II Samuel 9:1 King David is seeking someone in the house of Saul to show kindness to. King Jesus is still seeking for someone to show kindness to if they will just come to Him and stay at His house!
Mephibosheth fell when he was 5 years old and became handicapped; he was lame. We are told that in II Samuel 4:4. Everyone of us has fallen before to sin and it has left us spiritually handicapped.
Mephibosheth is King Saul’s grandson; that is the same King Saul who wanted to kill David. What forgiveness is shown by David because he is purposely seeking out someone in Saul’s family to show kindness to and it is for Jonathan’s sake. Jonathan was David’s best friend and Mephibosheth is the son of Jonathan.
In this chapter we can explore and see the Kindness of the King with the thought in mind of how kind King Jesus has been to us! Has King Jesus ever shown you some loving kindness? If you are saved, He has. If you are not saved, He has! He died on the cross to show you and I mercy, love, and kindness! What kind of Kindness did David show Mephibosheth?
I. FAVOR WITH THE KING
A. There was Unmerited Favor!
Mephibosheth did absolutely nothing to deserve the King’s favor nor the King’s kindness. You and I have never done anything to deserve King Jesus’ love, kindness, or favor. Yet He has shown us it all.
B. There was Unmatched Favor!
No one could do for Mephibosheth what the King could do for Mephibosheth. Nobody could love me, die for me, live again for me, nor save me the way King Jesus could!
C. There was Unmeasurable Favor
The Bible doesn’t even attempt to tell all that David did for Mephibosheth because it is unmeasurable. There’s no way I could tell you or write it all down all the things King Jesus has done for me in my life throughout my life! It is truly unmeasurable!
II. FELLOWSHIP WITH THE KING
II Samuel 9:7 . . . and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
You will never run out of something to eat when you are sitting at the King’s table every day!
A. The Fellowship Could Not Be Bought
Illustration: Some people will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to eat with a celebrity that they never really get to know.
Mephibosheth could not buy a seat at the king’s table. He did not have enough money to buy it, and that place at the king’s table was not for sale! No can buy their way into King Jesus’ household or into His family. You certainly can’t buy you a place at the marriage supper of the Lamb! There’s only one way to get to King Jesus’ table! You get invited and accept the invitation!
B. The Fellowship Could Not Be Borrowed
You cannot borrow time or fellowship with the King and then go on your way. You have to get all the way in with King Jesus and stay with Him! Jesus doesn’t loan you His friendship and fellowship for a short while. He sticks with you closer than a brother!
C. The Fellowship Could Not Be Better
Had King David not have invited Mephibosheth to come and be with him and fellowship with him, where would he have been? He would have been all alone in the house of Saul struggling and going without. I sure would hate to know where I’d be without the fellowship of the Lord and His people. I’m sure I’d be struggling. I’m sure I’d be empty inside. I’m sure my life would be wasting away. There is nothing better than the fellowship we find around God’s people at God’s table!
III. FAMILY WITH THE KING
II Samuel 9:11 As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.
A. He is Accepted
When you are accepted by the king, he is the final authority. You get in, and you are in all the way and for life!
Mephibosheth was accepted because he was the son of Jonathan. The only way I will get into God’s heaven is because I’m a son of Jesus Christ and saved by grace!
B. He is Adopted
He is “as one of the king’s sons.” Mephibosheth will not be cut out nor cut off. The king claims Mephibosheth! I sure am glad the Lord has adopted me and claims me as one of His dependents because I do depend on Him.
C. He is Assisted
II Samuel 9:10 Thou therefore, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master’s son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread always at my table.
Mephibosheth is provided for and taken care of. He is always at the king’s table. Thank God for the assistance we get from King Jesus because we are in the family of God.
IV. FORTUNE WITH THE KING
II Samuel 9:7 (I) will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father;
Mephibosheth had a fortune given unto him. We have a fortune in heaven. Notice the fortunes not so quickly seen.
A. He has the Protection of the King
B. He has the Promises of the King
- A promised Land. - A Promised Lunch. - A Promised Love
C. He has the Peace of the King
D. He has the Possessions of the King
Oh the fortunes we have just because King Jesus saved us and let us sit at His table despite our disabilities.
V. FUTURE WITH THE KING
II Samuel 9:10 says he will eat bread always at my table
Mephibosheth’s King promised he would always KEEP THE FIELD PLOWED. KEEP THE FRUIT PICKED. KEEP THE FOOD PREPARED.
My King has a future for me and you as well. We will never worry about Finances, Fortunes, Fatalities, Failures, Food, Family, Fussing, nor Friends!
CLOSE
In verse 5, the Bible says that the king fetched Mephibosheth. In verse 8, Mephibosheth referred to himself and looked at himself as no more than a dead dog. Jesus fetched for a dog like me. I’m glad the Holy Ghost fetched for me one night.
King David tells Mephibosheth what he will do for him. King Jesus is telling the world today what he will do for them.
It would have been very foolish had Mephibosheth turned away the king and went back to nothing in Lodebar. Yet, many are turning down the offer King Jesus is making. They choose to stay in their filthy rags of sin and in the poverty of a bankrupt empty lost soul.
Illustration: A wealthy man invited a pastor to eat with him. After the meal, the wealthy man began to point out all he owned. To the North he pointed to oil wells he owned. To the East he pointed to miles of fields of grain. To the South he pointed to huge herds of cattle on the plain. To the West he pointed to a beautiful forest. The he said, “All this I own and it’s all mine.”
The preacher nodded his head and then put his hand on the shoulder of the wealthy man. The preacher pointed towards heaven and said, “How much do you have in that direction sir?”
The millionaire hung his head and said, “I never even thought of that.”
You can have all of heaven if you will accept the King’s offer! King Jesus has been kind enough to make us an offer. If you have not accepted his kindness you should today!
