And [the cripple] bowed himself and said, What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I am?
Mephibosheth was the grandson of King Saul and the son of Jonathan, who had been a covenant friend to David. Crippled as a youth, Mephibosheth had a poor self-image, a dead-dog image. Instead of seeing himself as the rightful heir to his father’s and grandfather’s legacy, he saw himself as someone who would be rejected.
When David sent for Mephibosheth, he fell down before the king and displayed fear.
Mephibosheth’s response is an important example of the kind of poor self-image that causes us to operate in fear instead of faith. We look at what is wrong with us instead of what is right with Jesus. He has taken our wrongness and given us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). We have a covenant with God, sealed and ratified in the blood of Jesus Christ. We need to walk in the reality of that truth.
David told Mephibosheth not to fear, that he intended to show him kindness. David blessed him for Jonathan’s sake. He gave him servants and land and provided for all of his needs (2 Samuel 9:13).
I relate Mephibosheth’s lameness to our own weaknesses. We may also fellowship and eat with our King Jesus—even though we have faults and weaknesses.
Prayer of the Day: Lord, thank You for bringing me into a covenant relationship through the blood of Jesus. I praise You for bringing me to Your table where I can fellowship with You, amen.
