Idaho faith: Those morally or spiritually bankrupt only need to reach out to God
In the desolate wilderness of Gilead, east of the Jordan River, a crippled man named Mephibosheth shifted his weight in a makeshift chair as he stared at a group of horsemen riding toward this remote village of LoDebar.
That was a strange sight because hardly anyone traveled to this forsaken outpost of civilization. Most people, including Mephibosheth himself, came here to hide from society. The closer the horsemen came, the more Mephibosheth’s heart sank with dread. These were military officers that seemed to be on official business, and that could mean serious trouble.
“Are you Mephibosheth, the son of Prince Jonathan and the grandson of King Saul?” the commander asked. Helplessly trapped and defenseless, Mephibosheth could only answer meekly, “I am.”
Knowing it was customary for new kings to eliminate members of the former royal family, this man born of nobility now anticipated his dreaded execution. 2 Samuel 4:4 said that when the news came of the deaths of both his father and grandfather, his nurse grabbed him up as a 5-year-old boy and tried to flee into hiding. In her haste, she dropped the child.
“You, sir, are ordered to come with us immediately and appear before King David,” announced the officer.
“Why? What have I done? I’m just trying to exist in this desolate place? Please just leave me alone! I’m no threat to anyone because I can’t even walk.”
The 90-mile trip to Jerusalem took several days, long enough for Mephibosheth to rehearse his plea for clemency before the new and powerful leader who occupied his grandfather’s throne. When he was finally ushered into David’s presence, Mephibosheth stumbled to the floor and lay prostrate on his face.
“What is your servant that you should look upon a dead dog as I?” The king’s heart filled with compassion because he had used that same self-deprecating slang term many years before while bowing low before this man’s grandfather (1 Samuel 24:14).
“Fellows, help this man to his feet!” David smiled. “I have brought you here so I might bless you with the kindness I promised to your father, my dear friend Jonathan! I am going to restore all your family’s properties and wealth, and make a permanent place for you here at my table!” (2 Samuel 9:10)
Overwhelmed by mercy, Mephibosheth was left speechless. He was going to be blessed by a covenant of friendship his father had made with the new king 22 years before!
David’s grace to this crippled son of Jonathan was the zenith of his life, even surpassing his defeat of Goliath, the Philistine giant. It was (and is) also an illustration of the grace God would like to extend to a lot of morally and spiritually disabled people who live in hiding, fearing his wrath. He has sent his messengers to bid them come into his presence where he would love to shower them with the blessings of a covenant he made with his son, Jesus Christ.
When Jesus died on the cross, God accepted the blood sacrifice of his Messiah as the true and final payment for the sins of everyone in the world. God has invited all who come to him by faith to be showered with the blessings promised in the covenant he made “for Jesus’ sake!”
That is why the apostles rushed out into the world. They had “good news” that people living in hiding from God’s wrath could be blessed with a covenant they never made, and didn’t even know existed.
Are you spiritually hiding from guilt and fear? Do you see the approaching messengers from the king? They will surprise you with good news. An audience with the king is the beginning of an abundant life you never thought possible.