WisconsinChristianNews.com Volume 25, Issue 9 Lessons From the Life of David... (Continued From Page 14)
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They thought they were hiding. They tried to cover them- selves with fig leaves. But they could not hide the desolation of soul that exploded into their conscience. Sooner than later, sin betrays us and we are found for who we are. Notice in verse 4, Ziba answers the King’s question of where Mephibosheth is by telling him that he is in Lo-debar. “Lo- debar” means place of desolation, barrenness, and unfruitful- ness. That is the condition of all men apart from a saving faith in Jesus Christ. Mephibosheth had been taken there to hide from the King. That’s where I was when God called me. I was in the desert hiding from Him. Funny thing about the desert though – I didn’t see it as an utterly barren place. It was only after His Holy Spirit began to work upon my soul to bring that sweet convic- tion to fruition that I saw the green pastures God was asking me to come lay down in. Praise God that He did not leave us there in the desert. Verse 5 says the King sent for Mephibosheth. God calls out to men and women everywhere to come to Him. He sends His Holy Spirit to bear witness and bring conviction. He sends His servants, missionaries, pastors, Sunday School teachers, men and women of every walk of life to bear witness to His good- ness. The Bible says that Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. In this church age, He likes to use His children. So Mephibosheth, representative of you and I, is summoned to the King. Do you recall when you were summoned to the King? There is a conviction in our souls. We might not un- derstand it completely but we know that God is real and He is calling out to us. What do we do? The only thing we can do — we fall face to the ground in trembling fear, not knowing what to expect. Isn’t that a good picture of how most people see God? Mephibosheth was thinking the worse. He thought the King was about to whack him. When God calls us, He is seeking to bless us, not whack us. (Verse 7): “Fear not.” God doesn’t call out to us to come to Him with fear. God wants to show us kindness because of what Jesus has already done for us. David says that his bless- ing to Mephibosheth will include restoring to him all that his grandfather Saul had. In the same way, God restores to us all that Adam had before his fall. What would that be? 1) Intimate fellowship/communion with Him. God desires that close personal relationship with His children. 2) The King invites you to dine at His table as one of His sons. The King’s table is the place of abundance, brothers. The King’s table is a place of warmth, blessing, and joy. The King’s table is a place of fellowship. 3) The King did all this for Mephibosheth, not because he deserved it, but solely for Jonathan’s sake, because of the covenant he had made with Jonathan. We benefit by what
Jesus has done for us. This is a second mark of the man of God – fear is replaced by an understanding of the overwhelming grace God has to bestow upon us in Christ Jesus. David wrote long before this, “He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Do you see the picture? Rest and comfort in the blessings of God replace fear even in the direst circumstances. This is an overwhelming picture to be sure. Mephibosheth was flabbergasted. He put his face to the ground a second time and declared that he was not worthy of such grand treat- ment. Isn’t that a picture of the ones God calls to Himself? Jesus said in Matthew 5, “blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” God’s invitation to us will not produce a sense of pride but will always stir within us a sense of unworthiness. That’s the humility required of the man of God. I’m reminded here of Jacob’s testimony before the Lord, “I am unworthy of all the loving-kindness and of all the faithful- ness which You have shown to Your servant.” (Genesis 32:10). Notice verse 13 – Mephibosheth ate at the King’s table reg- ularly. I love that. We may not understand why God would bless us but we can accept it and enjoy it forever! We’re not to camp out on our unworthiness. That can create a false piety. Instead, we are to receive the Lord’s goodness toward us with joy. What a wonderful picture for the man of God. Let me pull all this together and give you some points to chew on. First, God desires to spend time with you. He has poured out His grace and mercy upon you in salvation, but that’s not the end. Consider how many times David sat alone with Mephibosheth telling him about his father, how Jonathon loved Mephibosheth, about his friendship with his father, about their covenant of trust. God wants to sit with us and tell us “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God!” (1 John 3:1). The songwriter has well said: How deep the Father's love for us, How vast beyond all measure
It was my sin that held Him there Until it was accomplished His dying breath has brought me life I know that it is finished I will not boast in anything No gifts, no power, no wisdom But I will boast in Jesus Christ His death and resurrection Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer But this I know with all my heart His wounds have paid my ransom.
Second, notice that David says no less than four times in this passage that Mephibosheth will “eat at my table continu- ally.” What a wonderful picture of God’s abundant grace for all we need. Alan Redpath in his book, “The Making of a Man of God” says this: “In Christ we are more than conquerors! In Him there is a constant supply of life to the helpless and penitent sinner who has come to the foot of the cross. At Calvary he discovers real satisfaction. Instead of barrenness in his life, there is fruitful- ness; instead of being far off, he is made near to God by the blood of Jesus. From that moment on, he is the object of God’s outpouring of blessing. All the resources of heaven are made available to meet his need and to take him safely through the journey of life until one day he will be presented faultless at the throne of God.” Third, David’s grace to Mephibosheth is a pattern for us in serving and ministering to others. In a sense David represents the man God wants us to become. For example we can see from this passage that perhaps God is saying: • We should look for the poor, weak, lame, and hidden to bless them. • We should bless others even when they don’t deserve it, and bless them more than they deserve. • We should bless others for the sake of someone else. • We should show the kindness of God to others. Friends, I pray you will think on these things and seek wis- dom from God and understand the application of them in your own lives. May our great God bless you abundantly as you seek to honor Him in every word and deed. We will continue this study next time. Dr. Mike Spaulding P. O. Box 3007 • Lima, OH 45807
That He should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss, The Father turns His face away As wounds which mar the chosen One, Bring many sons to glory Behold the Man upon a cross, My sin upon His shoulders Ashamed I hear my mocking voice, Call out among the scoffers
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