Mephibosheth: God's Kindness

David wanted to show kindness to Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth, by inviting him to dine with him at his table continually all the days of his life though he was crippled and his father and grandfather were dead. David's kindness can aslo be reckoned as God's knindess as the kindness David showed was also God's kindness as described in the Bible. This is a wonderful type of God showing His kindness towards man, "Mephibosheth," who was spiritually crippled in his "legs" for his daily Christian walk. In fact, David sought out Mephobiosheth and rescued him from Lo-debar, meaning a place of dryness where there is no green grass. Likewsie, man is also crippled in sins and lost in the world where there is no divine life supply.    

2S 9:1And David said, Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show kindness to him for Jonathan’s sake?
2S 9:3And the king said, Is there yet anyone at all of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him? And Ziba said to the king, There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.
2S 9:4Then the king said to him, Where is he? And Ziba said to the king, He is just now in the house of Machir the son of Amiel in Lo-debar.
2S 9:5And King David sent men and took him from the house of Machir the son of Amiel, from Lo-debar.
2S 9:6And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he said, Your servant is here.
2S 9:7And David said to him, Do not be afraid, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of Jonathan your father; and I will restore to you all the land of your father Saul, and you will eat food at my table continually.
2S 9:10And you shall work the land for him, you and your sons and your servants; and you shall bring in the produce that your master’s son may have food to eat; and Mephibosheth, your master’s son, will eat food continually at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
2S 9:11Then Ziba said to the king, According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do. And Mephibosheth, said David, shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.
2S 9:13And Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem because he ate at the king’s table continually. And he was crippled in both his feet.

All of David's kindness showed toward Mephibosheth for Jonathan's sake as the two brothers had made a covenant and loved one another with a brotherly love even to the point of death.

1S 18:1Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan became knit with the soul of David; and Jonathan loved him like his own soul.
1S 18:3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him like his own soul.
1S 20:16So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, And Jehovah will require it at the hand of David’s enemies.
1S 20:17And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

This brotherly love story is also a divine love story between God and man, showing us how God's kindness leads us to repentace and turn away from the world to Christ. Despite being crippled spiritually, we have been invited to feast at the King's table. While being seated at the table to feast on the unsearchaeble riches of Christ, our entire focus must be on the rich food placed at the table, and not on the crippled legs under the table. It will be sheer foolishness to be too conscious of the crippled legs and not enjoy the feast that was prepared for us by the King Jesus Christ. As we all feast on the riches at the table, the crippled legs may still remain crippled. That fact may not change at all, but the focus must change; it must beo on the rich food rather than the crippled legs. What a grace that the crippled legs are under the table, hidden and covered by the riches on the table! This should be our Christna exoperience day by day, looking away unto Jesus. 

He 12:2Looking away unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down on the right hand of the throne of God.
Co 3:12Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, inward parts of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, long-suffering;
1Co 13:4Love suffers long. Love is kind; it is not jealous. Love does not brag and is not puffed up;
Tt 3:4But when the kindness and the love to man of our Savior God appeared.

This wonderful love story of God's kindness encouraged many saints as we studied this portion of the word. I myself enjoyed the message and shared it as a message to the brothers and sisters in Madhya Pradesh yesterday. What a privilege to know the truth and much more to experience and enjoy the truth!

Lord. thank You for Your kindness shown towards me, a crippled sinner.