A Surprised Mephibosheth

How wonderful the dealings of the Lord were in the life of Mephibosheth. Oh, when he thought of King David, how much fear lived in his heart. This all came to pass when the servants of the king came to say that David had ordered Mephibosheth to come to Jerusalem. When this message came to Mephibosheth, he felt in his heart that he would die. He was a descendant of King Saul, and David had persecuted the descendants of Saul more than once, because Saul and his descendants had sought to take David's life.

But what a surprise for Mephibosheth! David did not bring him to Jerusalem to kill him, but to favor him. He brought him into his house and gave him a place at his table. He did not bring him to give him the place of a servant, but the place of a child. Mephibosheth sat there among the children of this great king. There would have been times when he was greatly surprised, and he would forget to eat of the wonderful benefits upon the table.

Is that not the same with each one of the Lord's people? How far they lived away from that great and eternal King. They covered themselves with darkness. When they thought of that eternal King, fear filled their hearts. They wanted to live their entire life without ever coming to know Him. What a wonder it becomes when the King comes and with the light of the Holy Spirit shines upon their darkness. Oh, there they may come to know how hellworthy they have become. Now nothing else can be expected than the sentence of death. They say, “There can never be any hope for such a one as I am. My life is sin, my origin is sin, and God from heaven must punish sin.” They see so much blackness and pollution in their life that they cry out in the darkness of their existence, “How can God have anything to do with me?” And now the message of the King has come! Oh, to have to die, and then to be forever lost.

Dear reader, have you learned to know the wonder of God's love and mercy when you heard from the mouth of the King, “Fear not”? Have you heard that the Lord has found a way to save a wretched sinner? Oh, there they may come upon their knees; deep in the dust they lie, saying, “How is it possible that there is a way for such a dead dog as I am?” How surprised they are when they may receive a place at the table of the King of kings. He wants to show them His love and favor. There they may experience, “I will turn Mine hand upon the little ones.” There they may hear, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

Oh, it now becomes even more precious. The bread of life may be placed in those empty hands. They may taste of the food which delights the heart and strengthens the soul. They are led into the green pastures of His grace and love for His dear children. At such times they whisper, “Oh, the mercy and the love of God for such an outcast.” They may also look to His precious blood and say, “Lord, wash me and cleanse me. Make me holy before Thy countenance.” They may look to the robe of righteousness obtained by the King of kings. They say, “Clothe me with that robe, so I may obtain the righteousness that will cover me in the sight of a holy God.”

Why did David show compassion unto Mephibosheth? Only because of the covenant made between Jonathan and himself. Had there been no Jonathan, there would have been no hope for Mephibosheth. Had Christ not come, there would have been no hope for a guilty, hell-worthy people. That the Lord may show mercy unto such sinful creatures is not because of anything in them. There comes a time when they would gladly under - line the words, He sought me, He delivered me. This is all because of that greater Jonathan. The salvation of the children of God lies anchored in that eternal covenant between the Father and the Son. It lies anchored in that only Mediator, and in His life and blood freely given.

Is it any wonder when, with an eye of faith, they may look to that sacrifice and then whisper, “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I”? The fountain of eternal life flows forth from the eternal covenant which lies firm in the hand of triune God. In that covenant the King spoke, “Father, send Me, make Me the sacrifice for Thy people.” And now it is the Holy Ghost who comes to seek for those people who are known by the Father. When the Holy Ghost comes to them, they are awakened to the knowledge of the darkness of their existence. Their salvation is now out of grace through Christ.

How dear that covenant and that Savior becomes for them. For Jonathan's sake, the King looks upon them in favor. He says, “Father, freely We love them.” How wonderful it becomes when every crumb of September 2000 / THE BANNER OF TRUTH 227 ground from our side sinks away, when as a poor, needy sinner we may experience that we are saved by grace.

Mephibosheth continued lame on both his feet. This means that, of himself, there was never any ability; he remained fully dependent upon another. Is that not the same with the dear children of the Lord? After grace has been received, they experience that they continue to be sinners until the end of their life. They learn that without the Lord they cannot bring forth one sigh that may be placed at the footstool of the Lord. How often they must say, “Lord, here is one who has ruined everything.” Daily they must be carried and cared for. They continue lame on both feet. The Lord found them as lame ones. The Lord drew them as lame ones. As lame ones they feast at His table. Until the end of their life, they will continue to be dependent upon the favor and mercy of the King. The world says, “What a mystical way of speaking, what a mystical way that is pointed out,” but we must say, “What a blessed people!”

They are indeed a blessed people. They need do nothing; all is done for them. Of grace they are saved, and soon they may come to the place where they may sing forever of the mercy and grace of their King. To them we may say: Weary pilgrim, the King has promised that your journey will be short. There will be many enemies, but for the Lord's people they are defeated enemies. There will be many dark days, but for the Lord's people the light is dawning. This body of sin is becoming heavy, but for the people of the Lord, Paul has a message—”For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

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