¡°Grounding Yourself in Grace¡±
2 Samuel 9:1-13
INTRODUCTION
Many times in the Bible we can read stories and events and relate them to later stories and later events. There are parallels in the Old Testament that speak of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. I believe it is part of the Bible being the inspired Word of God. I was reading through 2 Samuel this past week and came upon a man whose name I doubt you can spell¡¦ Mephibosheth. His story is one of grace and I¡¯d like us to share in this story of grace this morning.
I. THE SITUATION
The situation is not a complicated one... just one filled with politics and intrigue. We do need a little historical background for us to understand the situation completely. The story centers around a man named David is now on the throne of Israel. The book of 2 Samuel opens with David learning about the death of King Saul and his son Jonathan. 1:11 tells us that David and all those with him mourned over the death of Saul and Jonathan. David tore his clothes and wailed at the news of the loss. David mourned for Saul because he was the King of Israel and the man anointed to rule the people of God. David mourned for Jonathan because they were closer than brothers.
2 Samuel 2 describes for us how Ishbosheth, son of Saul became king over Israel, but Judah crowned David king. It is civil war. Chapter 3 opens with the verse, ¡°The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.¡± The following chapters describe treachery and battles and murder as though it were a Hollywood movie. In 2 Samuel 5 and 6, we see David becoming King over all Israel and he defeats the Philistines and the Ark of the Lord is brought to Jerusalem. David consecrates Jerusalem as capitol and begins his life as King David of the Israelites. David has now become the rightful ruler of all of God¡¯s people and has defeated the Philistines, Moabites, Arameans, and Edomites and the borders of Israel are secure. 2 Samuel 8:14 records that, ¡°the Lord gave David victory wherever he went.¡± He now has time to spend on domestic matters and his mind wanders back to his dearest friend Jonathan.
READ 2 SAMUEL 9:1-13
2 Samuel 9 opens with the question, ¡°Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?¡± It was an honest question. I think perhaps the whole situation had left a bad taste in his mouth and for the sake of the dearest friend he had ever had¡¦ he wished to do something.
II. THE COMPLICATION
The complication is also not a complicated one to understand. The complication is that Israel had just
been through a civil war and the house of Saul and Jonathan were enemies of David. David and his men had been killing off those on the other side. Chapter 9 takes us to a place after the war and David wishes to show kindness to the family of Jonathan. There is one person left.
Why would David do this? Why would David seek out the last of Jonathan¡¯s family?
1) It was a political move: keep your friends close and your enemies closer for Mephibosheth was the last son of his enemies, but in truth because of his infirmities he would not be king. He would keep Mephibosheth around to keep an eye on him.
2) It was the last act: Once he had Mephibosheth in his sights, he could kill him and all the claims to the throne beside his would be taken care of. There would be no one left to have an idea of revenge.
3) It was the fulfillment of a promise: 1 Samuel 20:14-15 tells of a promise that David made to Jonathan, ¡°But show me unfailing kindness like that of the LORD as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family-not even when the LORD has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.¡± I think this was a contributing factor. All of David¡¯s enemies had been defeated and now David turns his attention to his promise. The question in 2 Samuel 9:1 sounds like a man seeking to repay kindness and fulfill this vow. This was part of who David was: David was a man who showed kindness when he could. Mephibosheth had nothing of value and had done nothing for David. Yet, this grace-filled act was part of who David was in his heart.
We need to realize that in David¡¯s day there was little or no mercy given to dethroned royal houses. Mephibosheth is found and is brought before the king. Verse 6 describes for us that when Mephibosheth came into the presence of David, he fell on his face. Now I realize you may wonder if this was an accident, given that he was crippled in both feet, but it was intentional. Mephibosheth is scared to death and expects the treatment all dethroned princes get. He thought he was going to see David to be executed.
III. THE RESOLUTION
He resolution in this chapter is what floors me. David did not kill Mephibosheth as Mephibosheth
suspected and as we might suspect, but rather restored the lands of Saul and gave him a seat at his table! This is so very important! Sharing table fellowship carries symbolic as well as real meaning. Dining together shows friendship. Dining together also marks social boundaries. To be invited to the king¡¯s table was a mark of honor, signifying you are included in the world of the king (Smith & Helwys Commentary: 1 & 2 Samuel: 482-485).
Who would be those who ate at the king¡¯s table¡¦ the sons and those trusted. Only those who were part of the king¡¯s family would eat with him. David makes Mephibosheth equal to his own sons and gives him the life of nobility living in Jerusalem in return for his allegiance. That is amazing! This guy went from being an enemy of the state hiding out to being a friend of the king livin¡¯ it up in Jerusalem.
I mentioned at the beginning that sometimes these passages relate to other passages in the future. I believe in this passage of 2 Samuel 9, we have a picture of how God treats us in His grace.
ILLUSTRATION¡¦ http://www.votbg.org/stanley001.htm
Maybe the great preacher Charles Stanley said it best, ¡°David said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him?" And is not this the present work of the Spirit of God? Showing the fallen sons and daughters of Adam the kindness of God, no matter how deeply fallen, utterly lame, lame on both feet, and truly in the place of no pasture they may be? Ah, poor, fallen sinner, wherever you are trying to hide from God, there is nothing in this world of misery and sin that can make you happy. Is there, now? Have you pursued the phantoms of Satan, or put your trust in the world’s fair promises, until your poor heart is broken with bitter disappointment, and all is a dismal void? Then, listen, I will tell you of One that will not serve you so.¡±
You see, the picture we get is the King graciously seeking out his enemy and granting him a place at the table. That is exactly what Jesus Christ has done for us. Jesus even tells the story in Luke 14 about the Banquet in Heaven when He said, ¡°Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God¡± (14:15). What better picture do we have than the Lord¡¯s Table at which The King of Kings sat and shared a meal with His disciples and that we still share in to this day!
* God has sent us a great invitation
* God has offered us a place of importance: The simple fact is that you each have great importance to God.
* God sent us Jesus to bring us back into His family and He has promised to bind any brokenness in our lives. He takes the broken pieces of our lives and puts them together to make something beautiful of our lives. Jesus died for you and waits to give you a place of residence in heaven with Him.
CONCLUSION
