(2nd Sam 9:7 CEV) Mephibosheth knelt down again and said, “Why should you care about me? I’m worth no more than a dead dog.”
This morning we continue our new series entitled, “Faith and Patience VOL III – Never Give Up!” We have been discussing Mephibosheth for a couple of days now and I am not done yet, but before I move on I feel as though I need to highlight something special about his story. When teaching on faith and patience I normally focus on people who remained in faith for the long haul. These are people who endured under seemingly insurmountable circumstances. But in Mephibosheth’s story I want to highlight something different.
Mephibosheth did not hold on, per se. He buckled under the pressures of life and he lost the grasp he once had on his dreams. I am sure that Mephibosheth, as a young prince running around the palace, dreamed of the splendor he would some day enjoy as the king of Israel. He dreamed of reigning from the throne. He imagined himself sitting where his grandfather Saul was. Whenever he sat on Saul’s lap, the young king-in-training would play around on the throne he would one day command. Can you see him? Mephibosheth was only five years old when his life came crashing down. My youngest son Joshua is five years old right now. Joshua already dreams of what is going to be when he grows up. Joshua will tell you, with full assurance, that he will be a preacher and what he calls a “Math guy,” because he loves math. Little Mephibosheth no doubt had similar excitement about his future. But somewhere along the way he gave up. In one day, as a five year old, Mephibosheth lost his royal lineage, his royal inheritance, and his ability to walk. So not only was he no longer an heir to riches, but would not even have the ability work as an able-bodied man. So it’s understandable why he had low self-esteem. He was living in Lo-debar, a barren place full of dead dreams, and he saw himself as a “dead dog.”
Here comes the good news. Although Mephibosheth was not David, Jacob, Joseph, Paul, or many of the other Biblical characters who exhibited exceptional faith and patience, God still had a way of blessing him. Since Mephibosheth was not in a position to stand in faith for his own breakthrough, God moved upon the heart of David to simply offer it to him. While this is my personal opinion, I am convinced that God had a hand in David and Jonathan’s relationship and part of the purpose of the relationship was to redeem Mephibosheth from Le-debar. When Mephibosheth was at his lowest point the favor of God was offered to him to bring him out! That’s Grace and yes, it is amazing! When no one else was thinking about Mephibosheth, God was and He moved upon the heart of David to bless him richly.
So what does this mean to you today? Three things:
1. God has a clear faith requirement. God unquestionably expects you to live by faith and to have the patience to hold on for your breakthrough, no matter how long it takes.
2. God also has favor and grace. There are times when God knows you are not in a position to stand in faith and while He could allow you to wallow in your pity and to remain in your lowly state, He sometimes moves upon the hearts of others to bless you and favor you simply because of His grace. Never cease to thank God for His amazing grace!
3. We serve a God who spends time thinking about us. When you think that no one is thinking about you, remember that You serve a God who is. He is mindful of you (Ps 8:4) and He takes the time to make plans for you (Jer 29:11). Just knowing that the God of universe spends time thinking about you should bring you comfort, joy, and peace.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your grace and favor. I know You expect me to live by faith and to remain in faith for the long haul. I am a faith warrior and I declare that I will. I shall walk and live by faith every day of my life. However, if I ever get to the point where I am at my wit’s-end and I am no longer in faith, I thank You for being so gracious to me, that You can still move upon the hearts of others to favor me, bless me, and help me to get out of my rut. Thank You Father for thinking about me, for making plans for my life, and for caring enough about me to intervene when I need help. I speak this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
