2 Samuel 9:1-13
THE CASE OF THE LAME PRINCE
Intro: A story is
told about Fiorello LaGuardia, who, when he was mayor of New York City during
the worst days of the Great Depression and all of WWII, was called by adoring
New Yorkers “the
Little Flower” because he was only
five foot four and always wore a carnation in his lapel.
He
was a colorful character who used to ride the New York City fire trucks, raid
speakeasies with the police department, take entire orphanages to baseball
games, and whenever the New York newspapers were on strike, he would go on the
radio and read the Sunday funnies to the kids.
One
bitterly cold night in January of 1935, the mayor turned up at a night court
that served the poorest ward of the city. LaGuardia dismissed the judge and
took over the bench himself.
Within
a few minutes, a tattered old woman was brought before him, charged with
stealing a loaf of bread. She told LaGuardia that her daughter's husband had
deserted her, her daughter was sick, and her two grandchildren were starving to
death.
The
shopkeeper, from whom the bread was stolen, refused to drop the charges. “It's a real bad
neighborhood, your Honor.” The man
told the mayor. “She's got to be punished to teach other people around here a
lesson.”
LaGuardia
sighed. He turned to the woman and said, “I've got to punish you.
The law makes no exceptions--ten dollars or ten days in jail.”
But
even as he pronounced sentence, the mayor was already reaching into his pocket.
He extracted a bill and tossed it into his famous sombrero saying: “Here is the ten dollar
fine which I now remit, and furthermore, I am going to fine everyone in this
courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so
that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to
the defendant.”
That
poor, little grandmother left that courtroom with $47.50 in her pocket, fifty
cents of that amount being contributed by the red-faced grocery store owner.
Around that courtroom some seventy petty criminals, people charged with traffic
violations, and New York City policemen, each of whom had just paid fifty cents
for the privilege of doing so, gave the mayor a standing ovation.
That
is the very essence of God’s saving grace!
Grace recognizes our wretched condition; pays our debt and gives
us more than we could ever have imagined.
John
Newton got it right when he called it amazing!
This
passage we have read today is one of the clearest portraits of amazing grace in
the Word of God. God uses David and Mephibosheth as a living canvas upon which
He paints an illustration of what grace is all about. In this text, David
rescues a man from a hopeless situation and forever changes his life.
I
want to preach on The Case Of The Lame Prince.
I want to examine the facts of this case, facts that demonstrate that this is a case study in grace.
I. v. 1-5 HOW GRACE IS EXTENDED
This
story opens in the throne room of King David in Jerusalem. David has it in his
heart to extend grace to a member of Saul’s family.
A. v. 1 The Reason For This Grace – David says that he wants to show someone
from the family of Saul “kindness for Jonathan’s sake.”
• The word for “kindness” is also
translated “goodness,
mercy, favor, and loving kindness.”
• It is the O.T. word for “Grace.”
• “Grace” is often defined
as “the
unmerited love and favor of God toward the undeserving.”
• Grace is one person
accepting another person in a positive manner in spite of the unworthiness of
the person being accepted.
David’s
desire to extend grace to a member of Saul’s family is amazing in light of what
new kings usually did when they came to power. Many ancient kings totally
eradicated the families of their predecessors to ensure that no one would
launch a claim for the throne.
For
example, Ashurbanipal mutilated, executed and fed the bodies of his rivals to
dogs as part of his first official acts as king of Assyria. What Ashurbanipal
did would be justice! What David did was grace! David had the right execute
judgment, but he chose to demonstrate grace instead.
David
did this, not because the house of Saul deserved it; he did it for two reasons:
• He did it because of his relationship with
Jonathan. They were closer than brothers. Ill. 1 Sam. 18:1-3
• He did it because of two promises he had made many
years before. David had promised both Jonathan and Saul that he would not
totally destroy their offspring, 1 Sam. 20:13-17; 1 Sam. 24:20-22.
So,
this grace is extended because of another. That is the nature of grace!
God extends His grace to the descendants of Adam.
We do not deserve His grace, His love and His mercy. We deserve judgment,
damnation and Hell, Rom. 6:23; Eze. 18:4.
Yet, God extends His amazing grace to us because of Another.
He reaches out to fallen, depraved sinners because
He loves His Son; and because Jesus died for us on the cross. We have nothing
to merit us to God, but because of Jesus, we can experience God’s amazing grace
1 John 2:12;
Eph. 4:32. No wonder it’s called
amazing!
B. v. 1 The Reach Of This Grace – When David decides to extend grace, he
does so without any limits. He is looking for “ANY that is left of the
house of Saul.” The house of Saul was the house of his
predecessor and bitter enemy, but that did not matter. David placed no limits
on his grace. He was willing to extend it to “any”
member of the house of Saul.
David was not looking for people who met any
certain criteria. He wasn’t looking for people who were soldiers, or
intellectuals, or who possessed certain abilities, etc. “Any” person who was of the family of Saul was a
candidate for the grace of King David.
• God’s amazing grace knows no boundaries!
• God extends His grace
to all people regardless of their pasts, their racial, their social
standing, or their deeds.
• God does not reach out to save the righteous, but
the sinner, Mark
2:17.
• If you have never been saved, you are qualified to
be saved.
• He will save anyone who will come (Ill. 1 Cor. 1:26-29)
Ill. Eph. 2:1-3 –
Ill Our condition – Dead, Deceived, Depraved and Doomed! Sadly, many don’t see themselves as sinners, but
the facts speak for themselves! (Ill. “4 Roman Nuns!”) Ill. Rom. 3:10-23
Ill. Where Mephibosheth was when David found him.
• He was in the house of “Machir” in a place called “Lodebar”. Both the house and the place describe Mephibosheth’s condition.
• “Machir” means “Sold” and “Lodebar” means “No Pasture”.
• Both the place and the house describe his
condition.
• Mephibosheth was a man injured in a fall. His
condition was not his own fault.
• He was the son of royalty, crippled, unable to seek
or to get to the king.
• He was separated, in hiding, and afraid.
• By the way, his name means “Shameful.”
• He was in a hopeless
condition and he was helpless to do anything about it!
What a picture that is of the lost sinner. Like
Mephibosheth, the lost person is “sold” under sin and he
is in a place where there is “no hope.” (Ill. Rom. 7:14; Ill. The Prodigal Son - Luke 15:14)
He is in a place where he cannot help himself. Ill.
Eph. 2:12, “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth
of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and
without God in the world:”
The lost sinner is a slave to his passions and to
the devil. He is in a place of absolute slavery! The lost sinner is in a place
of “no pasture,
and of no hope.”
• There is no Friend for the hard day,
and all his days are hard, Pro. 13:15.
• There is no one to hear when he prays.
• There is no one to help him shoulder the burdens of life.
• There is no one to turn to in the dark hours.
• There is no help for today, and no hope for tomorrow.
• That is where all those who are outside grace find
themselves today!
I praise His name that God extends His grace to all
those who are in that condition, Ill. Eph. 2:4 – “But God!”.
• His salvation is available to “whosoever will”, Rev. 21:17; Matt. 11:28; John 7:37.
• There are no limits on who can come.
• Grace is extended to all who will!
• If you are a descendant of
Adam by virtue of your first birth, you are a candidate for salvation through
the second birth!
• He won’t turn you away, John 6:37.
God’s amazing grace is how you and I got saved. If
you are lost, that is how you will get in as well! No one deserves grace and
salvation, but anyone can have it. That is what makes grace so amazing!
C. v. 1-5 The Response Of This Grace – David discovers that one of Jonathan’s
sons is still living. He also hears the news that this man is crippled.
The response of grace is not to ask what kind of man he is, or even how bad he
is crippled. Grace does not concern itself with the man’s background, his
surroundings, his abilities, his appearance, his future potential, etc.
• The response of grace is to ask “Where is he?”
• As soon as David hears where this man is, he sends
his servants to “fetch” him.
• Grace said, “I am not concerned about his condition, I want him just like he
is.”
• David said, “I’ll take him just like he is!”
So it is with the amazing grace of God.
• He does not look upon us and concern Himself with
our crippled spiritual condition.
• He looks upon us through the eyes of grace.
• He sees us exactly like we are, but He loves us in
spite of what we are.
• He knows all about our
past, our problems and our potential, yet He responds by drawing us to Himself
anyway!
We must be “fetched” by Him before
we can and will come to Him, John 6:44; 65.
Do you remember being “fetched?”
• Do you have a fetching
story?
• I praise the Lord that I
have one!
• If you have one, you ought
to tell it!
When grace fixes its gaze on one of the crippled
sons of Adam’s race, it cares for nothing but fetching us to itself.
No wonder it’s called
amazing!
Grace is the only means of salvation – Titus 3:5; Eph. 2:8-9; 2 Tim.
1:9.
• Mephibosheth was one of the last survivors of the
family of Saul. Were it not for the grace David demonstrated here, the entire
family would have soon vanished away.
• Were it not for the grace of God in Jesus Christ,
no son of Adam would survive, 1 Cor. 15:22, but
all would be lost in their sins and would go to Hell for eternity!
No wonder it’s called
amazing!
I. How
Grace Is Extended
II.
v. 6-8 HOW
GRACE IS EMBRACED
For
just a moment, put yourself in the shoes of Mephibosheth.
• You are one of the few remaining members of the
house of Saul.
• You are living in a place called Lo-debar, which means “no pasture.”
• You are helpless and your life is hopeless!
• He is poor.
• He is a cripple, and he has been since he was five.
• When he was five, his father was killed in battle,
and when that horrible news came, Mephibosheth’s nurse tried to flee with the
child, she dropped him and his legs were permanently damaged, 2 Sam. 4:4.
• All of his life, since he was a five-year-old boy
he has been warned that David might find him. He has lived his whole life in
fear and misery.
• You do not have access to the wealth or the lands
of his family.
• You have been warned that David might come for you
one day.
• Then one day you hear the sound of horses and
chariots outside.
• The men enter and tell him the king has sent for
him.
•
They load him up and take him
from his home to see the king he has always feared.
• After a while the chariots arrive at the King’s
palace.
• Mephibosheth is carried into the King’s presence.
• When he arrives there, nothing is like he had
imagined it.
• Mephibosheth has entered the presence of grace.
• Notice how he embraces it.
A. v. 6a He Embraces It With A Humble
Heart – When Mephibosheth
comes into David’s presence, he is aware that as a descendant of Saul he
deserves nothing but judgment from the King. So, he humbles himself in the
presence of David.
B. v. 6b-7 He Embraces It With A Happy
Heart – Instead of judgment,
Mephibosheth experiences tenderness. Ill. What David could have said!
I
believe that when David looked at Mephibosheth, he was actually seeing
Jonathan. David identified Mephibosheth with Jonathan. That’s what God does
with us, Ill. Gen.
3:21; 2 Cor. 5:21.
Ill. What you see here is
imputation at work!
• He hears David call his name.
• Then to his amazement, David speaks peace to him.
• He hears as the King promises him restoration of
all the wealth and glory that once belonged to the family of Saul.
• Then, the icing on the cake, David promises to give
Mephibosheth a place at the King’s table.
• It is with a happy heart that Mephibosheth embraces
the treasures of grace!
C. v. 8 He Embraces It With An Honest Heart – Mephibosheth is overwhelmed by the grace
he has received. He acknowledges that he is undeserving of such love and mercy.
Grace has been extended and it has been embraced and nothing will ever be the
same in Mephibosheth’s life again!
What a picture this is of the lost sinner who
encounters grace!
• When the King first calls there is fear in the
sinner’s heart brought about by conviction, John 16:7-11.
• The sinner knows that he deserves nothing but
judgment and damnation from the hand of God. (By the way, there is no salvation apart from
conviction, John 6:44.)
• So, the call of God comes and it cannot be denied.
• When the sinner responds to God’s call and is
ushered into the presence of the Lord, he falls down in humility, reverence and
worship.
Then, the King speaks, and He reveals the truth
that grace has turned away His wrath, opened His heart ,and His Heaven, and
that grace promises to restore to the sinner everything that sin took away! If
you have experienced God’s saving grace in your life, then you know how
overwhelming it truly is.
Think back and remember that day when as a lost
sinner you were brought by the Spirit of God into the presence of God.
• Do you remember the fear?
• Do you remember the feeling of dread?
• Do you remember how that He spoke peace to your
soul that day?
• Do you remember how you came with nothing and left
with everything?
What a great, wonderful, matchless, glorious Savior
we have! When His grace is embraced, everything changes. No wonder it’s called
amazing!
• Have you ever had an
encounter with grace?
• If you can’t remember a
time when you embraced grace, you need to come to Jesus today and make a
memory!
• You need a fetching
story.
I. How
Grace Is Extended
II.
How Grace Is
Embraced
III.
v. 9-13 HOW GRACE IS EXPANDED
When
Mephibosheth came to David, he did not get what he deserved. He received grace.
When he received grace, he also received more blessings than he could have ever
imagined. Grace was expanded. Notice what grace provided to Mephibosheth and what
saving grace provides to you and me.
A. v. 9-11a Grace Provided A Future – In Lo-debar, Mephibosheth had nothing. He
was poor. He was an outcast. He was a fugitive. He had no hope and no prospects
for his future. But, when he met grace, everything changed! All of his present
needs were met and his future was secured.
Grace
gave Mephibosheth something he never could have had in Lo-debar: grace gave him
a future.
• Grace gave him the plenty of the King!
• Grace gave him peace with the King!
• This one man’s encounter with grace affected his
family too!
• All of them were delivered from Lodebar and brought
into the presence of the king! Ill. Micha - v. 12.
Ill. “alway”, v. 10 –
Mephibosheth was expected to come to the King’s table on all stated days, but
he could come to that table anytime he wanted to! He had an open invitation. He
had access to the king!
The same is true for all those who experience God’s
saving grace.
• In Adam, our Lo-debar, we had nothing!
• We were lost, undone, and headed to Hell.
• We were outcasts and fugitives, running for our
lives from a holy God Who possessed the right, and the power to send us to a
lost eternity.
Ill. Eph. 2:1-3. Ill. Eph. 2:4 - “But God!!!”
But, when grace was extended and embraced,
everything changed! What sin could never give us became ours in Jesus! For the
first time, there was hope for the future.
• We had no future, but we are promised security
– John
6:37-40; John 10:28; 1 Pet. 1:5.
• We had no home of our own, but we are promised a
home in Heaven – John 14:1-3.
• We has no hope, but we are promised that our needs
would be met – Phil. 4:19, Matt. 6:25-34.
• We had no one, but we are promised His presence all
the way home to Heaven – Heb. 13:5; Matt. 28:20.
• I used to be a nobody
headed nowhere but Hell. But now, by grace, I am a somebody headed somewhere
big!
• That is what grace gives to all those who embrace
it!
No wonder it’s called
amazing!
Grace restores everything
PawPaw Adam threw away in the Garden of Eden!
B. v. 11b Grace Provided A Family – Mephibosheth was adopted out of Saul’s
family and into David’s. Grace gave him something that he did not have before
it was extended to him. Grace gave him a family!
Every
day he lived, Mephibosheth was reminded by his surroundings, and by the presence
of the King that he was the recipient of grace. He was where he was because of
the grace of the King! David claimed him as a son! Grace took Mephibosheth out
of death and brought him into life!
When a sinner responds to the call of grace and is
saved, that sinner is immediately adopted into the family of
God, Rom.
8:15; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5. He is
taken out of Adam, and is placed into Christ, Col. 1:13; 1 Cor. 12:13.
• In Adam, we were doomed to die, 1 Cor. 15:22a.
• In Jesus, we are destined for life, 1 Cor. 15:22b.
Grace took us from our Lo-debar and brought us into
the family of God, 1 John 3:1-3. May
we never forget that we have what we have and that we are what we are simply by
the good grace of God, 1 Cor. 15:10.
No wonder it’s called
amazing!
C. v. 13 Grace Provided Fulfillment – Mephibosheth was a nobody in a house full of somebodies. Imagine the scene. It’s suppertime in David’s
palace, and the royal family enters the dining hall and takes their places at
the king’s table.
• There was Absalom, perfect and handsome.
• There were David’s other sons.
• There were David’s beautiful wives and daughters.
• There was Joab the general, proud and strong.
• There were princes and princesses; soldiers and
statesmen; men of wealth, men of degree, and men of power.
• All of these took their place at the table of King
David.
Wait!
As the family gathers, there is the sound of a crippled man coming down the
hallway. Can you hear the clump of his crutches and the sound of his feet being
dragged? It is Mephibosheth and he takes his place at the King’s table with all
the rights and privileges as the rest. Then, when he takes his seat and the
tablecloth falls across his legs. He looks just like the rest. Because of grace
Mephibosheth belonged at that table!
Grace
took a nobody from nowhere and made him a child of the King! Mephibosheth would
have never known joy, happiness, peace, fulfillment, contentment or
unconditional love apart from the grace of King David!
Mephibosheth
knew that he was a just a sinner and a nobody; but when he sat down at the
table, he was just like anyone else!
That is the power of
grace!
• It takes the lost sinner, changes him completely
and gives him a seat at the Lord’s Table, 2 Cor. 5:17; 2 Pet. 1:4.
• It takes us from our Lo-debar and makes us one of
God’s children, 1
John 3:1-2.
• It puts us on even footing with all the rest of
God’s precious saints.
• Because of grace I belong
where He has placed me!
• When “fetched” you, and you
embraced His grace and were saved, God elevated you to a new position, Eph. 2:6.
• You are not beneath Abraham, Moses, the Apostles or
any other saint of God. You are His child, 1 John 3:1-2.
• He has seated at His table and His grace has taken
care of your past and your infirmities. That is the power of grace!
No wonder it’s called
amazing!
Verse 13 - Even after he was adopted into the family,
Mephibosheth was still “lame on both his feet”.
He was still a cripple, but he was welcomed at the king’s table.
The same is true of us! Even though we are saved by
His grace, we are still far less than perfect. Ill. We need a crutch. We are all just a bunch of spiritual cripples.
Ill. Rom.
7:14-25.
Even though I still fail Him and often prove my
crippled condition by stumbling and falling, I am still His son and I am always
welcome at His table. That is grace!
Conc: Thank God for
grace! Thank God for His soul saving, life changing grace! No wonder it’s
called amazing!
• Have you been “fetched” by grace?
• Has its power, promises and provisions been made
real in your heart and soul?
If
you are saved by grace, you know what I am talking about.
If
you haven’t, but you know the King is calling you to come to Him, the time to
do that is now.
• Do you need to be
saved? Is He “fetching” you? Come to Jesus right now. He will save your soul,
adopt you in to His family, change your life, and your eternal destiny!
• Are you saved, but not
walking with the Lord as you should be?
Come to Him now and He will restore you to a place of fellowship and blessing.
•
Are
you saved and grateful for it? Have you been “fetched” by grace? Why don’t you come before Him and praise Him for His grace!