Mephibosheth…son of my Friend

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Mephibosheth honor

Wednesday 08/05/20 

Series: Thru the Bible

Message – Mephibosheth…son of my Friend

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Thru the Bible: 2Sam. 9-12; 1 Chron. 19-20

The first part of our lessons tonight “should” trigger a question in your mind. I will see if it does and if not I will trigger it for you and then answer the question.

2 Samuel 9:1-13,

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

“(1) Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”  

(2)  And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” 

He said, “At your service!”  

(3)  Then the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?” 

And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet.”  

(4)  So the king said to him, “Where is he?” 

And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”  

(5)  Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.  

(6)  Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. 

Then David said, “Mephibosheth?”

And he answered, “Here is your servant!”  

(7)  So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”  

(8)  Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?”  

(9)  And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house.  (10)  You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread at my table always.” 

Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.  (11)  Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.” 

“As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.”  

(12)  Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth.  (13)  So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.”

So why should this trigger a question in your mind?

Back when we were reading about King David retaking Jerusalem from the Jebusites, we heard David say he hated the lame.

I was kinda surprised at the time that no one asked about it when we covered it, but I held my peace since I knew this passage was coming. The passage is found in 2Sam. 5:5-8, 

“(5)  In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned 33 years over all Israel and Judah.”

“(6)  The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land.” 

“The Jebusites had said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you,” thinking, “David can’t get in here.”  (7)  Yet David did capture the stronghold of Zion, the city of David.  (8)  He said that day, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must go through the water shaft to reach the lame and the blind who are despised by David.” 

For this reason it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the house.”  

As for the reason David said this, there are three speculations, but only one, in my opinion, holds any water.

  1. It was said in scorn against the chiding of the Jebusites.
  2. It was said because a lame person could not have entered the city to reclaim it.
  3. It was said as a play on words against the idol gods of Jebusites who were made of wood, stone and metal since they are without life and are “blind and lame”.

One thing we have no basis for truly believing is that David truly hated the lame. Now, we know that even if David did, for some unknown and illogical reason, hate the lame – he still would have acted as he did since this was NOT about Mephibosheth but about honoring Saul’s possessions and heirs and honoring his friend Jonathan.

In David’s honoring of Mephibosheth, we see an attribute of God, Who honors those who honor Him, even long after they have passed. We see this most profoundly in God having the Gospel preached FIRST to the Jewish nation before including Samaria and the rest of the world. God is said to have done this out of honor of Abraham, the father of Israel.

David defeats Ammon and Syria

2 Samuel 10:1-14,  

“(1) It happened after this that the king of the people of Ammon died, and Han-un his son reigned in his place.  

(2)  Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me.” 

So David sent by the hand of his servants to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the people of Ammon.  

(3)  And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?”  

(4)  Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away.  

(5)  When they told David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. 

And the king said, “Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”  

(6)  When the people of Ammon saw that they had made themselves repulsive to David, the people of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand foot soldiers; and from the king of Maacah one thousand men, and from Ish-Tob twelve thousand men.  

(7)  Now when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men.  

(8)  Then the people of Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array at the entrance of the gate. And the Syrians of Zoba, Beth Rehob, Ish-Tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.  

(9)  When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of Israel’s best and put them in battle array against the Syrians.  (10)  And the rest of the people he put under the command of Abishai his brother, that he might set them in battle array against the people of Ammon.  

(11)  Then he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.  (12)  Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight.”  

(13)  So Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him.  (14)  When the people of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing, they also fled before Abishai, and entered the city. So Joab returned from the people of Ammon and went to Jerusalem. (15) When the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered together.  (16)  Then Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the River, and they came to Helam. And Shobach the commander of Hadadezer’s army went before them.  

(17)  When it was told David, he gathered all Israel, crossed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in battle array against David and fought with him.  (18)  Then the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand horsemen of the Syrians, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, who died there.  (19)  And when all the kings who were servants to Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the people of Ammon anymore.”

1 Chronicles 19:1-19,  

“(1) It happened after this that Nahash the king of the people of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place.  

(2)  Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came to Hanun in the land of the people of Ammon to comfort him.  

(3)  And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun, “Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Did his servants not come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?”  

(4)  Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away.  

(5)  Then some went and told David about the men; and he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. 

And the king said, “Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”  

(6)  When the people of Ammon saw that they had made themselves repulsive to David, Hanun and the people of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Syrian Maacah, and from Zobah.  (7)  So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, with the king of Maacah and his people, who came and encamped before Medeba. Also the people of Ammon gathered together from their cities, and came to battle.  

(8)  Now when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men.  (9)  Then the people of Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array before the gate of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.  (10)  When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of Israel’s best, and put them in battle array against the Syrians.  (11)  And the rest of the people he put under the command of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in battle array against the people of Ammon.  (12)  Then he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.  (13)  Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight.”  (14)  So Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him.  (15)  When the people of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing, they also fled before Abishai his brother, and entered the city. So Joab went to Jerusalem.  (16)  Now when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought the Syrians who were beyond the River, and Shophach the commander of Hadadezer’s army went before them.  

(17)  When it was told David, he gathered all Israel, crossed over the Jordan and came upon them, and set up in battle array against them. So when David had set up in battle array against the Syrians, they fought with him.  (18)  Then the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven thousand charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers of the Syrians, and killed Shophach the commander of the army.  (19)  And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became his servants. So the Syrians were not willing to help the people of Ammon anymore.”

The Capture of Rabbah

1 Chronicles 20:1-3, 

“(1) It happened in the spring of the year, at the time kings go out to battle, that Joab led out the armed forces and ravaged the country of the people of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. And Joab defeated Rabbah and overthrew it.  (2)  Then David took their king’s crown from his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it. And it was set on David’s head. Also he brought out the spoil of the city in great abundance.  (3)  And he brought out the people who were in it, and put them to work with saws, with iron picks, and with axes. So David did to all the cities of the people of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.”

2 Samuel 11:1, 

“(1) It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.”

2 Samuel 12:26-31, 

“(26) Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the people of Ammon, and took the royal city.  (27)  And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, “I have fought against Rabbah, and I have taken the city’s water supply.  (28)  Now therefore, gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called after my name.”  (29)  So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, fought against it, and took it.  (30)  Then he took their king’s crown from his head. Its weight was a talent of gold, with precious stones. And it was set on David’s head. Also he brought out the spoil of the city in great abundance.  (31)  And he brought out the people who were in it, and put them to work with saws and iron picks and iron axes, and made them cross over to the brick works. So he did to all the cities of the people of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.”

Blessings!

 

I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

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Blessings!

Pastor Mark

View posts by Pastor Mark

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!