Topic: God's undeserved kindness to you
Bible Reading: ‘I will surely show you kindness.’ 2 Samuel 9:7 NIVAuthored By: Bob and Debby Gass
In Bible times, when a new king ascended the throne, he usually killed or banished every member of the old king’s family. So, here’s the story. Jonathan, King Saul’s son, and David, whom Saul hated, were close friends. So close, they made a covenant to protect one another with their lives. After Jonathan and Saul died in battle, Jonathan had one remaining son called Mephibosheth.
So, David had him brought to the palace, saying, ‘I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.’ Mephibosheth was living in Lo Debar, which means ‘the land of nothing… the place of no bread.’ (see 2 Samuel 9:4–5). That’s significant, because when your self-esteem is non-existent, your surroundings usually reflect it. You either give up completely, or go to the other extreme by striving to be perfect. But you don’t have to do either.
The Bible says, ‘God, for Christ’s sake, has forgiven you’ (see Ephesians 4:32). Your acceptance with God isn’t based on who you are, but Whose you are! Mephibosheth was lame in both feet and couldn’t walk properly. And spiritually speaking, you couldn’t either! Yet Mephibosheth ‘ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.’ (2 Samuel 9:13 NIV) His lame feet couldn’t be seen because they were hidden under the king’s table. And God does the same for you too! He wraps you in the righteousness of Christ and puts all your sins under the blood. That means you’re always acceptable in His sight―including this very moment.
SoulFood: Josh 11–13, Mark 9:38–50, Ps 142, Prov 23:7–9
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