The MESSAGE for Sunday, June 20, 2021
Grace In A Barren LandII Samuel 9:1; 4, II Samuel 4:4
By: Pastor, Dr. Cullian W. Hill
Grace means many things to many people. We say that ballet dancers have grace, we say grace at meals. Grace can mean coordination of movement. It can refer to dignity and elegance. Most importantly grace can mean unmerited favor, extending special favor to someone who does not deserve it, who hasn’t earned it, and can never repay it. In our text we see that kind of grace. We find one of those moments in the life of David. It is possibly the greatest illustration of grace in the Old Testament. It involves an obscure man with an almost unpronounceable name: Mephibosheth.
David was enjoying some peace and quietness in his life. He’s reflecting over his past and all the blessing that God had bestowed upon him. As David was sitting there, he though about his friend Jonathan who was lost in battle along with his father. As he reflected upon those two men and the impact they had on his life, he began to think about the promises he made to them.
So, David called in one of his servants and enquires about Saul’s house. He asks; “Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul; that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake? This word should be rendered grace. What is Grace? Grace is positive and unconditional acceptance in spite of the other person. Grace is a demonstration of love that is undeserved, unearned, and un‐repayable. So, is there anybody in the entire area to whom I might show kindness? Why did David want to do this? The fact of the matter is he had made two promises.
When he was running for his life from King Saul, Jonathan made a promise to David. “If it please my father to do you harm, may the Lord do to Jonathan and more also, if I do not make it known to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. I Samuel 20:13‐14 As we all know it was customary when a new king ascended the throne that he killed all of the other king’s family members so there would be no uprisings. So, Jonathan is saying; David, when you get to the throne and you surely will, will you show my family grace?
So, David made the promise both to Jonathan and Saul. So David asks, “Is there anyone”. (As David was reflecting during some quiet time he ask) He does not ask is there anyone qualified? Is there anyone worthy? He says is there anyone regardless of who they; is there anyone; anybody? Is there anybody still living who ought to be the recipient of my grace? There was a servant (David sent for Ziba) of the house of Saul by the name of Ziba. They brought Ziba to David and he asks him, are you Ziba? And he said I am your servant. David said, Is there not yet any one of the house of Saul living that I may show grace unto? Ziba said to the king; “There is still a son of Jonathan who is cripple in both feet. Ziba gave David some information that he did not ask for. He seems to be saying to the king that he should think about what he is about to do. King, he is seriously disabled, he has a serious disability. David said is there anyone? Yes, but he is cripple. David said where is he? He does not ask how badly? He does not even ask how he became cripple. He just simply asks where is he located?
That’s the way grace is. Grace isn’t picky. Grace does not look for things that deserve love. Grace is one‐sided. So Ziba said he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lodebar. Now lo in Hebrew means “No” and debar is from the root word meaning pasture or pastureland. He lives in some obscure barren land in Palestine. (What happened to him)? When Mephibosheth was five years old there was a battle or war and Mephibosheth’s nurse picked him up to run and she stumbled and fell and dropped Mephibosheth and both his ankles were broken. As a result, he was permanently disabled and had been hiding in Lodebar ever since.
Lodebar was barren, Lodebar was a wasteland, Lodebar; where the drug addicts were, Lodebar where pimps, hustlers, prostitutes, gamblers, liars, hypocrites, drunkards, Lodebar where misery, down and outers, disenchanted, disposed, dropouts were. All of us have been to Lodebar. So, David sent to Lodebar and one of his soldiers brought Mephibosheth to David. On the way he told him the king wanted to see him. When he arrived I know he said this is it. This is the end.
When Mephibosheth was face to face with the king, he fell on his face and prostrated himself (II Samuel 9:6). Standing there, he threw aside his crutches and fell down before the king. And David said unto him, are you Mephibosheth? And he said it’s true; I am Mephibosheth. David said unto him be not afraid; I’m going to show you some grace. I’m going to extend unto you some kindness. (II Samuel 9:7) David said to him you are going to have a place of honor at my table. As of today you are a member of my family. Mephibosheth said I’m nothing but a dead dog. Why are you doing this? So, the king called Ziba and said “all that belong to Saul and to his house I have given to your master’s grandson. Now you and your sons, and your servants, cultivate his land for him.
Can you imagine being at the King’s table, a cripple in both feet? Dinner is ready and the bell rings. David at the head, you know the king. Ammon clever and witty, walks in, Joab the general, muscular and masculine, attractive, walks in, Absalom, handsome, Tamar, beautiful and tender walks in, Solomon kind, wisdom, walks in all sitting at the table, but then they hear this clump, clump, clump, clump here comes Mephibosheth hobbling along. He takes his place at the Kings table as one of the kings’ son’s. The tablecloth of grace covers his feet. From Lodebar, to sitting at the king’s table. All of us are from Lodebar. We come from different backgrounds, walks of life, mistreated, misused, abused, tried and tested, from drugs, alcohol, incest, loneliness, we are all from Lodebar.
Adam like Mephibosheth knew what it was like to be around the king. As Mephibosheth’s nurse fled and dropped him, he was cripple for life. Sin crippled Adam and Eve for life. Sin crippled our parents for life. But, as David extended grace to Mephibosheth, out of sheer love for Jonathan, David demonstrated love and grace to his (Saul’s) handicapped son. So, God out of love for us, through his Son Jesus Christ, and the penalty of sin; Jesus, who paid for sin on the cross, demonstrated grace to the believing sinner. Jesus is still looking for people who are disabled, lost in trespasses and sins, hiding from God, broken, fearful, and confused. Mephibosheth had nothing, deserved nothing, could repay nothing, he was hiding from the king in Lodebar. Well, the same is true of us. We deserve nothing, ain’t got nothing, hiding from God, can’t repay nothing. David restored Mephibosheth; took him from a barren land and extended grace to him and gave him a place of honor. He became the King’s son. This is what God has done for us.
1. Adopted us into the family
2. Has chosen us
3. He’s gone home to prepare a table for us.
One day we will sit down at the king’s table and his grace will cover my cripple soul. I’ve been talked about, mistreated. But his grace! This mortal shall put on immortality; this corruptible must put on incorruption. I shall sit down at the table with Jesus and break bread with Abraham and Esther, Isaiah and King David, Peter, James and John, Paul and thank Jesus for taking me from a barren place and setting me at His table. I’ll ask Peter to pass me the potatoes. I’m going to ask Paul to pass me the bread. I’ve been adopted into the family of God. I am His son; cripple, blind, broke, all because God extended His grace to me.
Pastor, Rev. Dr. Cullian W. Hill