Lame But Accepted

One of my favorite
relationships in the Old Testament belong to David and Jonathan. Jonathan was
the son of King Saul. Next in line for the throne.

But
David was anointed king.
Not because Jonathan
would have been a pitiful choice. He wasn’t like his father, Saul–arrogant,
prideful, selfish.
“Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his
armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be
that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by
many or by few.” 1Samuel 14:6
Jonathan knew the Lord,
knew His power and knew He was in charge. He respected God’s choice.
And
Jonathan loved David.
“Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he
loved him as his own soul.” 1Samuel 18:3 I don’t know what it is about
this verse, about these men who loved each other as brothers but when I read
this, I cry. Every time. Every. Single. Time. It moves me. So much so, I wrote
a novel using this parallel.
Maybe because I know
how it ends.
“Then
the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines
killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons.” 1Samuel
31:2

And a servant came…
Then
David said to him, “How did the matter go? Please tell me.” And he answered,
“The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead,
and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.” 2Samuel 1:4
Denial
cloaked David. Maybe…maybe it was a rumor. Not Jonathan. Not his beloved friend.
… “How
do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?” 2Samuel
1:5

The servant told him what happened.


“And
they mourned and wept and fasted…” 2Samuel 1:12
David
wrote a song and lamented about Saul and Jonathan, with fierce sorrow. In
public. Jonathan, a friend who loved him enough to save him to be king. When he
could have killed him.
David
never forgot Jonathan and his friendship or their covenant with each other.
“Now
David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may
show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 
2Sameul 9:1
 “And
Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame
in his feet.” 2Samuel 9:3
That’s
right! 

“Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son… He was
five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel; and his
nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he
fell and became lame
. His name was Mephibosheth.” 2Samuel 4:4

Mephibosheth.
“Now
when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to
David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said,
“Mephibosheth?” And he answered, “Here is your servant!” 2Samuel 9:6
Servant? Did he think David was going to put him into bondage–a slave/servant?
Mephibosheth
a boy, who beyond his own control, was
hurt. Ruined. His father ripped from him.
His legacy…destroyed. Unable to walk. Unable to be king.
No one.
Broken.
Forgotten.
But David….a man after God’s own heart…

Not a slave. Not forced into servitude. 

Saved.

Remembered.

Taken care of.

“So Mephibosheth dwelt
in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in
both his feet. ” 2Samuel 9:13

The
king’s table. A place he had no business being. Not with lame feet. Not someone
who should be the king’s enemy.
“But God demonstrates His own love toward
us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for
us.” Romans 5:8
“For
God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the
world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17
 “He
heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
Like
Mephibosheth, maybe you’ve been hurt, broken. Things spiraled out of control
and you found yourself forgotten, alone, your future gone.
God has not forgotten you.
He wants
to bring you to His table.

Time is
valuable, but one of my very favorite bands of all time, Leeland, says it so much better
than I ever could. Please take a minute and listen.

Have you felt lame? 
Unaccepted? Lost?
 How has God made a place for you? 


I’m hosting at Living by Grace today! Come by! 

17 thoughts on “Lame But Accepted

  1. I love Leeland! And I love this post.

    I've always loved David and Jonathan, too…possibly because I feel like there have been so many David/Jonathan friendships in my life…friendships that felt (feel) God-ordained.

    And yeah, there have been times I've felt lost…particularly when my dreams feel too big for me…and like I'm supposed to be doing SOMETHING, but can't find the road there…wherever there is. I love that God is looking out for me, taking me under his wing, just like David did with Mephibosheth.

     
     
  2. You got my favorite part of the story — in fact, I was just reading it yesterday and it got me all over again! Mephibosheth, brought to the king's table, ohhhh….I love how God weaves himself through stories and right into our hearts! Beautiful!

     
     
  3. Thank you for this post.

     
     
  4. What a beautiful post!!! I always wondered why falling would make him lame. Maybe his hips went out of joint and they didn't know how to fix that? Hmmm.

     
     
  5. Beautiful, girl. Just beautiful. God makes a place for us even when it seems we shouldn't have one. I've been amazed how He's provided a place for me already in the writing world…which is an overwhelming place that's easy to get lost in. I feel like I've truly been given these amazing friendships…and they're going to get even stronger when I actually meet these people in person (you of course included!). It's because of no strength of mine own…to God be the glory.

     
     
  6. Such a beautiful story. Love it, encouraged by it. 🙂

     
     
  7. Love the story of Mephibosheth! And what a wonderful Savior we serve – to invite us to His table in spite of ourselves. What a love! Thanks for sharing, Jess! God bless!

     
     
  8. What a great reminder that we don't deserve the relationship with God that He freely gives us. He welcomes us with open arms!

     
     
  9. Beautiful, moving post! Thanks, Jess. Yes, there are times I feel lame/forgotten, but then I'll experience those moments when I realize that isn't true – God knows and is aware of each of us.

     
     
  10. This story in Scripture is one of my favorites, because it shows so much how every single person can be redeemed through love – ours and God's. Love this post, Fiend! Thanks for that breath of fresh air in the Word today.

     
     
  11. Great reminders for today – a very LAME day for this tired new mama. 😛

     
     
  12. Thanks for this, Jessica. I think David and Mephibosheth is one of the great stories of the Bible. It's a great picture of what Jesus did for us.

     
     
  13. Inspiring and motivational post, Jessica! We all need to be reminded that God hasn't left us to fend for ourselves. I needed to read this today, as my husband has returned to finish his deployment after staying home to take care of me after my surgery.

     
     
  14. What a beautiful post. And while I'm not there now, yes, there have been times when I've been hurt, felt alone and forgotten; but praise God – in Him, that is never actually true. And praise God, although we don't deserve to sit at the King's table, as His children – through the shed blood of Christ – that is now our rightful place.

     
     
  15. Sweet post! I'm straying from your final point a bit to say I also love David & Jonathan's friendship. It seemed so raw and real. I bet they didn't even leave a seat between each other at the movie theater.

     
     
  16. Wonderful post! That friendship was so beautiful. I hate how it ends. I've often wondered why God allowed Jonathan to die when he did. I suppose it was to prevent Israel from trying to make him king. I don't know, because I'm not God. But you know David had to miss him…

     
     
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