God’s Grace For Dead Dogs

2 Samuel 9: 1-13

This narrative is not just about King David and Mephibosheth; it serves as an Old Testament parable – a Gospel miniature in which King David represents God and Mephibosheth represents us

Firstly, in Mephibosheth we learn that in our ‘fallen’ sinful condition we are unable to save ourselves

Mephibosheth was the grandson of Israel’s (first) King Saul, and the son of Jonathan

When Mephibosheth was only 5 years old and in the care of his nurse, King Saul and Jonothan were away in battle against the Philistines in the Valley of Jezreel

King Saul and Jonathan were both killed in that battle and upon hearing the bad news of their deaths, the nursed hurried away with Mephibosheth and accidently dropped him, and in his fall Mephibosheth’s ankles and feet were crippled

 2 Samuel 4: 4

And because of his fall Mephibosheth was unable to help himself – he was dependent upon the grace of the King to help him

And when Mephibosheth came to King David he said, 2 Samuel 9: 8 ‘“Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?”’

That’s an amazing thing to say, isn’t it!?

Mephibosheth had the humility to confess to the King that he was a ‘dead dog’ and in need of the King’s grace

And in the same way, despite our unworthiness and in our ‘fallen’ sinful condition we are unable to help ourselves, we too are ‘dead dogs’ who are dependent upon the grace of the Lord to save us - The Apostle Paul put it this way, Romans 6: 13 ‘you were dead, but now you have new life’ 

Genesis 2: 16-17; Psalm 51: 5; Romans 5: 12; Ephesians 2: 1-2  

Secondly, in Mephibosheth we learn that our salvation is based on God’s covenant

Before Jonathan was killed in battle, he was great friends with David and it says in, 1 Samuel 20: 16 ‘Jonathan made a covenant with David’ ^VOICE, (In Jonathan’s words) to, 1 Samuel 20: 14-15a ‘treat me with the faithful love of the Lord as long as I live. But if I die, treat my family with this faithful love.’

And as I’ve said already King Saul and Jonathan were both killed in battle and when David became the new King, he remembered the covenant with Jonathan to show grace to his descendants and, 2 Samuel 9: 1 ‘One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”’

David was told that Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth was still alive, 2 Samuel 9: 5 ‘So David sent for him.’

Concerning the covenant between Jonathan and David, please be mindful of this; Mephibosheth by his own words was an unworthy recipient of the King’s grace – He called himself a ‘dead dog’!

And in the same way, despite our unworthiness, our salvation is based on a covenant; Jesus called it the New Covenant - On the night of His betrayal and arrest, in the Upper Room with His disciples, Jesus was celebrating His last Passover meal with His disciples, Luke 22: 19-20 ‘And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, which is being given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant in My blood.’” ^NASB 

And like David calling Mephibosheth to come to him, we too are called to come to the Lord, Romans 8: 30 ‘And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them His glory.’

Did you notice that the text says that we are chosen by God THEN we are called to come to Him

John 17: 6; Acts 13: 48; Ephesians 1: 4, 11; 2 Timothy 1: 9

Thirdly, in Mephibosheth we learn that God is generous in His grace towards us

King David was generous in his grace towards Mephibosheth by treating him like royalty, after all, he was the grandson of King Saul and son of Jonathan

King David gave Mephibosheth the property that once belonged to his grandfather King Saul and his family and also ordered his own staff to farm the land and make it productive for the benefit of Mephibosheth

2 Samuel 9: 7a, 9-10a

And David also declared that Mephibosheth would be a permanent guest at the King’s table; he would never be turned away  

2 Samuel 9: 7 b, 10b, 11b

And in the same way, despite our unworthiness, Hebrews 4: 16 ‘let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.’ - Grace that provides us with an eternal inheritance and a permanent place as guests at the King’s table

Jeremiah 32: 40; John 5: 24; John 6: 47; John 10: 27-30; Romans 5: 8-10; Romans 8: 1, 35, 37-39; 2 Corinthians 4: 14; 2 Corinthians 5: 5; Ephesians 1: 13-14; Ephesians 4: 30; Colossians 3: 3-4; Hebrews 9: 15; 1 John 2: 19, 25; 1 John 5: 4, 11-13, 20

Are you saved? Start the year right; respond to the invitation of the Lord to become a recipient of His grace – God’s Grace For Dead Dogs