History of Mephibosheth

Background - Saul tires to kill David - Is there anyone left in the family - David respected God's anointing of Saul David calls Mephibosheth in and he falls on his face - prostrate toward the person who controlled his life picture of Saul - the persecuted meets the persecutor - Saul of tarsus picture of Grace.

What happens when grace encounters sin? John Newton said - Amazing grace how sweet the sound. We come around the table - saved by grace - when we were dead in our sins - Christ died for us we didn't earn the grace - the love of Christ is freely given.

David a king - and a man after God's own heart. For three weeks we have been exploring the life of David to find that kernel that indicated that he was truly a man after God's own heart..

Reminds me - when I was a boy, and we didn't have much money, but we had a car, and a resourceful father. Anytime the car would go wrong, he and I would go up to see Joe Wolfond - at his wrecking yard. We would always go in to see Joe, and my dad would always say, Mr.Wolfond - this is my boy Billy - and I need a distributor cap for my 29 Essex, or my 32 Plymouth. He would just way, "Help yourself" and off the two of us would go, through acres of old wrecked cars, and soon my dad would have his wrench out, and take the part off, then back to pay for it, and home with our treasure. This in a way is what I have been doing the last few weeks - looking for that kernel, that would indicate that truly David was a man after God's own heart. Remember he never said it about himself - we have to find it in his life.

Was it as he went out to confront Goliath, pitting his simple faith in almighty God against a huge, fully armour clad warrior? God rewarded David with a victory, but that is not the secret. Was it as he sat out on the hillside with the sheep, defending them against the dogs, wolves, and bears ? Or perhaps putting some of his experiences of God's handiwork into a Psalm? Was it when he triumphed as a general, or when he led his small band of men against huge foes? None of these things satisfied my curiosity, so I turned to the Internet and looked up "King David" This turned up many interesting things, including a study done by a university professor who is working to prove that David never existed! However it did give me a date, 1050 BC to 1150BC.. That was interesting because it put David at 30 years old into a peer group with the founder of the Mayan religion in Mexico, or the founding of the Sheng dynasty in China, or the Aryans in India - but still no answer. But then I read a condensed version of his life (the actually portion in the bibles is found in Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, and the Psalms. And the episode that stood out was one that I had known for many years -

It is found in 2 Samuel 4, 9, 16 ,19 It is a lovely little story, let me tell you - and see why it fits our communion service so well.

David had been harassed by Saul ever since he had been anointed as the new king of Israel. Not just nasty things, but they attacked his family, stole his wife, tried to kill him etc. But the day came when God removed his hand of protection from Saul and his family, and because of his sin, God allowed him to be killed by the enemy, with all his sons. But David forgave Saul and his family, and asks, "Is there anyone left of Saul's family?" A servant volunteered an answer - "Yes a young man who is a cripple. When the enemy came his nurse tried to escape with him, but fell with him and broke both his ankles - they have never healed up, and he is a cripple."

Can you imagine the young man being brought in, wondering what his fate was to be? I try to imagine him coming in walking on two canes, shuffling toward David, and then falling down before him. But rather than condemning him because of his family, David offers him a place for the rest of his life at his table, a home to live in and an entourage of servants. As I read this act of grace on David's part, and it reminded me of another young man who was an enemy of Jesus Christ. Who when he met Jesus he also fell on his face, with the question, "Who art Thou Lord" - and again he is raised up, and given the right to represent the very one who he has been fighting against. And I thought what a picture of God's grace - not looking at our weaknesses, or our lack of faith, or whatever, and hearing our Saviour say to us, "Come unto me all ye that weary, and I will give you rest."

Not because we deserved it, but because He loves us - that is grace - that is a picture of God at work in David's life. - Making him a man after God's own heart. And there is also a picture of ourselves as well as we come to the communion table - the scripture challenges us to examen ourselves - to let the Holy Spirit reveal to each of us the sins of the past - so that we can confess them to Him, and then come sit at the table - our sins covered, just as the long table cloth covered the cripple feet of Mephibosheth. And you know, food must be absorbed and utilized.

We will come to this table not because it is the first Sunday of the month, but because we are invited to come by Jesus himself. Moses met God one day on the mountain, and when he came down his face shone. We come, we consume by faith the presence of Jesus Christ in the bread and wine - but if we also have met with Jesus personally, everyone will know - our spiritual faces will shine.