Mephibosheth's Acknowledgment Of David's Favors

Adapted From A Sermon By

Philip Doddridge

And he paid homage and said,  

“What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”

(2 Samuel 9:8)

This morning, in a sermon adapted from Philip Doddridge, we will consider Mephibosheth's Acknowledgment Of David's Favors. And our text is 2 Samuel 9:8: And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”

Our Lord taught a principle that holds true and is vitally important:

those who humble themselves will be exalted.

This is especially appropriate to remember when we seek a deep connection with God. When He declares His majestic and awe-inspiring titles, describing Himself as the High and Lofty One who lives in eternity, dwelling in the holy and high place, He also extends grace, promising to look upon those who are humble, contrite in spirit, and who tremble at His word. When we are contemplating the recent teachings about communion with God, which speak to the joy and honor of a devout life, it's clear that the utmost humility is fitting. It's profoundly appropriate that we should bow before our God, acknowledging, "O Lord, why would you regard such insignificant beings as us?"

The story from which these words come provides several points for reflection, which, with God's blessing, can be helpful to us in our days and circumstances. Therefore, we will:

I. Hear a brief overview of the story

II. Consider how it can help us in our devotions

III. Draw some conclusions from the whole

I. We will consider a brief survey of the story, so far as is necessary to acquaint us with the occasion of these words of Mephibosheth to David. And the substance of it is this.

After enduring a long period of persecution and peril, David was finally established as king of Israel. Alarmed by his rise to power, the enemies of God's people banded together against him. Non-believers were in an uproar, and people were plotting futile plans, shouting, "Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us."{Psalm 2:3} Powerful alliances from neighboring countries were formed against him, but God was on his side, and wherever David went, he was successful. Eventually, it's said that God granted David peace from all his surrounding enemies. It was at this point that David remembered his deep friendship with Jonathan and sought out any surviving members of his family.

It's unfortunate that David hadn't asked sooner, because by the time he did, this young prince, Mephibosheth, was already old enough to have a child of his own, despite being just an infant when his father died. This means at least fourteen or fifteen years had passed since David became king and before he honored Mephibosheth. Prosperity often leads people to forget themselves and their friends, but it's better to remember them, even if it's late, than to forget them entirely. When a duty has been postponed for so long, there's all the more reason to address it promptly and decisively. ‡

David finally made the inquiry and learned that there was one son of Jonathan living with Machir, son of Ammiel, in Lodebar. He then sent for him, and poor Mephibosheth, perhaps unaware of the covenant between David and Jonathan, though aware of their friendship, was likely very frightened. His upbringing in obscurity and lack of experience with royal courts would have made this even more intimidating, as suggested by David's reassurance, "Do not fear."{2 Samuel 9:7} ‡

This confusion can be likened to the soul's reaction when God's grace begins to draw it back to Himself, intending to adopt it into His family, elevate it to honor, and grant the privileges of a child. However, the soul often responds with trembling and fear, uncertain of its fate and overshadowed by its own unworthiness and guilt. David quickly alleviated Mephibosheth's fears by saying, "Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always."{2 Samuel 9:7}

To give some context to his reaction, remember that Mephibosheth was injured when his nurse dropped him while fleeing during the chaotic day of his father's death, leaving him with disabilities in both legs.

Mephibosheth, due to his young age and disability, was overlooked for the throne in favor of his uncle Ishbosheth, whom the supporters of Saul's house crowned at Mahanaim. This misfortune, however, turned out to be a blessing for Mephibosheth; had he been king like his uncle, he might have met the same fate of assassination that befell Ishbosheth years earlier. Often, we owe our safety to God's providence through our disappointments, keeping us humble and secure. ‡

After Ishbosheth's rebellion was quashed, Saul's estate likely would have been seized by the crown, but David chose to restore it to Mephibosheth. David promised to restore to him all the land of Saul his grandfather, and further extended him an invitation to dine at his table perpetually, essentially offering Mephibosheth a place in the royal court, sharing in its honors and sustenance, ensuring not only his comfort but also securing wealth for his descendants, who might not enjoy such favor in the future. This gesture from David was remarkably generous, and it is a pleasing story, underscoring that doing good, particularly to friends or their offspring, is among the finest uses of prosperity, power, and wealth.

On the other hand, Mephibosheth's response to King David's kindness was marked by a profound humility and respect. He prostrated himself on the ground, a gesture often symbolizing deep reverence, and proclaimed, "What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?" Here, Mephibosheth likened himself to a "dead dog," an expression of utmost self-debasement. ‡

In biblical times, dogs were considered unclean creatures, unfit for sacrifice, and their carcasses were seen as particularly loathsome. This phrase was used proverbially to denote someone utterly contemptible or worthless. For example, David once compared himself to a "dead dog" or a "flea" when fleeing from King Saul, and Abishai referred to Shimei as a "dead dog" when he cursed David. Similarly, Abner questioned his own treatment by Ishbosheth with the phrase, "Am I a dog's head?" Mephibosheth's use of this idiom underscored his feelings of unworthiness, possibly exacerbated by his own physical condition of being lame, though it would have been beneath David's noble character to treat him poorly for such a reason. This scene paints a vivid picture of Mephibosheth's humility and the graciousness of David's gesture towards him. From this overview of the story, let us now,

II. Apply this practically.

It can be summarized as follows: If Mephibosheth received such kindness from David with humility and respect, then how much more should we humble ourselves in the presence of God, acknowledging our unworthiness to even converse with Him, especially when assembled to hear his word. We have every reason to bow down and ask, "Who are we, your servants, that you would regard such insignificant beings as us?" ‡

It would be wonderful if we could all achieve this attitude; it would be fitting and enjoyable, setting us up for deeper interaction with Him and readying us to accept His blessings. Let us further consider why we should exhibit even more humility when we stand before God than Mephibosheth did before David. This becomes clear when you consider the magnitude of the favor bestowed upon us and our lesser expectation of receiving it.

1. Think about how much more significant the favor we receive is compared to what David gave Mephibosheth. He was invited to eat at David's table and was restored to his family's estate; but God offers us far more splendid hospitality, adopting us into a much richer inheritance.

i) Consider how much better our invitation is compared to dining at David's court.

Imagine David's court as grand and elegant as you want, or even like Solomon's, as described in the First Book of Kings; could its pleasures ever match the joy of communing with God through Christ? If you think they could, then you truly don't understand these divine pleasures. David felt differently: "My soul", says he, "will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips."{Psalm 63:5} "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth."{Psalm 119:103} How much more delightful it was for him to see God's beauty and glory, which he spoke of as the one thing he desired from the Lord. ‡

Imagine what David would have said if he experienced our privileges, if he had been invited to the Lord's table, proclaiming the Lord's death until he comes! Surely, he would have composed a grander psalm than any inspired by his distant glimpses of the Savior. Yet, this is our privilege. Christ gives us his body, truly our food, and his blood, truly our drink; he invites, "Eat, O friends! Drink, yes, drink deeply, O beloved!" Do you think a feast at a prince's table could compare? Far be it from us that we should think so lowly!

Would a believer trade this for a seat at the most lavish banquet, with the most exquisite food and the finest company, if it meant never again reading God's word or assembling to hear it preached? If you are true Christians, you'd reject it, preferring a simple meal of herbs or bread and water. To indulge the senses, to entertain the imagination, to be tempted perhaps to excess and misuse God's gifts, is this better than communing with God? Does it provide sweeter, more satisfying memories? If not, then your reason for gratitude far exceeds that of Mephibosheth.

ii) Are we not adopted to a much nobler inheritance?

David granted Mephibosheth the estate of his father Saul, which was undoubtedly substantial; Saul's father, Kish, was described as a mighty and powerful man, suggesting significant wealth and prominence in his tribe. For Mephibosheth, who had long depended on the charity of a country gentleman, living almost like a pensioner at his table, this was a magnificent gift, especially since it offered him a degree of independence should David die and a new king who didn't know Jonathan come to power. But consider how much grander the gift God gives us! David didn't crown Mephibosheth or give him dominion over a region in Israel. Yet, despite how small and insignificant believers might seem now, God delights in giving them a kingdom, one that dwarfs all earthly kingdoms in value and significance.

Had Christ's mission been merely to restore the inheritance of our father Adam, with its beauty and nobility, it would have deserved our utmost gratitude. Imagine if His plan had been to reestablish Eden, to stop the cherub's flaming sword, and allow followers to re-enter on Adam's original terms; this would have been far superior to the Jewish expectation of a temporal Messiah, offering not just joy but also holiness and immortality. But thanks be to God, our Redeemer aimed higher; He came to secure for us a heavenly kingdom, adopting us into that inheritance. Isn't this infinitely more precious?

If you were to ask Abraham, David, Paul, or John if they would trade their current and future heavenly glories for a return to Eden, do you think they'd agree? Would Adam himself, now in the enjoyment of heaven, be willing to forsake that to live on earth, even in its most perfect form? No, surely not, even if that earthly happiness were guaranteed forever.

Yet, to this heavenly inheritance we are born anew through Christ's resurrection, an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading. "Lord, are You giving this to me? Do You offer me the promise of this, sealing it at Your table, and encouraging me to hope that once these brief mortal days are over, You will welcome me into it? Forever be praised the richness of Your grace!" Behold, what love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! We truly have every reason to bow down before Him, saying, "What are we, Your servants, that You would regard such unworthy beings as us?"

2. How much less reason we had to expect such a favor from God, than Mephibosheth from David.

Mephibosheth was David's fellow-creature, but we are God's creations, placing us at an infinite distance from Him. Mephibosheth was the son of David's most generous and obliging friend, yet we are descendants of transgressors. Mephibosheth had always behaved well towards David, while we, through our ungrateful rebellion against God, have made ourselves deserving of His wrath rather than His favor. Let's reflect on these thoughts.

We are here surveying the kindness of one creature to another.

Mephibosheth and David shared the same human nature, and if we were to compare, Mephibosheth was arguably David's superior by birth, being the son of a prince and heir-apparent to the throne. Even though David had the crown through divine right, he owed some respect to Mephibosheth for his family's former prestige, particularly given David's humble beginnings as a shepherd. If David believed that his victory and current stability made his position unshakable, he was overlooking the unpredictability of human life. This became clear when, years later, he was ousted from his kingdom by Absalom's rebellion, becoming a fugitive, and found refuge with Machir in Lodebar—the same man who had hosted Mephibosheth in his youth. Perhaps, David's earlier kindness to Mephibosheth secured a warm welcome in his time of need.

However, God's favor towards us isn't based on such human conditions. He is our Creator, we His dependent creatures. He governs the universe, and the difference between a prince and a slave is, to Him, no more significant than between one grasshopper and another, one speck of dust and another. Scripture describes God as sitting above the earth's circle, viewing its inhabitants as mere grasshoppers, with nations being as insignificant as a drop in a bucket or dust on scales. No upheaval can challenge His rule, nor will He ever need the gratitude or kindness of His creatures. His benevolence will never depend on human merit. Therefore, His favors are the overflow of His grace, and we should honor His condescension, which even the greatest rulers on earth or in heaven cannot match.

Again, Mephibosheth was Jonathan's son, David's dear friend, but we are descendants of those who rebelled against God. It's hard to imagine a more selfless friend than Jonathan was to David. In a sign of his affection, when their friendship began, Jonathan gave up his royal garments, including his sword and bow, to dress David, who was then dressed in a shepherd's simple attire. David himself acknowledged that Jonathan's love was extraordinary, surpassing even the love of women. Jonathan risked his life to defend David's honor against his own father's wrath, warned David of danger, saving his life, and even agreed to relinquish the throne to him if it had rightfully come to him. With such a legacy, it's more surprising that David took so long to remember Jonathan's family than that he treated Mephibosheth with such kindness when he did.

But do we have any claim to God's favor? We should remember our origins, the rock from which we were hewn, and the pit from which we were dug.

Weren't our first parents, Adam and Eve, rebels against God, bringing a curse upon all their descendants? Can any child of Adam claim, "Lord, I deserve your favor because of my father's deeds?" If we look at our more recent ancestors, some might reflect in deep sorrow, "Lord, we are from families of strangers, our fathers didn't know you or serve you; they didn't raise us in your fear or service; yet you've chosen to bring us back to you in a remarkable way." And for those of us with godly parents, able to trace a lineage of faith back perhaps two or three generations (and rarely further), what made them different? Only the grace of God. Once, they too were foolish and disobedient, making us and our families even more indebted to divine goodness. Our pious parents claimed nothing for themselves; they humbly acknowledged that they were saved by grace, having never earned any favor for themselves or us. So, who are we to think that God should regard us because of our lineage?

Once again, Mephibosheth, as far as we know, always acted well towards David. However, we've lost God's favor through countless, serious transgressions.

We never hear of Mephibosheth claiming the throne or disturbing David's reign. He seems to have been a peaceful man, showing deep affection for David even after mistakenly losing his estate, inheriting his father Jonathan's loyalty. Treating him harshly would have been cruel. If David had defeated Ishbosheth, captured him, and then not only spared his life but also favored him, seated him at his table, and restored his inheritance, that would be a fitting metaphor for how God has dealt with us. We must admit our audacious rebellion against God, made worse by the many favors we've received. It's as if Mephibosheth, after such kindness, had truly revolted, like Ziba falsely claimed.

We can each say, "Lord, instead of giving me blessings, you could have given me a taste of your wrath; instead of granting me an inheritance, I could have my share in the unquenchable lake of fire. Even though you've forgiven, welcomed, and adopted me, I've still provoked you. Yet, when I come to you trembling and weeping, you still tell me not to fear? Do you invite me to your table again today? Oh! What am I, that you would look upon such a worthless person as me?"

III. We close with a few application of these concepts and the implications they might suggest; ideas which surely come to mind for you as well.

1. It's a profound disrespect to overlook such generosity! To refuse the grace offered by the gospel is an act of ingratitude. Imagine if a monarch offered you a seat at their table and an estate, even if it served only to cover the extraordinary costs of such a lifestyle—many would eagerly accept. Yet, the offerings of divine love and the splendor of the heavenly realm are often disregarded, perhaps by us also. May God prevent us from realizing our mistake too late, and from finding, like Esau after losing his birthright, that late repentance comes in vain, even with tears.

And for those sincere Christians who neglect to engage in spiritual practices, why do you not accept the invitation to partake in these sacred moments? It would seem ungrateful of Mephibosheth to decline David's kind offer to dine together out of a misplaced sense of humility. The fault lies with you when you shun these opportunities. Let me ask you sincerely, do you not want to commit yourself to the Lord? If so, what motivates you? Is it to connect with the divine, to prepare for a higher state of being? If your desires are genuine, let go of what is holding you back, for these wishes affirm your entitlement. If they compel you deeply, then live according to these heartfelt desires.

2. Prepare for your closest encounters with God with a mindset of reverence; understand the immense worth of this privilege, while acknowledging your own unworthiness, considering the specific reasons and moments that make you feel so. Yet, do not let this lead to despair or doubt; instead, humble yourself with a sense of awe, embracing the promises of divine grace. Echo the humility and faith of Mary, saying, "I am the Lord's servant; may it be to me as you have said!"

3. Recognizing this undeserved kindness should lead us to patiently accept the painful trials that come from such a benevolent source. Consider Mephibosheth, who, after being falsely accused and facing a harsh judgment from David, approached him in mourning. After a humble defense, he concluded by saying, "My whole family was nothing but dead men before you, my lord the king; yet you placed me among those who eat at your table. What right do I have to complain any further to my lord the king?"

Christians, we have even more reason to reflect this way. We were all spiritually dead before God, yet He granted us everything and invited us to His table. Should we then complain when He takes away or withholds something we think we need? It would be unbecoming of us. Reflect on our blessings on one hand and our unworthiness on the other, and our only response in life's toughest moments should be to praise Him.

4. When we receive such astonishing privileges, we should certainly handle them with due diligence. Has God bestowed upon us great abilities? Then let's use them in His service. Has He blessed us with his word, with the hearing of the gospel? Let us never be guilty of taking this wonderful privileges for granted. Let us keep in mind what we have heard, and live our lives accordingly until he returns; Let us be salt and live as lights in this dark world.

Moreover, remember that we're soon to transition to a better place. Our Lord currently looks over his people here on earth; soon, He'll bring them to their place prepared in heaven. Truly blessed are those who are welcomed into God's kingdom! We hope, by grace, to be among them. Let this hope not only inspire but also guide our behavior.

And when that glorious day arrives, when we witness the marriage supper of the Lamb spread before us, surrounded by the splendor of the Redeemer's eternal courts, our wonder and joy will be matched by profound humility. We'll fall at His feet, more humbled than ever in our mortal lives, and exclaim,

"Lord, who are we, your servants, that you should notice such unworthy beings as us?"