2 Sam 9.1-13 tells us about David’s inquiry about the descendants of Saul and he finds the grandson of Saul named Mephibosheth (extermination of the idol/shame) and restores his father’s land. He was crippled in both feet and was five when his father Jonathan died. Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba (statue) and they brought him to David, and David asked him if there was anyone of the house of Saul who he could show kindness. Ziba said there was a son of Jonathan who is hiding in the house of Machir (sold) the son of Ammiel (my kinsman is God) in Lo-debar (no word).
So David sent for him from the house of Machir, and Mephibosheth came to David and fell on his face and prostrated himself. David told him not to fear because he was going to show kindness to him for the sake of Jonathan his father, who David had a covenant with. David will restore all the land of his grandfather Saul to him, and he will eat at the table of David regularly, and this is considered as being adopted by David. Mephibosheth was humbled by this and said, “What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me?” David said all the land of Saul would be given to him and all that he has lost will be restored, and Ziba and his sons will cultivate the land for him and be his servants. So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem.
So, this story alludes to Yeshua and the believer. Like Mephibosheth, we were crippled in both feet and couldn’t walk before the Lord. But Yeshua showed us kindness and adopted us into the family of God and we will eat at his table in the Messianic Kingdom-Isa 25.6; Matt 8.11; Luke 22.30; Rev 19.9. Like Mephibosheth, we fear the king and death was a reality, but Yeshua will fulfill his promises like David fulfilled his promises to Jonathan. So, let’s do an overall review of these parallels between David and Mephibosheth, and Yeshua and our salvation.
Mephibosheth was hiding, and so were we, and we did not have the word of God to guide us (he was living in Lo-debar meaning “no word”). He was separated from the king because of his sinful ancestors and didn’t know David’s love like we did not know God’s love for us because of our sinful ancestors. David sought him out like God seeks us out before we ever sought him and came to him in faith, and our shame and idolatry was exterminated, the meaning of the name Mephibosheth. David’s kindness is extended to him for the sake of another, and God’s kindness is extended to us for the sake of another, Yeshua, and this kindness is based on a covenant. Like Mephibosheth, we must accept this kindness in humility because our salvation is based on the kindness and grace of God and not based on our works, we were crippled in our walk. The king comes to us and returns all that we have lost, and we can eat at the king’s table because we are received as sons. He does not take away our “lameness” right away but sends us help so that we can be fruitful and prosperous.
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