I confess I have a tendency to oversimplify; I am always looking for the root issue, the lowest common denominator, the “one thing” that really matters. My flesh would like to say it is a fruit of my keen intellect, or my creativity; you and I know where all true wisdom comes from…GOD! My intention this morning is to look at the life of Mephibosheth and see if he can teach us what kind of heart God is looking for in HIS children. Most of you will only remember Mephibosheth as the son of Jonathan, the one King David blessed and invited to eat at the Kings table because of his relationship to Jonathan. There is much more that he can teach us...much, much more! Take a look!
In Psalm 27, King David asked for “one thing.” He desired to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, to seek His face. In Luke10:41-42, Jesus told Martha that only “one thing” is necessary and that Mary had chosen the “better part.” The great Apostle Paul said, in Phil. 3:13, “one thing I do.” What do these three have in common? They were oblivious of themselves and they went hard after God, they had caught a glimpse of the Almighty and they would never be the same. I believe that Job finally got it as we see in Job 42:2-6 “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. 3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4 Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’ 5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. 6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.” Moses got it, boy did he get it...he refused to move without the presence of God and we see in Hebrews 11:24 ff. "By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward."
Throughout our reading in 2 Samuel we learn of Jonathan’s crippled son Mephibosheth. David discovered Mephibosheth as he sought heirs of the household of Saul so that he could “show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake.” Mephibosheth came before David bowed down and said, “What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog like me?” David restored Saul’s land to Mephibosheth and was invited to eat at the King’s table, as did the King’s sons.
Fast forward to 2 Samuel 19, the kingdom is being restored to David after the rebellion of Absalom. In verses, 24-30, through Mephibosheth I believe that God reveals the heart HE desires. As David returns he asks Mephibosheth why he did not go with him, Mephibosheth explains that he was deceived and then slandered by his servant Ziba. In 2 Samuel 16:1-4, Ziba met David with supplies for his family as they were fleeing for their lives. Ziba told David the reason Mephibosheth stayed behind was because he thought he would receive control of the Kingdom, in response David gives Mephibosheth’s land to Ziba. Now as David listened to Mephibosheth he is faced with two conflicting reports, David decides to divide the land between Mephibosheth and Ziba. David weary from fleeing for his life, grieved at the rebellion and loss of his son Absalom...he does not know who to believe so he decides to split the land between Ziba and Mephibosheth.
I don’t know about you, but my first thought was…that’s not fair! The amazing thing is Mephibosheth’s heart toward David is revealed. His response is amazing and convicting! We see Mephibosheth's response to Ziba's accusations in 2 Samuel 19... “Oh, let him take it all, since my lord the king has come safely home.” Mephibosheth cares nothing for his material possessions, he gladly parts with them, let Ziba “take it all.”
Here is a man who lost his father and grandfather (Jonathan and Saul) on Mount Gilboa at the age of five, at the same time he was crippled. He lives in fear for his life until he is found by David and invited to eat with the King. Now he is falsely accused of betraying the one he loves. His life is filled with tragedy and yet you detect no bitterness, no thought of himself, to the contrary he is oblivious of himself, he is only delighted to see the King safely home. HIS WHOLE HEART IS TOWARD THE KING!
I had to ask myself, would I be so quick to let Ziba take it all? When I hesitated in my heart…I looked to God’s word to see how Mephibosheth came to love King David so deeply? There are several powerful truths in this passage that God the Holy Spirit USES to enable me to say, “let him take it all.” I confess that I was cowering in my spirit as I said it…I’m not fully there yet…I have good days and bad days, good moments and bad moments “but one thing I do...not looking back, I press on toward the upward call in Christ Jesus.” So what are those liberating truths?
Here they are:
- A heart filled with awe for the King… “my lord the king is like the angel of God” v. 27
- Absolute surrender to the will and wisdom of the King… “do whatever you think best” v. 27b
- Amazed at the King's mercy...our “entire family deserves death" v. 28
- Amazed at the King’s grace… …but you set your servant among those who eat at your table” v. 28
- Understanding that we have no entitlements, rights or claims… “what further rights do I have…?” v. 28
- Deep sense of unworthiness, a right view of ourselves… “What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me?” (2 Sam. 9:8)
Our debt to God is infinite, we are worse than dead dogs before a Holy God. I am slowly learning that there are many things that suck the passion and energy for God out of our spirit, in my limited experience nothing can make me more anemic, emaciated, sickly and weak than when I am filled with thoughts about ME! There are a number of things that can hurt our ministry for the LORD JESUS, there are many things that can render us useless in the ministry, there are many things that can leave us spiritually weak; one root causes is a lack of deep brokenness and humility. While I was rereading The Calvary Road (Hession) and Brokenness (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) I was reminded that when I feel that I deserve something better, better car, home, ministry or maybe I feel like I deserve to be treated better the effect is spiritual weakness and weakening in my love of Jesus. The net result is I become useless in ministry!
Mephibosheth had a right view of David as the LORD'S anointed, “my lord the king is like the angel of God” v. 27. 1) We must have a right view of God through Jesus Christ, enabled by the Holy Spirit by HIS revealed Word. 2) We must be surrendered to our Lord's wisdom and will, knowing that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called...3 and 4) We must live our lives on earth continually stunned and amazed at the grace of King Jesus...knowing that we DESERVE DEATH, ETERNAL SEPEARATION FROM GOD, that would be fair...with that in mind understanding that God loved us so much that HE sent HIS son to die in your place and in my place...AMAZING GRACE! Are you AMAZED? Are you AMAZED OR ARE YOU LUKE WARM? 5) Understand that I DO HAVE ENTITLEMENTS, I AM ENTITLED TO ETERNAL SUFFERING, WRATH, the lake of fire, the second death! That is my right and that is my claim. GLORY BE TO GOD THAT HE offers you and I a place at the Kings table, HE offers us eternal life, HE adopts us...we become children of the most High God! Last, 6) We must have a right view of ourselves before a Holy God. A right view of God (1) and a right view of ourselves are the bookends...think back to Job's experience.
I was running the other morning and thoughts like this began to flood my heart and mind, the bad ones, and I literally had to stop running and walk...I felt the physical energy pour out of my body. What do you think those thoughts did to my spirit? I don't know about you, but there are times when I find myself in a spiritual tail spin. Through a series of events I end up falling and can't come out of it...the harder "I" try the worse it gets! I was in one of those when the Lord brought me to this passage...and HE brought me out of the tail spin! Thank you LORD!
This is cool...in John, Jesus teaches us how to walk in the Spirit and how to live a fruitful life. In John 15:7-8, Jesus says, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." If this is true of our lives, we will remain in HIM, we will maintain a right view of God and of ourselves, we will not end up spiritually anemic and weak. Our reading in the Psalms today gives us the same answer in different words. Palm 119:63-64 I am a friend to anyone who fears you— anyone who obeys your commandments. 64 O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees." Fear of the Lord ='s a right view of God...teach me your decrees ='s dependence on God for that right view.
We are all dead dogs, we have been loved with an amazing love, we have been invited and placed at the King’s table, received his grace and his tender mercies. The way to avoid spiritual weakness and the loss of love is by following Mephibosheth, fixing our eyes on Jesus in admiration, yielding to His wisdom and will, constantly amazed at His grace, having no rights and saying “Oh, let him take it all, since my lord the king has come safely home.” LET HIM TAKE IT ALL, LET HIM TAKE IT ALL! BE AMAZED!
Your fellow dead dog,
m