S ) " 7 David said to him, 'Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat at my table regularly.' 8 Again he prostrated himself and said, 'What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me?'"
2 Samuel 9:7-8 (NASB)
O) David was speaking to Mephibosheth, the only remaining son of Jonathan and the only remaining offspring of Saul. Normally (and this explains why he was the last alive), when a new king would take over a throne, he would extinquish any family of the previous royal family. This would reduce the possibility of someone trying to usurp the king's throne. In this case, Mephibosheth had been hidden (see 2 Samuel 4:4) for fear of his life. When we read the accounting of Saul's household in 2 Samuel 4, though, it would appear David may not have ever intended to end his line. So, when he learned that someone was still alive from Saul's family, he took care to bless the man and ensure his prosperity the best he could (as we read more from today's chapter). In the above verses, the words of Mephibosheth reminded me of Psalm 8, where David himself was confronted by similar realizations when considering himself to his King.
A) Mephibosheth had done nothing at all to earn the grace of his king. He must have had a hard life up until that point. He was crippled since 5 years old, his true identity stripped from him. He was forced to deal with a handicap that was not his own fault, while dealing with the fact that he was supposed to be royalty, until the mistakes of someone else took that away. This is very similar to my spiritual state (and that of all mankind since Adam himself). For as long as I can remember (indeed since birth, but practically speaking it is since I can remember), I have been spiritually handicapped by sin. I was supposed to be royalty among all of God's creation (as was all of mankind, given dominion over the creations of God). The harsh reality is that, regardless of who caused it, I was spiritually a dead dog. This term especially applies, since I wasn't even born a Jew (see Matthew 15:21-28). Life handed me a hard lot. It wasn't as hard as some, and harder than others. Looking at a macro-level, it would still be easy to be bitter and resentful. However, like Mephibosheth, I need to recognize the present, simple reality of the situation. I was a dead dog, but my King regarded me differently. I was restored because of the name I have in Christ Jesus, and no one can revoke the promises of my King.
P) Father, God my King, what am I that You should regard a dead dog like I was? Because of who Your Son is, because of the grace I receive through Your plan of redemption, I am allowed to be blessed. I am allowed to, not only be made alive again, but no longer considered a dog. In Your sovereign will, Your perfect grace, You took this dead dog and made Your servant into a living son. You did more than resurrect my dead spirit, and more than restoring a prodigal son. You took what was not, and made it be so. You restored me to a place that I had no real rights to have in the first place. I am humbled in the presence of You, my Lord, my King. Be glorified. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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