenant secures a new kind of satisfaction. It is not just about a meal, it is being in the King’s presence, fellowship in his wisdom, learning from his action and sharing with the royal family. Notice, because of the power of the covenant, David has forgiven all Saul’s injuries to him, and show unlimited kindness to Mephibosheth, all for Jonathan’s sake. David regards Mephibosheth as his own family. First, he restored Saul’s estate to Mephibosheth, establishes his authority and provides him with servants. Ziba, his 15 sons and 20 servants will manage the affairs of his estate and bring the increase to him.
The power of the covenant lifted Mephibosheth out of Lo-debar all because the king found him. The message reminds us that we too are sought by the king. Though many of us are, spiritually, as lame as Mephibosheth, yet the king of Glory remembers us and invites us to sit at his table in communion with him. The Lord is not ashamed of our poor and feeble condition. He knows what it is like to be dropped. Dropped because of the mistakes of others, dropped by mistakes we have made; dropped because we never knew who we were or what was available to us; dropped because of a lack of knowledge, but Thank God, we have friends in high places. We are friends of Jesus, our well-beloved Lord and Master. God, the Father seeks us for Jesus’ sake. He will grant us to come and eat continually at the king's table for Jesus’s sake. He will even cover our lame feet and not embarrass us for Jesus’ sake. Have you ever considered how blessed we are for Jesus’ sake? For His sake, we have the offer of peace with God, complete access to God, the favor of God and the blessing of God. Wherever are you, the king is looking for you?
Mt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Come discover your true identity in Christ, recover your true identity in Christ, Claim your place at the king’s table! Come without money or price, bring all your doubts and fear, your crippled feet, bring your limp, God will receive you for Jesus’ sake!
