Trust & Obey

Starting out, this little boy wasn’t doing so bad. His father was the crown prince of a beautiful country, and his grandfather ruled with an iron fist. This family had everything they could want, and the little boy was the jewel of the family. He would grow up with the best teachers, best food, and best home. He had it all. Then, someone dropped him while carrying him and his ankles were destroyed. So, he became a cripple. Then, his grandfather began to lose his mind, causing the people to fear him. Then, there was a new king elected because the current one was a mess, and this boy’s grandpa was determined to murder him at all cost. However, the little boy’s dad loved the young man appointed king–they were best friends. These two promised to take care of each other and to always have the other’s back. The boy’s father betrayed his own father to follow the new king.

The little boy isn’t little anymore and as a part of the family that was dethroned, he hides in a desolate place where hopefully the new king will never find him. He doesn’t know that his dad and the king were so close. He fears the new dynasty and knows that nothing, but death now awaits him at the palace.

His greatest fear comes true when he hears the heavy thuds of a fist pounding at his door one day. The man shuffles awkwardly to the front door and opens it to a man all dressed up in the richest materials. He tells the crippled man, “The King requests your presence immediately. Please follow me.” The crippled man’s stomach just drops. He knows what’s waiting for him. He knows that the King would only want one thing to do with him: condemn him to death. So, he takes a few breaths, trying to calm himself, and he follows the messenger to the King’s palace.

The crippled man enters the palace that was once his family’s and he sees the King walking quickly toward him. He hopes this is a quick death and he can die with a little dignity. The King comes closer and closer and then says, “It’s all good! Your dad and I were best friends and I want to restore everything to you that was your family’s. On top of that, I want you to be a part of my family and have a permanent home here. You will be another son to me.”

The crippled man cannot believe what comes out of the King’s mouth. He swears this is all a sick joke. He doesn’t deserve this. This isn’t how this works. So all he can say is “What would you want with a dead dog like me?”

This story is all true and takes place in 2 Samuel 9, featuring King David and Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul. I just heard this story at Bible study and I had heard it before, but holy smokes the Spirit illuminated something in there that made me get all choked up:

We are the crippled Mephibosheth. We come from the messed up line of humanity that brought sin into the world and even tried to destroy the man who came to save us, Jesus. We are unable to function as we were meant to and can offer little. So, when God invites us to be one of His children, to be brought into His house, and to experience being a brother/sister with Christ. How many of us have asked the same question: “What would you want with a dead dog like me?”

It’s so beautiful how the Old Testament mirrors the New Testament, and we catch glimpses of what is to come. David did not know at the time he would be a part of a beautiful vignette of God’s love for us, but because he was obedient to God, he got to be a part of the glorious restoration of Mephibosheth.

The same is true for us. While in this vignette we begin as Mephibosheth, once we have accepted Christ we get to be David to others. Is there anyone who has wronged you? Is there anyone who is uncared for by those around you? If so, you have an opportunity to be Christ to that person. You can extend a hand of life to that person. By loving those we aren’t “supposed” to care for, we are showing Christ’s love to others. It’s not about owing it to that person. It’s about that none of us deserve it and yet, Christ extended grace and love to us.