Character Studies #12 - Mephibosheth

“Mephibosheth – Bent, but not Broken”

Photos in God’s Album Series

—Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s Son—

2 Samuel 4:4; 9:1-13 

INTRODUCTION:

In this series of character studies from the Bible we are focusing on people who made some important contribution, who did something noteworthy and who serve as models for us. On the surface, today’s character has little to offer, yet his life story is filled with important lessons. Let me tell you about him... 

TRANSITION:

1 Samuel 31 tells of the death of Saul and his son, Jonathan, at Gilboa in a battle against the Philistines. 2 Samuel 4:4 introduces us to the son of Jonathan, grandson of Saul. “Jonathan, son of Saul, had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became disabled. His name was Mephibosheth.”

·       He was 5 years old, healthy, and bright.

·       However, he became crippled through a tragic accident.

·       Either he broke both legs, which were never set right, or his spine was injured causing partial paralysis. 

NOTES on the Text:

2 Samuel 9:1-5 continues the story: Then David said, “Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” ² Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” ³ The king said, “Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet.” ⁴ So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.” ⁵ Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.

·       David’s Kingdom had settled down and he finally had time to think.

·       He remembered his promises to his friend, Jonathan (cf. 1 Samuel 18:3; 20:12-17; 23:18).

·       Notice God’s providential care for Mephibosheth: As a cripple he would be considered cursed of God. His case was incurable and there was little love or consideration for the incurable. Even nowadays think of the treatment quality in some rest homes or hospitals when there is no cure.

·       Both Jews and Gentiles in that day were unsympathetic to deformed people because of religious prejudice. To be useless to society was to be useless to the religion as well. To be physically blemished made one spiritually impure, and thus cut off from Temple life.

·       Therefore, Mephibosheth’s fall was like Adam’s “Fall” in that it shut the gate to “paradise,” i.e., his possible succession to the throne or to political power or even to a “normal” life.

1.    He was shut out of the priesthood as well. In fact, he was not even allowed to enter the inner courts of the Temple.

2.    He could not be a warrior to defend his country.

3.    He lost his family and his kingdom, was instantly orphaned, and lost in the world. Where was his mother? Evidently, she was dead too.

4.    He was without money and the means to make money.

5.    His soul became servile, deferential, nervously anxious to please as his pride was extinguished within him. 

But who then was the man who raised Mephibosheth?

·       His name was Machir ben-Ammiel, of the little village of Lo-debar in Gad, near Mahanaim.

·       He must have been a man of great kindness, an exceptional person.

·       He might have been another friend of Jonathan.

·       He did an uncharacteristic deed of great kindness, serving as protector and guardian of a deformed boy and later of that boy’s family.

·       Without hope of getting compensation or reward he performed a great service of charity.

·       He risked the disapproval of his culture and society to become a patron for the young Mephibosheth until David came on the scene.

·       Behind the scenes, God was taking care of Mephibosheth and providing for him in ways that he could not see. 

David sent for Mephibosheth and had him brought to his home. In that day it was customary for a new king to exterminate all the descendants and relatives of the previous king to safeguard himself from rivals to the throne. Therefore, Mephibosheth was undoubtedly scared spitless. Look at his response to King David in 2 Sam. 9:6-8. “Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he said, “Here is your servant!” ⁷ Then David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for I will assuredly show kindness to you for the sake of your father, Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you yourself shall eat at my table regularly.” ⁸ Again he prostrated himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should be concerned about a dead dog like me?” 

David’s treatment was obviously not what Mephibosheth had been expecting:

·       David covered Mephibosheth with a kingly robe.

·       He set him a permanent place at his own table to always have him close.

·       He brought him into the king’s Cabinet, a position of honor and authority.

·       David essentially adopted Mephibosheth as his own son.

·       He returned to him his hereditary rights and property as a prince.

·       He set aside the popular doctrine that the physically unfavored are spiritually cursed and should therefore be socially ostracized.

·       He saw Mephibosheth not as a broken cripple, but as the Mephibosheth who should have been, with all the courage, power, and glory of Saul and Jonathan. David saw the family resemblance, and he set out to restore that glory. 

Now look at verses 11-13: So, Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as one of the king’s sons. ¹² Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth. ¹³ So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate at the king’s table regularly. Now he was lame in both feet.

·       I believe that David’s actions picture what God has done for us in salvation.

·       David rescued Mephibosheth for love of his friend, Jonathan.

Ø  God rescued us for love of His Son, Jesus.

·       Mephibosheth was living without hope, without a future, and without a life.

Ø  We were lost and undone, spiritually dead.

·       David treated Mephibosheth as though he were a son.

Ø  God made us to become his sons through adoption (cf. Romans 8:14-17).

·       Mephibosheth dined daily at David’s table.

Ø  We are invited to eat freely of God’s Living Bread. 

The story of Mephibosheth is just one of the many beautiful metaphors of Scripture that teach important spiritual lessons: i.e., Brokenness.

·       The alabaster box that had to be broken for its fragrance to be able to come out.

·       Job in his brokenness teaches us of God’s goodness and grace.

·       And a seed must fall into the ground and die so that new life can emerge. 

On the one hand, Mephibosheth had no real importance. For example…

·       He never did any great deed that we know of.

·       He never said or wrote anything of great value.

·       He was not a great warrior.

·       His wealth was donated or inherited, not earned.

·       He lived most of his life dependent on others. 

…And yet...

·       He was a kind, loving person although undoubtedly, he had been treated roughly.

·       He was not embittered, even though unfortunate.

·       He was extremely loyal to his benefactor, David.

·       He showed courage in revealing his feelings for David during Absalom’s rebellion.

·       He was not greedy or vengeful toward Ziba, even though he had been wronged by the man (cf. 2 Samuel 16:1-4). Ziba had been Saul’s steward. During Absalom’s coup d’état attempt Ziba slanderously accused Mephibosheth of joining the rebels against David. Ziba claimed that Mephibosheth had broken faith with David. He did this to try and gain Mephibosheth’s estate for himself when it was adjudged forfeited. However, David later set things straight (cf. 2 Samuel 19:24-30). When David returned to Jerusalem, Mephibosheth told David that Ziba had been slandering him unjustly. David responded by saying “You and Ziba shall divide the land,” which was still an injustice against Mephibosheth in my opinion. I think Ziba should have been beaten within an inch of his life. Just sayin’.

·       Yet Mephibosheth was gracious in his acceptance of charity, not grasping or uppity.

·       He proved that a man can be physically blighted and still be morally and spiritually blessed. 

CONCLUSION:

LESSONS from the life of Mephibosheth:

1.    A person’s life may be damaged or impeded by the mistakes (or evil) of another person, but God is the one who keeps the books, and He will eventually balance the score for those who trust Him and walk uprightly.

2.    Love and kindness are transferable assets and should be passed along. For example…  David loved Jonathan, who loved Mephibosheth. Therefore, David loved Mephibosheth too, and Mephibosheth loved David back. In the same way, God says: “If you love Me, then you must love my Son!”

3.    We should look at physically challenged people not merely for what they are on the outside, but for what they are on the inside, and for what they one day will be when God restores them.

4.    We are all crippled in one way or another, broken inside or outside. Therefore, we should see people not merely as they are, but how they can and will be when God’s power and grace are applied. Our job is to reverse the effects of the Fall in every sense possible to bring people to the glory of which they have been robbed through sin.

·       Sin robs men of spiritual vision and leaves them in a dark world.

·       Sin deafens people and prevents them from hearing God’s voice and the heavenly music because their ears have been plugged with Satan’s lies.

·       Sin cripples the will and paralyzes the mind to keep men from turning away from death to run toward God and life everlasting.