Grace
1 Peter 2:3 "If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious". God furnishes to us, "His people" what is needed. A perfect example of grace is found in 2 Samuel. There is an obscure hardly recognized man in the Old Testament named Mephibosheth. He was the son of Jonathan who was the son of King Saul. 2 Samuel 4:4 says that when hearing of Saul and Jonathan's death that the nurse who took care of Mephibosheth took him up and fled. In her haste Mephibosheth fell and became crippled in both feet.
David had made two promises and one day after assuming the throne as King of Israel he addressed those promises. His promises had been to Jonathan and Saul. 2 Samuel 9:1 "Then David said, "Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" David was saying I made two promises the first in 1 Samuel 20:13-17 that he would not harm Jonathan when David took the throne and that he would show him grace in doing so. The second promise was to Saul in 1 Samuel 24:20-22 where David swore to Saul that he would not cut off his descendants and that David would not destroy Saul's name from his father's household. Now we find David wanting to show grace to the family of Saul and Jonathan. So David asked Ziba a servant of the house of Saul "Is their not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?" Ziba informed David that there was a fellow who was a cripple who lived in desolation in obscurity in a barren field in Palestine. David then sent for Mephibosheth who probably came reluctantly in fear of his life. 2 Samuel 9:7 "Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness (grace) to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat at my table regularly. Mephibosheth had went and hid himself from the house of David in fear that when David took the throne that he would kill all associated with the house of Saul. He did not know about the promises David had concerning the house of Saul. David the King extended his love and demonstrated grace to Jonathan's handicapped son.
In analogy here is what in fact happened. As Adam walked with God in the garden so Mephibosheth walked in fellowship with and had a relationship with the King. When Adam and Eve hid in fear they became spiritual invalids just like the fear that had gripped the nurse who irresponsibly allowed Mephibosheth to become crippled. David showed mercy and grace to the outcast like Jesus did upon the cross (Ephesians 1:7). People who were once hiding from God, broken fearful and confused now can have an intimate relationship with Christ 1 Timothy 1:14). Mephibosheth had nothing, deserved nothing, and could repay nothing he was desolate yet David set his heart on him. Jesus delivered us and blessed us with heavenly riches that we have not earned nor deserve (Titus 3:5). There is no way to pay back our Lord for his graciousness. David restored Mephibosheth to a place of honor like Christ has restored our relationship with the Father (Psalm 23:3). David adopted him into his family and he became one of the king's sons. Jesus has chosen us and adopted us into the family of God (Ephesians 1:5-6). Mephibosheth's disability was a constant reminder of grace. Our disability is sin, it is a reminder that God's grace is sufficient and his power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12.9) and we must lean to him, for we cannot run this race alone. When Mephibosheth sat at the table with the king he was treated equally with David's entire household. There is a great lesson to be learned from Mephibosheth. Titus 3:7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
In Christ Jesus,
Dale Thompson