Everybody Deserves Another Shot (2 Samuel 9)

 
Mephibosheth thought he was a dead man. But instead of a sentence of death, he received a new lease on life. 

He was the grandson of King Saul, who, along with his father Jonathan, had died in battle fifteen years earlier. At the time, Mephibosheth was only five years old. Hearing the news, his nurse hurriedly gathered him up in order to flee to a safe place. After all, everyone knew what would happen next: the new king would kill all of Saul’s family in order to solidify his leadership.

Unfortunately, in her rush to save the child, she was careless. She dropped him, and Mephibosheth was maimed for life (2 Samuel 4). Now he was not merely a refugee; he was a cripple. When we meet him a few chapters later, he is hiding in the land of Lo-debar, which means, fittingly, “a desolate place.” He is Saul’s only living relative, an orphan condemned to living a broken life in a barren place.

That’s were we find him in 2 Samuel 9. David is well-established as the king of Israel. The warring tribes of Israel are united under his leadership. He has conquered the fortress of the Jebusites, renaming it Jerusalem. The Ark, symbol of God’s presence, has been restored to its rightful place in the center of the tabernacle, in the City of David. Life is good.

One day, someone arrives in Lo-debar with a message for Mephibosheth: “The king has asked for you." This can only mean one thing: Now that he has secured his borders and established his authority, the king wants to protect his legacy. Mephishobeth's days are numbered.

The writer of 2 Samuel builds the tension by reminding us of his heritage. It hangs around his head like a noose from the family tree: “And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came and fell on his face and paid homage.” Surely, he is about to die.

Imagine his surprise when he hears these words of grace from David’s mouth: “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.”

What? 

Not vengeance, but blessing! Not slavery, but freedom! Not death, but life! Not Lo-debar, but the King’s table! Not judgment, but grace! 

As if to underscore the lavish grace of the king in contrast to Mephibosheth’s helpless condition, the story concludes with these words: “Now he was lame in both his feet.”

The beautiful little story is inspiring on two levels. In the first place, we see the loving and loyal heart of David. He had made a promise to Saul not to destroy his family line, and he intended to keep it. He had made a covenant with Jonathan, and he wanted honor his friendship. 

He had refused to raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed in the past, and now he had the opportunity to offer his hand in blessing. He is eager to lavish grace to the grandson of the man who had sought to kill him. He is truly “a man after God’s own heart.”

In the second place, the story is a lovely picture of the love and grace extended to us by the greater Son of David, Jesus himself. Like Mephibosheth, we are crippled by sin and living in the barren land of Lo-debar. Our prospects our bleak. 

But our Greater David has offered us an incredible gift of grace. We may be lame, but Jesus has invited us to dine at his table “like one of the king’s sons.” 

We don’t deserve it. But we can certainly enjoy it! As the old gospel song says, “I’m not worthy to be here, but praise God I belong!”

Or as the sign hanging right where we worship at the Buffalo Chip says, 

"Everybody Deserves Another Shot!"