God’s Love and Ours

When David finally became king over all Israel, one of the first items of business was to inquire if there were any left of Saul’s house or family. Normally, this would be bad news for the former king’s family because the new ruler customarily killed all remaining relatives to remove the threat of any heirs retaking the throne or stirring up trouble in the kingdom, but David didn’t operate that way.

He discovered Mephibosheth, a grandson of the former king who had suffered a devastating injury as a small child. He was unable to walk as his legs had been helplessly broken. When he appears before David, no doubt with a great amount of fear, he paid homage to David and said, ‘What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I’”(2 Sam 9:5-8)?

In one of the kindest acts in all of Israel’s history, David said “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master’s grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall always eat at my table” (2 Sam 9:9b-10).

What a picture of the love of God. We are all helplessly crippled by sin, and yet when we humble ourselves before our king as Mephibosheth did before David, we are provided a place at the Kings table for all time. Mephibosheth was treated like the king’s son, he was accepted graciously at the king’s table, he was able to be in the king’s presence, and he was able to be provided with all that he needed for the rest of his life even though he was helpless to do anything else.

As we close Chapter 4 of I John, John revisits a theme he has touched on before “God’s Love and Ours” and provides 6 clear reason why we are to love one another!

Jason

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