Mephibosheth 's Handicap Wasn't His Attitude!

 

Imagine growing up, crippled and unable to walk, all because a nursemaid dropped you as a child when you were five years old. Mephibosheth was probably raised by his mother in a very modest existence since his father, Jonathan, and grandfather, Saul, had been killed in battle. Saul had been the king and Mephibosheth would have had a promising future. But when Saul and Jonathan were killed, the rest of the family had to flee fearing a takeover of the kingdom by David, who Saul had considered his enemy. It was in this effort to escape that Mephibosheth was dropped.

There isn't much said about Mephibosheth's early years, until King David's heart of kindness and desire to honor his deceased friend, Jonathan, brings Mephibosheth into a whole new set of circumstances. We do know that M fathered a son, Mika.

As David asks whether any family of Jonathan is still around, Ziba, a servant from Saul's household tells David about M. Ziba brings M to David, not knowing why he was being summoned. David declares that for the sake of showing kindness to Jonathan, M will now receive everything that belonged to Saul and his family, and M will eat at his table. Ziba and his sons and servants were to farm the land which would provide for M. There's a parenthetical comment in the text that says Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants. I wonder whether this was giving Ziba and his household a lower ranking. Had they just assumed Saul's property was their inheritance and now it was given to Saul's crippled grandson? All the members of Ziba's household were now servants of M, and M lived in the capitol city, eating at the king's table like one of his sons.

This story has always impressed me. David's kindness to a crippled man changed his whole life! 

 I reference this story in another blog post I wrote earlier. I include a link in that post to a song by Leeland entitled, Carried to the Table. A very beautiful expression of this story.

https://randomlyruthful.blogspot.com/2012/02/carried-to-table.html

In my reading in 2 Samuel today, Ziba and Mephibosheth are mentioned again. When David flees from Jerusalem because his son Absolom is staging a coup, Ziba meets him with donkeys and supplies for David's fighting men. David asks about M and Ziba lies, saying M stayed behind because he thought Saul's Kingdom would now be restored to him. David then declares that all that belonged to M would now be Ziba's. Ziba appears to humbly accept this transfer. I think Ziba took advantage of the situation to get back what he had before David favored M.

But the story doesn't end there.

As David returns from the war and the whole kingdom is now his, Ziba, his sons and servants show up to let David know they will serve his household and do whatever he wishes. Mephibosheth somehow gets there also, very unkempt, as he probably had no one to tend to him during the time he stayed behind. David asks why he had not come earlier to join David.

 
M shares truthfully that Ziba had betrayed him, but he would not make any appeals to the king. M said, "All my relatives and I could expect only death from you, my lord, but instead you have honored me by allowing me to eat at your own table! What more can I ask?”

 
“You’ve said enough,” David replied. “I’ve decided that you and Ziba will divide your land equally between you.”

“Give him all of it,” Mephibosheth said. “I am content just to have you safely back again, my lord the king!”

What a humble man of honor! He had feasted at the king's table, staying in gratitude and not entitlement, and when he was betrayed by Ziba, David's kindness was enough. He was willing to give up everything to have his king safely back again. Out of contentment and gratitude he chose forgiveness over gaining possessions and harboring bitterness.

Mephibosheth's attitude is in sharp contrast to the world's thinking and reactions today. We are children of the King of kings, sitting at his table, and our inheritance is rich and sure in Jesus. Should we respond in anger when things of this world are taken from us, or our rights are violated? M was content to be loved by the king and his allegiance was unwavering.

Lord, may my heart be always full of gratitude for all you've done for me and for all you've given me. Don't let me be pulled away into bitterness and greed for what's mine, because someone mistreats me or betrays me.

May my contentment in having you as Lord, Savior, Friend, and Generous Giver of every good and perfect gift always be enough.