Who is Mephibosheth?
Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of King Saul. He was five years old when the news came about their deaths in battle. His nurse was fleeing with him to hide when “he fell and became disabled” (2 Sam. 4:4). Now, perhaps 16 years later, King David called for him.
Surely he was terrified as he limped into the king’s throne room and fell prostrate on his face before the king. Middle Eastern custom would have suggested that David would slay all remaining descendants of Saul in order to secure his own throne. Yet, while the crippled Mephibosheth lay face down, trembling with anxiety, he heard King David say, “Fear not. For I will surely show you kindness for your father’s sake, and you shall eat bread at my table continually” (2 Sam. 9:7).
Who is Mephibosheth? First, we must understand who David represents in this story. For David is a picture of Christ, and his behavior towards Mephibosheth foreshadows the kindness of Christ towards us. Mephibosheth had fallen and was crippled all his days. He was from the House of Saul, who had made David his enemy, trying to kill him. It was a scandalous thing that King David would seek to find Mephibosheth and then invite this crippled, former enemy to eat at the same table as one of his own sons. Yet, this is exactly what David did.
Who is Mephibosheth? I am. We are. We are fallen and crippled by sin. We were enemies of God. Yet Jesus Christ, the Son of David, has sought us out and found us. He has invited us to eat continually at the King’s table as one of the Father’s own sons. If David is a picture of Christ, then Mephibosheth is a picture of us.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that while we were still crippled from our fallen state, You sent Jesus to redeem us from our sin. Yet more than that, You have adopted us as sons and prepared a place for us at Your table. We rejoice in our Redeemer and look forward with joy to that Day when we shall sit at Your table. In Jesus’ name, amen.