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By William Van Zyl – Published January 2022.
As the slender butler pulled the chair out for Mephibosheth, he shuffled closer and steadied himself by holding onto the chair’s back support.
His eyes scanned over the feast set out on the large table. The grandeur of the table displayed the wealth of the palace owner. The long oak table was covered with the best food and drink you could find in Israel. A large wrought iron candelabra hung from the ceiling. Candles lit up the posh dining room.
Mephibosheth had to stabilise himself – using the table and the chair – to get closer to the feast on the table. After he had manoeuvred himself as close as he could with his crutches, he finally lowered himself into the chair. He had substantial upper body strength. As he sat down, the butler pushed his chair forward – using his knee to provide forward movement to push the legs of Mephibosheth and the chair under the table. His chair was comfortably close to the table. His upper body muscles flexed and bulged under his long-sleeved shirt as he settled in.
His decrepit legs and feet were now hidden below the banqueting table. His lower body was not visible. The butler then took the crutches and hid them around the corner, as per the instructions of the palace owner.
The King and his entourage walked in.
Everyone rose – showing honour and respect – as the custom was.
However, Mephibosheth remained seated. He bowed his head and stayed in that position until the King sat down. Everyone then took their seats.
“My Father, I give thanks to Thee, our King and Master whom we serve. You provide everything we need from Your storerooms. You have richly blessed your servant David. I thank Thee for the family around my table and Your provision. Bless the food and drink to our bodies, and bless our fellowship. Amen,” prayed King David.
King David opened his eyes. Mephibosheth sat across him. He saw the strong man in front of him. He had a royal seal ring on his finger. A subtle bay-leaf crown – covered with fine gold – adorned his head. He had an elegant bangle on his right wrist. The pattern and inscription on the precious metal signified his privileged position of power in the palace. He wore a heavy burgundy coloured cape – he appeared stately. He was well-groomed. His skin was soft and smooth. His hair and beard shone healthily in the natural daylight. Over the months, he had access to the King’s groomers.
“How is the harvesting of the crops on your farms going?” asked the King.
“My lord the King, four of my farms had been fully harvested. Only one more of my farms has to be processed,” answered Mephibosheth.
End of the introduction.
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Table of Contents
About this story:
According to the story in the Bible, Mephibosheth (or Mephibaal) was the son of Jonathan, grandson of Saul, and father of Micah. The Hebrew name is מְפִיבֹשֶׁת Məfīḇōšeṯ, meaning “from the mouth of shame,” or Merib-baal.
The true story about Mephibosheth is told in the Holy Writ. When he was five years old, both his father and grandfather died at the Battle of Mount Gilboa. After the deaths of King Saul and his son Jonathan, Mephibosheth’s nurse took him and fled in panic. In her haste, the child fell or was dropped while fleeing. After that, he was unable to walk – he was crippled. Lame at his feet.
Some years later, after David acceded to the kingship of the United Monarchy, King David sought “someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God”, and Mephibosheth was brought to him. David restored Saul’s inheritance to Mephibosheth and permitted him to live within his palace in Jerusalem. Mephibosheth was stunned; why did the King restore him? He did not deserve any restoration.
I must include a concise chapter to put this story in context. Dear reader, please read it.
David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth (2 Samuel Chapter 9):
9 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?”
2 And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the King said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
He said, “At your service!”
3 Then the King said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?”
And Ziba said to the King, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet.”
4 So the King said to him, “Where is he?”
And Ziba said to the King, “Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”
5 Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.
6 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!”
7 So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”
8 Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?”
9 And the King called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. 10 You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11 Then Ziba said to the King, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.”
“As for Mephibosheth,” said the King, “he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.” 12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. 13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the King’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.
David as a type of Christ:
As a type of Christ, David did an amazing thing; he exercised his power as the King and restored Mephibosheth. He showed mercy; he graced him with wealth and position. He gave him property and invited him to live in his palace. Yes, it is true, Mephibosheth ate at the table of the King.
Just like Mephibosheth, we could be crippled by sin. Christ invites us to His banqueting table. Yeshua wants to restore us – just like he did for Mephibosheth. Upon accepting His invitation, “All ye that are heavy laden come to Me, and I will give you rest,” we are restored and reconciled with Him. If we confess our sins and we accept Him, we are cleansed of our sins through the Blood of the Lamb.
The wonderful thing is that if we are like Mephibosheth, crippled, we are invited to the table of the Lord – His Kingdom. He wants to restore us. As we sit down at His table, our ‘lower half’ is covered by His table – our sins of the past – and Jesus doesn’t see our sins anymore. Our ‘lower part’ represents our sins, transgressions and iniquities. He sees our upper part – covered by the righteousness of Christ. He wants to cover us and redeem us from our sins. We have the opportunity to sit at His table every day. When we acquaint ourselves with Him, we become honourable members of his household – His Kingdom. We are fully restored as kings, prophets, and priests. We are welcome at His table.
What are you crippled by? Are you lame at your feet? You could be crippled by sin related to relationships, selfishness, pride, power, sex, or addictions. You could even be convicted and be in prison. No matter what our sins are, the invitation to sit at the table of the King is available to us today.
“Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you. Job 22:21 NKJV
Dear friend.
Accept His invitation today and allow the butler (The Holy Spirit) to push your chair in under the King’s table –just like He did for Mephibosheth. Receive your restoration, and accept your position as King, Prophet and Priest! Then, good will come unto you!
This article has been inspired by the sermon of Past John Haggee of Cornerstone Church (San Antonio - Texas): Mephibosheth. Broadcasted on 7 Jan 2022 (Daystar Network).
Copyright © 2022 by William Van Zyl
Half of Mephibosheth
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Published by Five House Publishing (New Zealand)
First Publishing, 2022
More eBooks and articles are available at https://fivehousepublishing.com/
More about the author at http://williamvanzyl.com/
