UTSKRIFT 🔗
WEBVTT
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.700
Good morning, church. It is always a pleasure to be with you, and a little bit of a special surprise that I'm with you on this side of the pulpit this morning.
00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:19.820
Surprise to me, of course, not a surprise to the Lord. So we'll be taking an unexpected and humanly unplanned break from our exposition of the Gospel of John this morning.
00:00:20.019 --> 00:00:21.519
We'll be in prayer for Nathan.
00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:26.539
Mr. Reminder will be on the lookout for ways to help the Rainers as Nathan is on the mend.
00:00:26.539 --> 00:00:31.839
Please be in prayer for me this morning, as this preparation had to be done in only a couple hours.
00:00:32.460 --> 00:00:40.219
Thankfully for me, God is all-wise and powerful. It is only my responsibility to let the lion of God's Word out of its cage this morning.
00:00:40.879 --> 00:00:44.539
So join with me in prayer before we examine God's Word together.
00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:48.980
Dear Lord, thank you for the breath in our lungs this morning.
00:00:48.979 --> 00:00:57.479
Thank you for gathering us together to sing your praises, to bear with one another through this life as you grow and sanctify us to the image of Christ,
00:00:57.739 --> 00:01:05.420
to celebrate the greatness of the Gospel and to cherish the depth of your kindness and wisdom shown to us through the testimony of your Word.
00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:12.039
It is an abundant gift that we have your Word to explore and to see how you've revealed yourself to us in it.
00:01:12.579 --> 00:01:16.099
Help us to see your working today and obediently follow where you lead us.
00:01:16.099 --> 00:01:20.859
I pray that you would take this brief sermon and multiply its effects beyond what I think is possible,
00:01:21.379 --> 00:01:23.519
because we know that you give the growth.
00:01:24.280 --> 00:01:30.459
Thank you for your faithfulness to us, that we can count on it, and it is our hope everlasting.
00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:33.739
We pray this and come to you in Jesus' name. Amen.
00:01:35.939 --> 00:01:40.119
Today, we will be looking at a powerful prefigure of Jesus Christ,
00:01:40.199 --> 00:01:44.039
as well as a name that I do not expect to be announced on Slack anytime soon.
00:01:44.040 --> 00:01:47.920
Of course, that means we will be studying David and Mephibosheth this morning.
00:01:48.580 --> 00:01:50.300
I invite you to turn to 2 Samuel.
00:01:50.660 --> 00:01:53.620
The focus of our time today will be in chapter 9,
00:01:54.080 --> 00:01:57.460
but we will have some quick touch points earlier in the story
00:01:57.460 --> 00:02:03.620
to help frame our understanding of the situation in chapter 9.
00:02:04.460 --> 00:02:07.080
So, at the end of 1 Samuel, in chapter 31,
00:02:07.580 --> 00:02:11.719
we read about Saul and Jonathan falling in battle against the Philistines.
00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:16.120
In chapter 1 of 2 Samuel, this news makes its way to David,
00:02:16.259 --> 00:02:19.719
and he weeps and mourns the death of his best friend and king.
00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:22.840
David's poetic lament was captured and recorded.
00:02:23.340 --> 00:02:25.639
A few verses in the middle summarize it well.
00:02:26.199 --> 00:02:29.680
Verse 23 and 25 of chapter 1 of 2 Samuel says,
00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:51.800
David loved these men.
00:02:51.800 --> 00:02:55.860
God used Saul to put David in the position to bring much glory to God
00:02:55.860 --> 00:03:00.640
as David led campaigns and battles and defenses against people that hated God and Israel.
00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:05.160
Jonathan was a faithful friend and brother in arms with David
00:03:05.160 --> 00:03:07.719
as God preserved them through those many battles.
00:03:08.380 --> 00:03:11.720
And despite Saul's determined murderous chase against David,
00:03:11.860 --> 00:03:14.200
David still loved and respected Saul,
00:03:14.340 --> 00:03:18.040
as we can see here clearly in David's mourning of Saul.
00:03:18.039 --> 00:03:23.259
There are many biblical phrases that have permeated English,
00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:26.219
and we read one, we see a common one here,
00:03:26.739 --> 00:03:27.899
how the mighty have fallen.
00:03:28.180 --> 00:03:30.099
This was a genuine tragedy.
00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:33.780
I often hear this phrase used facetiously or sarcastically,
00:03:34.340 --> 00:03:37.979
so I want to be sure that we are not anachronistically reading that notion back into this.
00:03:38.060 --> 00:03:43.840
This was a real tragedy, a real mourning that David says in his feeling.
00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:49.680
He repeats this rephrase how the mighty have fallen three times during his lament.
00:03:49.819 --> 00:03:53.879
This was a deep, impactful loss for the nation.
00:03:55.020 --> 00:03:57.520
So in the power vacuum of Saul's death,
00:03:57.659 --> 00:04:00.840
the nation of Israel starts to crack politically,
00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:03.219
not unlike it was in the time of the judges.
00:04:03.980 --> 00:04:05.819
David is appointed king of Judah in the south,
00:04:06.020 --> 00:04:10.020
and Ish-bosheth, son of Saul, is appointed king of Israel in the north.
00:04:10.020 --> 00:04:15.300
Saul's general, Abner, took Ish-bosheth and endorsed him as king.
00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:17.879
In these politically unstable situations,
00:04:18.379 --> 00:04:21.280
people tend to listen to the guy who has control of the army,
00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:23.300
so Ish-bosheth became king.
00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:26.460
We also read about David's general, Joab,
00:04:26.500 --> 00:04:28.800
and his actions during this politically unstable time.
00:04:29.560 --> 00:04:32.280
A while later, Abner, Saul's former general,
00:04:32.680 --> 00:04:35.540
defected and went and joined with David.
00:04:35.540 --> 00:04:41.280
David, Joab, David's general, voiced his distrust of Abner to David.
00:04:41.819 -->
Load full transcript
00:04:45.600
And he also, Abner, had a personal vendetta against Joab
00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:50.000
because Joab killed Abner's brother, Asahel, earlier in these conflicts.
00:04:50.900 --> 00:04:54.700
So Joab quickly set about his plan to murder Abner, which he does.
00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:57.379
David publicly mourned Abner's death
00:04:57.379 --> 00:05:00.780
and confirmed that he had no role in the murder.
00:05:01.580 --> 00:05:04.460
News of this murder gets back to Israel and Ish-bosheth,
00:05:04.459 --> 00:05:06.279
and the city starts to go crazy,
00:05:06.819 --> 00:05:09.839
and Ish-bosheth loses his courage.
00:05:10.739 --> 00:05:12.299
At the same time, in Israel,
00:05:12.500 --> 00:05:15.560
two raiding band captains were with Ish-bosheth in the city,
00:05:15.799 --> 00:05:18.560
and they take this tumultuous moment of this uncertainty
00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:21.259
following Abner's death
00:05:21.259 --> 00:05:25.319
as a moment for them to have opportunity for gain.
00:05:25.560 --> 00:05:29.120
So they assassinate Ish-bosheth and take his head to David,
00:05:29.479 --> 00:05:31.240
hoping that David will give them a reward
00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:33.399
because they took out David's enemy.
00:05:33.399 --> 00:05:35.539
David sees the men for what they are,
00:05:35.779 --> 00:05:38.399
murderers, and puts them to death for their wickedness.
00:05:38.839 --> 00:05:41.859
In the middle of this account, in 2 Samuel chapter 4,
00:05:42.519 --> 00:05:47.500
in verse 4, the narrator kind of flashes back about Mephosheth,
00:05:48.159 --> 00:05:50.859
likely so that the reader would understand
00:05:50.859 --> 00:05:53.239
why the next of kin was not appointed king
00:05:53.239 --> 00:05:55.419
after Ish-bosheth is murdered.
00:05:55.420 --> 00:05:58.580
So this is 2 Samuel 4, verse 4.
00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:00.480
Jonathan, the son of Saul,
00:06:00.640 --> 00:06:02.580
had a son who was crippled in his feet.
00:06:02.819 --> 00:06:03.879
He was five years old.
00:06:04.280 --> 00:06:05.879
So, okay, that's the headline.
00:06:06.020 --> 00:06:07.620
Jonathan had a son who was crippled in his feet.
00:06:07.700 --> 00:06:08.720
This is how he got crippled.
00:06:09.020 --> 00:06:11.620
He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan
00:06:11.620 --> 00:06:13.580
came from Jezreel, the battlefield.
00:06:14.340 --> 00:06:15.980
And his nurse took him and fled.
00:06:16.080 --> 00:06:17.420
And as she fled in her haste,
00:06:18.180 --> 00:06:20.340
he, Mephibosheth, fell and became lame,
00:06:20.339 --> 00:06:23.039
and his name was Mephibosheth.
00:06:23.419 --> 00:06:26.979
So in the chaos about hearing about a leader's death,
00:06:27.019 --> 00:06:28.259
in this case Saul's death,
00:06:28.359 --> 00:06:31.679
Mephibosheth has an accident and can no longer walk.
00:06:31.859 --> 00:06:34.699
Years later, in the chaos about another leader's death,
00:06:34.759 --> 00:06:35.919
in this case Ish-bosheth,
00:06:37.059 --> 00:06:38.779
his uncle is assassinated.
00:06:38.779 --> 00:06:42.939
So no one tried to take up this young crippled Mephibosheth
00:06:42.939 --> 00:06:44.279
and put him on the throne,
00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:46.019
as had been done for Ish-bosheth.
00:06:46.699 --> 00:06:47.779
So the political dust settles,
00:06:47.779 --> 00:06:51.119
and David is anointed king over a reunited Israel.
00:06:51.739 --> 00:06:54.399
The chapters that follow this are generally quite positive.
00:06:55.019 --> 00:06:57.179
God gives David victory over the Philistines.
00:06:57.319 --> 00:06:59.279
David brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.
00:06:59.859 --> 00:07:02.859
God makes a covenant with David to uphold his house forever.
00:07:03.419 --> 00:07:05.539
And God gives many more military victories
00:07:05.539 --> 00:07:06.959
around the land to David.
00:07:07.779 --> 00:07:10.359
And there is a repeated phrase there in chapter 8,
00:07:10.679 --> 00:07:11.979
in verse 6 and 14.
00:07:12.699 --> 00:07:16.379
The Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.
00:07:16.379 --> 00:07:19.019
And the narrator follows this latter verse,
00:07:19.159 --> 00:07:20.920
in verse 15, with this,
00:07:21.339 --> 00:07:23.300
So David reigned over all Israel,
00:07:23.659 --> 00:07:26.040
and David administered justice and equity
00:07:26.040 --> 00:07:27.680
to all his people.
00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:29.639
So to be clear, at this point,
00:07:29.699 --> 00:07:32.500
this is a mountaintop, high point moment
00:07:32.500 --> 00:07:34.560
in the life of David.
00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:36.659
He has brought the Ark with him.
00:07:36.939 --> 00:07:39.199
God has made him victorious wherever he went.
00:07:39.420 --> 00:07:40.719
God has made a covenant with him
00:07:40.719 --> 00:07:41.639
that will last forever.
00:07:41.800 --> 00:07:43.879
I mean, this is the top of the top.
00:07:43.879 --> 00:07:46.120
There's justice and equity for all the people.
00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:49.959
This is a huge sigh of relief for this nation.
00:07:50.659 --> 00:07:52.420
We must remember that this has been,
00:07:52.939 --> 00:07:54.920
what came before David
00:07:54.920 --> 00:07:56.719
was the reign of Saul,
00:07:57.219 --> 00:07:58.379
selfish, murderous,
00:07:58.459 --> 00:07:59.920
and at times pretty insane.
00:08:00.480 --> 00:08:02.420
And before Saul was the time of the judges,
00:08:02.680 --> 00:08:04.779
a very dark and depressing time
00:08:04.779 --> 00:08:06.000
in Israel's history,
00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:07.199
full of sin and wickedness.
00:08:07.620 --> 00:08:10.439
So this had been since the time of Moses and Joshua,
00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:13.839
that the people would have known justice and peace like this
00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:16.660
about 350 years before.
00:08:17.480 --> 00:08:19.959
Now, we just celebrated the 250th anniversary
00:08:19.959 -->
00:08:22.060
of the United States independence earlier this year.
00:08:22.540 --> 00:08:23.680
So with that context,
00:08:23.779 --> 00:08:27.879
350 years feels like a long, long time indeed.
00:08:28.379 --> 00:08:29.899
So with that lengthy introduction,
00:08:30.159 --> 00:08:32.179
we now arrive in chapter nine,
00:08:32.259 --> 00:08:33.679
where we will consider first,
00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:37.279
David's intention in the first five verses.
00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:39.959
So read with me in 2 Samuel chapter nine,
00:08:40.139 --> 00:08:41.159
verses one through five.
00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:43.539
And David said,
00:08:44.019 --> 00:08:47.079
Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul
00:08:47.079 --> 00:08:50.100
that I might show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?
00:08:50.539 --> 00:08:52.500
Now there was a servant of the house of Saul
00:08:52.500 --> 00:08:53.500
whose name was Ziba.
00:08:53.839 --> 00:08:55.519
And they called him to David.
00:08:55.639 --> 00:08:56.980
And the king said to him,
00:08:57.120 --> 00:08:57.899
Are you Ziba?
00:08:58.439 --> 00:08:59.100
And he said,
00:08:59.220 --> 00:09:00.179
I am your servant.
00:09:00.699 --> 00:09:01.699
And the king said,
00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:03.860
Is there not still someone of the house of Saul
00:09:03.860 --> 00:09:07.320
that I may show the kindness of God to him?
00:09:08.259 --> 00:09:09.220
Ziba said to the king,
00:09:09.300 --> 00:09:10.639
There is still a son of Jonathan.
00:09:10.940 --> 00:09:12.220
He is crippled in his feet.
00:09:12.840 --> 00:09:13.940
The king said to him,
00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:14.680
Where is he?
00:09:15.159 --> 00:09:16.419
And Ziba said to the king,
00:09:16.539 --> 00:09:17.659
He is in the house of Mekir,
00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:19.639
the son of Amiel at Lodabar.
00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:22.419
Then King David sent and brought him
00:09:22.419 --> 00:09:23.340
from the house of Mekir,
00:09:23.419 --> 00:09:25.139
the son of Amiel at Lodabar.
00:09:25.700 --> 00:09:27.720
So from the very beginning of this account,
00:09:27.720 --> 00:09:31.159
we can see David's true and stated intention.
00:09:31.159 --> 00:09:33.659
Is there anyone left that I may show him kindness
00:09:33.659 --> 00:09:34.600
for Jonathan's sake?
00:09:34.759 --> 00:09:35.339
And then again,
00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:37.139
Is there anyone left that I may show
00:09:37.139 --> 00:09:39.480
the kindness of God to him?
00:09:40.219 --> 00:09:42.459
As we've already covered today and more
00:09:42.459 --> 00:09:44.259
beyond that and recorded in scripture,
00:09:45.179 --> 00:09:49.519
David knows well the enduring, faithful kindness of God.
00:09:49.719 --> 00:09:51.779
And that is what he is looking to show.
00:09:52.199 --> 00:09:53.319
It is out now,
00:09:53.419 --> 00:09:56.139
out of an overflow of God's kindness to him,
00:09:56.259 --> 00:09:58.759
that he seeks out who else he can lift up
00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:00.840
and bless to honor the promises
00:10:00.840 --> 00:10:03.960
that he made to Jonathan and Saul.
00:10:04.379 --> 00:10:04.980
So once again,
00:10:05.059 --> 00:10:06.259
getting back some other context,
00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:09.019
in 1 Samuel 20, verse 42,
00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:11.399
Jonathan summarizes the covenant
00:10:11.399 --> 00:10:13.220
that he and David made together.
00:10:13.819 --> 00:10:15.620
Then Jonathan said to David,
00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:16.879
Go in peace,
00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:18.980
because we have sworn both of us
00:10:18.980 --> 00:10:20.000
in the name of the Lord,
00:10:20.460 --> 00:10:20.840
saying,
00:10:21.379 --> 00:10:23.659
The Lord shall be between me and you,
00:10:23.939 --> 00:10:25.100
and between my offspring
00:10:25.100 --> 00:10:27.059
and your offspring forever.
00:10:27.059 --> 00:10:31.099
And after David spares Saul's life
00:10:31.099 --> 00:10:32.179
in 1 Samuel 24,
00:10:32.919 --> 00:10:34.279
David swears this to Saul.
00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:35.539
So Saul said to David,
00:10:36.619 --> 00:10:37.379
Swear to me,
00:10:37.619 --> 00:10:37.859
therefore,
00:10:38.059 --> 00:10:38.699
by the Lord,
00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:41.279
that you will not cut off my offspring after me,
00:10:41.319 --> 00:10:42.679
and you will not destroy my name
00:10:42.679 --> 00:10:43.859
out of my father's house.
00:10:44.239 --> 00:10:45.699
And David swore this to Saul.
00:10:45.959 --> 00:10:47.759
The difference in flavor
00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:49.119
from these two promises
00:10:49.119 --> 00:10:51.079
is telling about the difference in character
00:10:51.079 --> 00:10:52.599
between Jonathan and Saul.
00:10:53.019 --> 00:10:55.239
Jonathan's covenant is mutual
00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:59.399
and founded on their mutual faith in God
00:10:59.399 --> 00:11:00.940
and God's kindness to both of them.
00:11:01.180 --> 00:11:03.139
Whereas Saul's is a little bit more,
00:11:03.659 --> 00:11:05.039
Hey, you could have just killed me,
00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:07.419
but promise you won't kill my sons
00:11:07.419 --> 00:11:09.259
after I die kind of thing.
00:11:09.299 --> 00:11:10.500
And it's very one directional.
00:11:10.779 --> 00:11:12.919
And yet David still agrees to it.
00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:14.519
So I think that's noteworthy
00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:15.560
to see the difference in character
00:11:15.560 --> 00:11:17.259
between Jonathan and Saul.
00:11:17.259 --> 00:11:18.439
So, continuing.
00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:21.340
Likely since Saul's death,
00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:23.580
Ziba, who is Saul's former servant,
00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:25.139
had assumed the leadership
00:11:25.139 --> 00:11:27.879
and stewardship of Saul's estate
00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:30.019
and was probably sending the prophets to David
00:11:30.019 --> 00:11:30.879
as the new king
00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:32.600
like the other land managers would have done.
00:11:33.379 -->
00:11:34.980
Now, later on in 2 Samuel,
00:11:35.059 --> 00:11:35.939
after this account,
00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:38.000
we see Ziba deceive David
00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:39.580
in an attempt to actually undo
00:11:39.580 --> 00:11:41.059
what happens in this chapter.
00:11:41.659 --> 00:11:42.259
Even still,
00:11:42.559 --> 00:11:43.580
here in chapter 9,
00:11:43.819 --> 00:11:45.379
Ziba does what he is told.
00:11:45.379 --> 00:11:48.159
So then the attention turns the other way
00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:51.139
from David to Mephibosheth in verse 6.
00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:52.620
And we can glean how he expected
00:11:52.620 --> 00:11:54.259
this summons to go.
00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:55.779
So now in verse 6 through 8,
00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:58.179
we'll consider Mephibosheth's expectations.
00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:02.320
And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan,
00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:03.159
son of Saul,
00:12:03.439 --> 00:12:05.059
came to David and fell on his face
00:12:05.059 --> 00:12:05.679
and paid homage.
00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:06.980
And David said,
00:12:07.139 --> 00:12:07.799
Mephibosheth.
00:12:08.379 --> 00:12:09.080
And he answered,
00:12:09.500 --> 00:12:10.940
Behold, I am your servant.
00:12:11.580 --> 00:12:12.659
And David said to him,
00:12:12.779 --> 00:12:13.500
Do not fear,
00:12:13.500 --> 00:12:15.600
for I will show you the kindness.
00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:17.139
I will show you kindness
00:12:17.139 --> 00:12:18.779
for the sake of your father, Jonathan.
00:12:19.019 --> 00:12:20.379
And I will restore to you
00:12:20.379 --> 00:12:22.139
all the land of Saul, your father.
00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:24.759
And you shall eat at my table always.
00:12:25.460 --> 00:12:27.019
And he paid homage and said,
00:12:27.220 --> 00:12:28.419
What is your servant
00:12:28.419 --> 00:12:29.919
that you should show regard
00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:32.360
for a dead dog such as I?
00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:34.820
So Mephibosheth comes in
00:12:34.820 --> 00:12:36.620
humble, lowly, and respectful
00:12:36.620 --> 00:12:38.059
before David the king.
00:12:38.679 --> 00:12:39.940
Then even after,
00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:41.340
David brings him in
00:12:41.340 --> 00:12:42.080
on his own intentions,
00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:43.460
brings him in on his own plan,
00:12:44.120 --> 00:12:45.320
that he will show him kindness,
00:12:45.480 --> 00:12:46.980
restore to him Saul's estate,
00:12:47.060 --> 00:12:48.420
and invite him to eat at his table.
00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:50.259
Mephibosheth continues
00:12:50.259 --> 00:12:51.780
his own self-abasement
00:12:51.780 --> 00:12:52.460
in verse 8,
00:12:52.560 --> 00:12:53.360
referring to himself
00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:54.740
as a dead dog,
00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:56.120
seemingly not believing
00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:57.560
that this could truly
00:12:57.560 --> 00:12:58.540
be a real offer,
00:12:58.660 --> 00:13:00.560
a real invitation to him.
00:13:01.100 --> 00:13:02.700
The subtext that we can infer
00:13:02.700 --> 00:13:03.600
is that Mephibosheth
00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:04.560
expected David
00:13:04.560 --> 00:13:05.900
to carry out the norm
00:13:05.900 --> 00:13:08.639
when a reigning family regime
00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:10.460
changed to snuff out
00:13:10.460 --> 00:13:12.179
any chance of rebellion
00:13:12.179 --> 00:13:13.620
or treachery
00:13:13.620 --> 00:13:15.259
from the deposed family.
00:13:15.779 --> 00:13:17.159
This political pattern
00:13:17.159 --> 00:13:18.580
happens all the time
00:13:18.580 --> 00:13:19.259
in stories,
00:13:19.439 --> 00:13:20.480
as it has happened
00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:22.120
repeatedly in history.
00:13:22.659 --> 00:13:24.059
It's a common story trope
00:13:24.059 --> 00:13:24.559
that a member
00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:26.159
of a wrongfully deposed family
00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:27.399
comes back to avenge
00:13:27.399 --> 00:13:28.840
his family against the usurper.
00:13:29.620 --> 00:13:30.519
However, clearly,
00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:32.120
Mephibosheth
00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:33.500
is in no position
00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:34.500
to lead a rebellion
00:13:34.500 --> 00:13:35.340
against David.
00:13:35.340 --> 00:13:37.600
And he has definitely
00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:38.780
heard already
00:13:38.780 --> 00:13:39.300
that the Lord
00:13:39.300 --> 00:13:40.460
gave victory to David
00:13:40.460 --> 00:13:41.320
wherever he went.
00:13:42.220 --> 00:13:42.740
Understandably,
00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:44.040
Mephibosheth likely assumed
00:13:44.040 --> 00:13:45.220
that he was about to be
00:13:45.220 --> 00:13:46.399
another victory
00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:47.460
in that long
00:13:47.460 --> 00:13:48.360
and growing list
00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:49.660
of David's victory.
00:13:50.680 --> 00:13:51.820
But David chose
00:13:51.820 --> 00:13:53.000
not to repeat himself
00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:54.780
and answer Mephibosheth's
00:13:54.780 --> 00:13:55.639
confused question.
00:13:56.220 --> 00:13:56.560
Instead,
00:13:57.220 --> 00:13:57.980
David moves forward
00:13:57.980 --> 00:13:58.720
to carry out
00:13:58.720 --> 00:13:59.780
his promise
00:13:59.780 --> 00:14:00.960
and declaration
00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:01.940
to Mephibosheth.
00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:04.240
So, verse 9 through 13
00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:04.820
we'll consider
00:14:04.820 --> 00:14:06.360
the king's table.
00:14:08.180 --> 00:14:09.259
Starting in verse 9.
00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:11.500
Then the king
00:14:11.500 --> 00:14:12.320
called Ziba,
00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:13.440
Saul's servant,
00:14:13.560 --> 00:14:14.200
and said to him,
00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:15.480
All that belong
00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:16.159
to Saul
00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:17.299
and to all his house
00:14:17.299 --> 00:14:18.220
I have given
00:14:18.220 --> 00:14:19.399
to your master's grandson.
00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:21.680
And you and your
sons
00:14:21.680 --> 00:14:22.379
and your servants
00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:23.399
shall till the land
00:14:23.399 --> 00:14:23.860
for him
00:14:23.860 --> 00:14:24.680
and shall bring in
00:14:24.680 --> 00:14:25.139
the produce
00:14:25.139 --> 00:14:26.440
that your master's grandson
00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:28.019
may have bread to eat.
00:14:28.740 --> 00:14:29.580
But Mephibosheth,
00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:30.639
your master's grandson,
00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:32.080
shall always eat
00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:33.000
at my table.
00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:35.139
Now Ziba had 15 sons
00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:36.299
and 20 servants.
00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:38.519
Then Ziba said
00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:39.100
to the king,
00:14:39.580 --> 00:14:40.320
According to all
00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:41.159
that my lord the king
00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:42.000
commands his servants,
00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:43.539
so will your servant do.
00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:44.980
So Mephibosheth
00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:46.419
ate at David's table
00:14:46.419 --> 00:14:48.600
like one of the king's sons.
00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:50.460
And Mephibosheth
00:14:50.460 --> 00:14:51.320
had a young son
00:14:51.320 --> 00:14:52.220
whose name was Micah.
00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:54.620
And all who lived
00:14:54.620 --> 00:14:55.379
in Ziba's house
00:14:55.379 --> 00:14:57.340
became Mephibosheth's servants.
00:14:57.980 --> 00:14:58.779
So Mephibosheth
00:14:58.779 --> 00:14:59.700
lived in Jerusalem
00:14:59.700 --> 00:15:01.179
for he ate always
00:15:01.179 --> 00:15:02.399
at the king's table.
00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:04.519
Now he was lame
00:15:04.519 --> 00:15:06.240
in both his feet.
00:15:07.199 --> 00:15:08.100
So I want to consider
00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:08.919
three aspects
00:15:08.919 --> 00:15:10.899
to this chunk,
00:15:11.079 --> 00:15:11.919
this fulfillment
00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:13.799
of David's promise.
00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:14.399
So first,
00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:15.019
restored.
00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:17.000
David gives the land
00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:17.480
and the servants
00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:18.539
back to Mephibosheth
00:15:19.079 --> 00:15:19.740
as they were
00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:20.360
to Saul
00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:22.899
that the land
00:15:22.899 --> 00:15:23.500
and the servants
00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:24.639
would provide for him.
00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:26.340
As I mentioned earlier,
00:15:26.439 --> 00:15:27.259
this would not sit well
00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:28.259
with Ziba in the long term,
00:15:28.759 --> 00:15:29.819
but David is meaning
00:15:29.819 --> 00:15:30.379
to do right
00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:31.259
by Mephibosheth
00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:32.200
for the sake
00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:32.840
of Jonathan
00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:33.700
and Saul.
00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:35.460
The second aspect
00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:36.860
that he's provided for.
00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:39.259
Men who could not walk
00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:39.860
in this time
00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:40.879
did not have much,
00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:41.299
if anything,
00:15:41.419 --> 00:15:41.879
they could do
00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:42.860
to provide for themselves.
00:15:43.299 --> 00:15:43.980
Computer programming
00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:44.899
was not an available
00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:45.740
career path.
00:15:46.439 --> 00:15:47.000
Of course,
00:15:47.159 --> 00:15:47.759
God had kept
00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.799
Mephibosheth alive
00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:49.960
one way or another,
00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:50.840
but now,
00:15:51.179 --> 00:15:51.759
Mephibosheth
00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:52.879
was always welcome
00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:54.039
to eat at the king's table.
00:15:54.139 --> 00:15:55.500
Now he was secure,
00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:56.399
not begging
00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:57.759
from one house
00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:58.319
to another.
00:16:00.980 --> 00:16:01.419
Mephibosheth
00:16:01.419 --> 00:16:02.259
is adopted,
00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:03.459
so not only
00:16:03.459 --> 00:16:03.939
was he welcome
00:16:03.939 --> 00:16:04.600
to eat at the table,
00:16:04.679 --> 00:16:05.279
but he did so
00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:07.059
like one of the king's sons,
00:16:07.139 --> 00:16:08.279
not as a beggar.
00:16:08.919 --> 00:16:10.500
This is a world-flipped,
00:16:10.679 --> 00:16:11.840
upside-down change
00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:13.220
in Mephibosheth's life.
00:16:13.639 --> 00:16:14.480
He was likely forced
00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:15.179
to beg for food,
00:16:15.299 --> 00:16:15.519
water,
00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:15.939
and shelter
00:16:15.939 --> 00:16:16.939
for the many years
00:16:16.939 --> 00:16:18.819
that he roamed the land
00:16:18.819 --> 00:16:21.539
in a land of civil war
00:16:21.539 --> 00:16:22.720
and political turmoil,
00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:24.259
and now the man
00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:24.940
that he thought
00:16:24.940 --> 00:16:25.840
would kill him
00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:27.040
has welcomed him
00:16:27.040 --> 00:16:29.620
like one of his own sons.
00:16:30.460 --> 00:16:31.740
So this is a beautiful
00:16:31.740 --> 00:16:33.060
account of
00:16:33.060 --> 00:16:35.220
an overflowing
00:16:35.220 --> 00:16:36.600
kindness and faithfulness
00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:37.220
before God
00:16:37.220 --> 00:16:37.600
that we see
00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:38.519
exampled by
00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:39.580
King David.
00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:41.160
But this is not
00:16:41.160 --> 00:16:42.279
the end of the story,
00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:42.899
it's just
00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:43.899
the foreshadowing.
00:16:44.779 --> 00:16:45.680
God promised David
00:16:45.680 --> 00:16:46.340
that his son,
00:16:47.040 --> 00:16:47.860
that his house
00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:48.379
would uphold,
00:16:48.560 --> 00:16:49.540
that he would
00:16:49.540 --> 00:16:50.259
uphold his house
00:16:50.259
--> 00:16:50.660
forever.
00:16:51.420 --> 00:16:52.120
David fulfilled
00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:52.980
his promise,
00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:55.179
and God will also
00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:56.620
fulfill his promise
00:16:56.620 --> 00:16:57.120
to David.
00:16:57.799 --> 00:16:58.799
So let us see
00:16:58.799 --> 00:16:59.620
how the son of David
00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:00.840
acts when meeting
00:17:00.840 --> 00:17:01.860
a man that could not
00:17:01.860 --> 00:17:02.320
walk.
00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:03.899
If you would turn
00:17:03.899 --> 00:17:04.799
in your Bibles with me
00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:06.079
to Mark chapter 2,
00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:07.200
we're going to read
00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:08.140
the first 12 verses
00:17:08.140 --> 00:17:08.599
together.
00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:10.859
And here we will see
00:17:10.859 --> 00:17:12.279
a greater restoration,
00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:13.799
a greater provision,
00:17:14.299 --> 00:17:15.680
and a greater adoption.
00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:23.799
So starting in Mark chapter 2,
00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:26.519
and when Jesus
00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:27.660
returned to Capernaum
00:17:27.660 --> 00:17:28.720
after some days,
00:17:28.840 --> 00:17:29.580
it was reported
00:17:29.580 --> 00:17:30.600
that he was at home,
00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:32.360
and many were
00:17:32.360 --> 00:17:33.180
gathered together
00:17:33.180 --> 00:17:33.820
so that there was
00:17:33.820 --> 00:17:34.560
no room,
00:17:34.840 --> 00:17:35.980
not even at the door.
00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:37.580
And he was preaching
00:17:37.580 --> 00:17:38.380
the word to them,
00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:39.620
and they came,
00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:40.299
bringing to him
00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:40.880
a paralytic
00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:42.519
carried by four men.
00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:44.019
And when they could
00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:44.639
not get near him
00:17:44.639 --> 00:17:45.339
because of the crowd,
00:17:45.420 --> 00:17:46.220
they removed the roof
00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:46.740
above him,
00:17:46.900 --> 00:17:47.440
and when they had
00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:48.059
made an opening,
00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:49.220
they let down the bed
00:17:49.220 --> 00:17:50.639
on which the paralytic lay.
00:17:51.639 --> 00:17:52.359
And when Jesus
00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:53.319
saw their faith,
00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:54.559
he said to the paralytic,
00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:55.500
Son,
00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:57.139
your sins are forgiven.
00:17:58.599 --> 00:17:59.819
Now some of the scribes
00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:00.420
were sitting there
00:18:00.420 --> 00:18:01.460
questioning in their hearts,
00:18:01.579 --> 00:18:02.539
Why does this man
00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:03.639
speak like that?
00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:04.940
He is blaspheming.
00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:06.279
Who can forgive sins
00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:07.000
but God alone?
00:18:07.660 --> 00:18:08.319
And immediately,
00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:09.180
Jesus perceiving
00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:09.819
in his spirit
00:18:09.819 --> 00:18:11.000
that they thus questioned
00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:11.859
within themselves,
00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:12.980
said to them,
00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.400
Why do you question
00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:15.680
these things in your hearts?
00:18:16.119 --> 00:18:17.619
Which is easier to say
00:18:17.619 --> 00:18:18.740
to the paralytic,
00:18:19.059 --> 00:18:20.259
Your sins are forgiven?
00:18:20.660 --> 00:18:21.160
Or to say,
00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:21.559
Rise,
00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:22.420
take up your bed,
00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:23.099
and walk?
00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:25.319
But that you may know
00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:26.180
that the Son of Man
00:18:26.180 --> 00:18:27.119
has authority
00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:28.759
on earth to forgive sins,
00:18:29.140 --> 00:18:30.339
he said to the paralytic,
00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:31.579
I say to you,
00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:32.380
Rise,
00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:33.380
pick up your bed,
00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:34.460
and go home.
00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:36.519
And he rose,
00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:37.839
and immediately picked up his bed
00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:39.240
and went out before them all,
00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:41.180
so that they were all amazed
00:18:41.180 --> 00:18:42.420
and glorified God,
00:18:42.839 --> 00:18:43.099
saying,
00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:45.920
We never saw anything like this.
00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:49.400
So David did the best
00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:50.720
that he could do.
00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:52.019
He gave the best blessing
00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:53.779
that he could give
00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:54.620
to Mephibosheth,
00:18:54.700 --> 00:18:55.620
but he was only
00:18:55.620 --> 00:18:57.200
an Israelite king.
00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:58.380
As we read at the end
00:18:58.380 --> 00:18:58.859
of the story
00:18:58.859 --> 00:19:00.539
in 2 Samuel 9,
00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:02.940
Mephibosheth was still lame
00:19:02.940 --> 00:19:04.099
in both his feet.
00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:05.259
He was fed now,
00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:06.420
he was clothed,
00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:07.200
he was sheltered,
00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:08.400
all good things,
00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:10.519
but he was still lame.
00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:13.500
Jesus sees this man's
00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:14.220
greatest need,
00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:16.360
his sin that separates him
00:19:16.360 --> 00:19:17.360
from the love of God.
00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:19.759
Jesus not only identifies
00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:21.059
this greater brokenness
00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:22.120
than his physical body,
00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:23.860
Jesus has the solution
00:19:23.860 --> 00:19:24.799
and authority
00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:26.000
to carry it out.
00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:27.480
And to demonstrate
00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:28.700
that spiritual authority,
00:19:28.840
--> 00:19:29.920
Jesus shows his authority
00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:31.140
over the physical as well,
00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:32.400
and heals the man
00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:33.440
so that he can walk.
00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:35.720
Jesus does not give
00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:37.460
the crippled man food,
00:19:37.620 --> 00:19:38.980
he gives him himself,
00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:40.200
the bread of life,
00:19:40.600 --> 00:19:41.340
that he may never
00:19:41.340 --> 00:19:42.320
have to hunger again.
00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:44.080
Jesus does not only
00:19:44.080 --> 00:19:46.019
restore his physical body,
00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:47.559
Jesus restores
00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:48.460
his relationship
00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:49.320
to his creator,
00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:51.080
the source of all life.
00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:52.880
Jesus does not invite
00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:53.660
the man for dinner,
00:19:53.820 --> 00:19:54.840
he brings him
00:19:54.840 --> 00:19:56.019
to his true father
00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:57.640
so that he can be adopted,
00:19:58.140 --> 00:19:59.320
called a son of God
00:19:59.320 --> 00:20:01.140
and a co-heir with Christ,
00:20:01.140 --> 00:20:02.800
to share in the riches
00:20:02.800 --> 00:20:04.560
of God's grace forever.
00:20:06.860 --> 00:20:09.420
This is a greater David,
00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:11.400
that as David did
00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:13.020
the best that he could do,
00:20:13.080 --> 00:20:14.380
he did fulfill his promise.
00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:15.780
Jesus doesn't have
00:20:15.780 --> 00:20:16.960
any promise to this man,
00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:18.500
and yet he showed him
00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.920
this abundant kindness.
00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:22.820
David was following through
00:20:22.820 --> 00:20:23.600
on his word,
00:20:24.340 --> 00:20:26.040
Jesus is going out of his way
00:20:26.040 --> 00:20:27.740
to fulfill and restore
00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:29.180
this man to life,
00:20:29.180 --> 00:20:30.299
not just physically,
00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:31.560
but ultimately,
00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:32.400
spiritually.
00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:35.680
And it is in this way,
00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:36.420
and it is later through
00:20:36.420 --> 00:20:37.120
the life, death,
00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:37.580
and resurrection
00:20:37.580 --> 00:20:38.900
of Jesus Christ
00:20:38.900 --> 00:20:39.820
that God would fulfill
00:20:39.820 --> 00:20:41.259
his promise to David
00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:43.779
to uphold his house forever.
00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:47.880
So, for some closing applications,
00:20:48.680 --> 00:20:50.080
first, we must see ourselves
00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:51.640
rightly within these stories.
00:20:52.860 --> 00:20:54.860
We are the Mephibosheth
00:20:54.860 --> 00:20:55.980
and the paralytic.
00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:57.500
We have nothing to bring.
00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:59.299
We can often be confused
00:20:59.299 --> 00:21:00.819
by the great mercy of God
00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:01.680
toward us,
00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:03.299
expecting the natural consequences
00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:03.980
of our sin,
00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:05.539
but by faith in Jesus Christ,
00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:06.559
we can be restored,
00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:07.339
forgiven,
00:21:07.900 --> 00:21:08.980
restored to new life
00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:10.420
and everlasting life
00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:11.079
with God.
00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:12.980
Always welcome to be with God
00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:14.160
like his own son.
00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:15.920
Once we have placed
00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:17.039
our faith in Christ,
00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:17.920
we are compelled
00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:19.039
by the love of God
00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:20.920
to tell the other beggars
00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:22.519
where the bread of life is.
00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:24.559
God's grace is not only
00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.740
abundant for me,
00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:27.480
it is abundant for all
00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:28.180
that would place
00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:29.240
their faith in Christ.
00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:30.880
So, if you have been
00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:31.720
so richly blessed
00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:32.839
to know God's forgiveness
00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:33.440
in Christ,
00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:34.880
you must understand
00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:35.940
that this blessing
00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:36.680
and goodness
00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:37.819
is not for you
00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:38.920
to keep for yourself.
00:21:40.579 --> 00:21:41.700
Let's close in prayer.
00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:42.019