| |
December 24, 2002 | Pastor Brian Shimer
|
"Mephibosheth"
2 Samuel 9
(Stepping into the room, clad in the Bethlehem clothing, looking around as if astounded by the location)
"I am amazed to be here. This place is huge. I still have trouble finding my way around, besides it being hard to get around with my crippled feet. This place, this palace is also so grand -- here I am surrounded by imported wood, silk tapestries, silver and gold. Every day I sit at the King's table, as if a member of the family.
No, I am no foreign dignitary. No relative either. Indeed, this current king, is of a completely different family line from me. My grandfather was the previous king. He ruled 40 years before he was killed. Isn't it unusual, you ask, for a relative of the previous ruling family to be eating at the table of the current king? Unusual? No. It is unheard of!
I've only been here 3 months. It is like a dream, the best of dreams. I was raised from that pit, from Lo Debar, to this palace, experiencing the kindness of God through a man whom all said was my mortal enemy.
It is quite a story. Oh, pardon me, I failed to introduce myself. My name is Mephibosheth, the son of Prince Jonathan, the grandson of King Saul of Israel. I welcome you to this palace.
Years ago now, when I was five, my grandfather, father and all but one of his brothers were killed at the battle of Mt. Gilboa fighting against the Philistine army. When news reached the household of the tragedy, my nurse knowing that the armies would soon come into Gibeah and kill us, fled taking me with her. Our departure was quick and sudden, and I slipped and fell, crushing my feet. I have been crippled in my feet since then.
I remember the pain in my feet, the pain I felt at my father and grandfather's deaths, the pain of living in hiding, finally coming to abide in a town called Lo Debar. That name means "no pasture" or "no fold". I lived in the house of a man whose name meant sold. The names combined to describe my life. I was "out of the fold" of Israel, with no "place" among my people, sold, forgotten, banished, lost in Lo Debar.
Has anything ever happened in your life that left you feeling crippled? Under crippling emotions? Crippling darkness? Crippling broken relationships? Ah, I see you may have visited my former home in Lo Debar.
The Philistines ruled over many towns for five years, and then my uncle, the only surviving relative, was placed on the throne at Manhanaim by Abner and made king over some of the tribes of Israel. This uncle, Ishobosheth, whose name means "shame of a man" -- was a weak, incompetent, sniviling man. For years the house of Saul and House of David were at war. When I was 12, Abner, the real power behind Ishbosheth, was murdered by Joab, and soon thereafter, my uncle was assassinated by two knaves in his court.
At 12, then, all I knew was that those two men were killed, and David suddenly was king of all of Israel. Had David had them killed? I had heard that David had mourned my uncle's and Abner's deaths, and had justly executed the assassins. But had he really not been involved?
David was named King of all of Israel. He moved the capital city to Jerusalem, taking that city from the Jebusites. The city was renamed the "City of David". In that battle he was heckled by them form the city wall saying that "the blind and lame" could ward off David and his armies. In response to this taunt, the Jebusites were called the "blind and lame" as they were soundly defeated and the saying circulated, that, because of this, the "blind and lame would never enter the palace of King David."
All this time I was a cripple in Lo Debar.
After David became King, life changed for all of Israel.
Within those first few years, David soundly defeated the Philistines, Moabites, the Arameans, the Ammonites, the Edomites and Amalek. There was peace on every side and in Israel for the first time in over 40 years. Also, worship was restored to Israel. The Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem. David taught Israel to worship. David brought Israel into the presence of God. Never before had Israel worshipped. It was this King who brought joy to Israel.
Ah, but all this time, I was out of the fold, in Lo Debar.
Over the next 15 years, I married and had a son, Micah by name, and still remained in the house of the man named "sold".
Then on one of my ordinary routine days, Ziba, a man who had been a servant of my Grandfather's came to me in my pit, Lo Debar. He came with a message. He said, "King David would like to see you."
Now, I don't know if you have ever been summoned to see a king before. I had not been. I never had much contact with my grandfather, and certainly, I never wanted to see "King Ishbosheth" on his throne. What a mockery! Perhaps you've been summoned before the principal? Before a mayor of your town? Before a court?
Well, dread filled me.
"Why would King David want to see me?" I wondered. I had never met him, nor had I wanted to. But, it made sense that now that his kingdom was established, he would want to rid Israel of anyone of the previous family line. That was common practice. So, I was being summoned to Jerusalem to die there.
There were many unanswered questions about this King David.
1. Was he really my father's best friend? I'd only heard that rumored. They had both been fighting men, equally skilled, I had been told.
2. Was my Grandfather, justly fearful of David? Was David trying to take the throne?
a. First, the fact that Grandfather pursued David for 13 years to kill him.
b. Second, the fact of the deaths of my uncle and Abner. Who was responsible?
c. Third, the fact that David had lived among the Philistines for years even offering to fight with them against Israel! He was turned down.
d. Fourth, the fact that I was crippled and the lame were not to enter the palace.
e. Fourth, that he had become King after all, and all that talk that David had been given visions from God of an everlasting dynasty, of one of David's descendants being on the throne forever. Everyone said, that that son would be the coming Messiah. That was a bit grandiose, but had God spoken to him?
f. Fifth, oh, I just didn't know who to believe.
Ziba told me I need not fear, that the King wanted to show me kindness. What, with the kindness of ending my life?
I kissed my son and wife goodbye, not knowing if I would be returning.
One thing about it, when a King summons you, you have no options but to come.
It had been years, nearly 20 since I had seen any of the landscape I now saw. What joy surrounded me as I traveled. And the Capital city! Jerusalem crowned the hill of Mt Zion like a jewel in a fine setting. The palace stunned me as well. Nothing like the former palace which I could just remember.
As I waited for David, I took it all in. Me a cripple surrounded by such luxuries. It was a study in contrasts. I remember thinking as I stood there, that I may not belong there, but it would be a nice place to die. Certainly it would be better than death in Lo Debar!
Then I was brought before King David, and he embraced me with a booming word of welcome: "Mephibosheth!" He said. I bowed before him, crumpled on the floor, fearing to raise my head.
"Your servant" I replied.
"Mephibosheth, do not be afraid!" He said.
Don't be afraid? What words were these? Was I hearing correctly? Don't be afraid, for the sword I sharpen which will kill you? Well, he sounded nearly kind.
"Don't be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you ALL THE LAND that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table."
Instead of killing me I was being made a son? Instead of casting me out as a worthless cripple, he was lifting me up to His table?
Instead of death I was being offered life!
I stayed on the floor, bowing before the king. Who was I that these words were being spoken to me? "What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?"
The gentiles were called "dogs" by Israel. I was less than a gentile. In my eyes, I was a dead dog. I had been sold, put outside the fold, a cripple living in Lo Debar!
David did not answer. Instead, he was speaking to Ziba saying that Ziba would now be my servant. I was being raised from pit to palace, I who had been outside of Israel, who was a part of no fold was being brought into the fold again.
I did not know whether to laugh or cry.
Ever since then, I have eaten at the King's table.
Then I knew: My grandfather had been irrationally pursuing this great man.
And my father had loved this man, who was like an angel of God to me.
Imagine. This great king, this David, invited me to his table, restored my place in the kingdom, gifted me with life because of a covenant made with my father before I was born. He was lifting me up, not because of anything I had done or could do, but because of his love. What kindness! What mercy!
These months here have given me time to reflect on those dreams and visions God gave King David. God said there would always be a man on the throne of David. God said that a son coming from David's line would be the Messiah.
And I wondered. Would this Son of David, also seek out those like me who were lost and abandoned living in a place like Lo Debar?
Would this Son lift up a cripple and give him feet?
Would this Son make sons and daughters of those without families?
Would this Son do equal to and even more than his father?
If he would, then, I hope you will receive that Son's invitation to the king's table.
|
|