I Won't Stay In Lo Debar

The story of Mephibosheth is a very interesting one.  The name Mephibosheth itself means “Exterminator of shame”. What makes this story so interesting is that it shows in a picture what man is in his natural ruined state.  It also shows how the grace of God can meet a person where he is, as well as what Grace does to the heart that has tasted it.
 Mephibosheth was first introduced to us in II Samuel 4:4 as a five year old child.

II Sam. 4: 4-Tidings come from Jezreel of the death of Saul and Jonathan His grandfather and father were ignominiously slain on the mountains of Gilboa by the Philistines, and when the tidings came, "his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame"

Why did this nurse flee?  She knew that Saul hated and hunted David  for a very long time. Both Saul and his son Jonathan were killed and David was to be the next heir to the throne – not Mephibosheth Jonathan's son. She assumed that David would no doubt seek revenge on any relative of Saul and so Mephibosheth being the only relative left, David would come after Him

Was she totally wrong?  No she was not and here is why.  It was not uncommon in the Old Testament times for a new king to kill any surviving relative of his predecessor who might claim to be an heir to the throne.

I do believe that this nurse was leaning to her own understanding of what things would be, failing to consult God's direction.  In her haste she made a blunder and accidentally dropped this young child.  

On the other hand as we analyze this story- David can be likened to a type of Christ: while Saul and His descendants can be seen like a type of fallen Adam.

Like Mephibosheth’s nurse we try to run away from God-because we assume that because we messed, we will be punished.  We fail to see a God of Love and forgiveness, and instead of running to God and seeking his forgiveness we run away.  In our haste to get away from God we get dropped and crippled and then we hide ourselves in places where we think no one will ever find us.  What is in your past that you are running away from?  Is it your family name?  Is it the legacy of depression, anxiety, alcoholism, divorce?  You can only get so far before we get overcome- Lets take it to God.

Stay tuned for Part II next week

In His Service,

Vilma