When You’re Invited to Trade Shame for Grace
Image: “The King’s Table: by Steve Creitz, GoodSalt.com
This is the blog version of podcast Episode 001.
Ever heard of Mephibosheth? His name isn’t on list of most popular names for boys, and he’s not one of the main characters in any book of the Bible. But his story in 2 Samuel 9 tells us a lot about the heart of God. Let’s start with a little context.
Who wrote the book of Samuel?
Originally written as one book, 1 and 2 Samuel focus on the history of Israel and name no author. When the Hebrew Old Testament was being translated into the Greek Septuagint, between the third century BC and first century AD, the book of Samuel was considered too long and was divided into two books.
Where did the story take place?
Our story takes place in King David’s palace in Jerusalem. Before David became king, Jerusalem was Jebus, a Canaanite city strategically located on a hill, which was easy to defend. Plus, there was easy access to water and transportation routes. It was located in the land given to the tribe of Benjamin, but they never conquered the city.
After David became king of all Israel, he had his eye on the land for all of the reasons just mentioned, but also because it was in the middle of the land of Israel. 2 Samuel 5:9 tells us that King David conquered the Jebusites, moved into the fortress and renamed it the City of David. And two verses later we find out that they’ve they broke ground on a palace for the new king.
When did the events in 2 Samuel 9 happen?
In Biblical history, 2 Samuel takes place after the Israelites enter the Promised Land, they live there awhile without a king, then they are ruled by King Saul and now by King David. 2 Samuel 9 happens sometime between 995-950 BC and several years before Bathsheba enters the picture.
How did we get here?
After years of chaos during the time of Judges, the people of Israel beg God for a king, like the other nations have. God relents and Saul becomes the first king of Israel. Because of his disobedience God chooses to remove the kingdom from Saul and his family and to give it to a man after his heart (1 Samuel 13:13-14)—David, a teenaged shepherd anointed to be the next king—some day. (1 Samuel 16:12) Later, he kills Goliath the Philistine.
Image by Astrid Schaffner from Pixabay
While David is waiting for the throne, he is invited to be Saul’s personal musician and then becomes the object of his hatred. For years, David is literally running for his life.
At the age of 30, about 15-20 years after he was anointed, David becomes king of Judah, which includes only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Eventually, after the death of Saul and his sons, David becomes king of all Israel at the age of 37.
And now we begin our story.
For the past 10+ years, King David, now in his mid 40’s or mid 50’s, has literally battled to secure his kingdom. David returns to his palace and asks if Saul still has any relatives left. (Still is emphasized in the original Hebrew.) He wants to show them kindness for the sake of Jonathan who has been his dear friend since David’s victory over Goliath the Philistine (1 Samuel 18:1).
In ancient times, new kings destroyed all of the former king’s relatives, eliminating all possible rivals to the throne. David made a promise both to Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:14-15) and to Saul that he would not kill their relatives (1 Samuel 24:21-22), and he kept that promise. But those loyal to the new king could have taken things into their own hands without David’s knowledge.
Someone must have remembered Ziba, King’s Saul’s steward, who may have continued caring for the king’s land after his death. David asks Ziba if he knows anything about King Saul’s family.
Ziba does know, but this puts him in a tricky position. If he says yes, he could possibly put Saul’s family in danger. If he says no, he would be lying to the King, and that wouldn’t be safe for him or his family.
Ziba chooses to be truthful and says, “Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, is still living, but he is lame in both feet.” As a loyal servant of the departed King Saul, Ziba may be protecting Mephibosheth, letting David know that Mephibosheth isn’t a threat to him or the throne, or that Mephibosheth isn’t fit to rule.
David’s mind is unchanged and wants to know where to find Jonathan’s son. Ziba gives David the address—Mephibosheth is at the house of Makir in Lo Debar (2 Samuel 9:4).
Who is Mephibosheth?
There are a few things you should know about this young man with an interesting name:
1. There are two Biblical characters with this name.
Surprisingly, there are two Mephibosheths in the Bible: King Saul’s son born to a concubine (2 Samuel 21:8), and Jonathan’s son (I Chronicles 9:40), which is the man we’re talking about.
2. Our Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, had two names.
Earlier in his life, he was called Meriball, which means, “Contends with Baal.” In 1 Chronicles 8:34 and 9:40, his name is spelled two different ways, but they refer to the same person.
Jewish children were named because of character traits the parents saw at birth, or traits they wanted them to have, or because of the current condition of their lives. At this time in Israel, they needed a man to contend with the false god Baal.
And remember, these names are in a language we don’t know, but when a persons’ name was spoken in Hebrew, the Jews knew its meaning. Somewhere along the line, Meribaal “Contends with Baal” became Mephibosheth, “exterminator of shame.”
Every time his name was spoken, he was reminded that he wasn’t living up to his name.
3. Mephibosheth was second in line to the throne, after his father Jonathan.
At that time, thrones were passed from father to son. At Saul’s death, the throne would be given to his eldest son Jonathan; at Jonathan’s death, the throne would pass to his son, Mephibosheth.
4. David was Mephibosheth’s uncle by marriage.
When the Israelites were battling the Philistines, King Saul promised his daughter to anyone who defeated Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:25) David the victor was in his mid-twenties, he married Jonathan’s sister, Michal. That makes David Mephibosheth’s uncle.
Mephibosheth’s Traumatic Childhood
When he was five (2 Samuel 4:4), His father, Jonathan, and his two uncles were killed in battle with the Philistines on Mt. Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:1-2). His Grandpa Saul was critically wounded and chose to take his life (1 Samuel 31:3-4).
Meanwhile, nearly 70 miles/110 KM away in the royal fortress at Gibeah, a nanny hears the news and recognizes that her charge and heir to the throne, Mephibosheth, was likely in danger. She hurriedly whisks him away, but in that moment, everything changes.
Somehow Mephibosheth falls. Did the wiggly five-year-old boy resist being carried or did the nanny lose grip as she rushed him to safety? It doesn’t really matter because the result is the same.
Mephibosheth is now lame in both feet (2 Samuel 4:4 flashback to 1 Samuel 31). Though no details are given, some scholars believe that maybe a broken spine or broken legs not set properly led to his inability to walk.
With Mephibosheth wounded and too young to rule, his Uncle Ishbosheth becomes king. He abandons Saul’s royal fortress in Gibeah for a new palace (2 Samuel 2:8) closer to Saul’s allies who could offer military support, if needed.
Now, fast forward two years. Abner, grandpa Saul’s uncle and army commander, is murdered (1 Samuel 3:27). And not long after, Uncle Ishbosheth is murdered (2 Samuel 4:6), leaving Mephibosheth without male relatives or mentors.
Before the age of 8, Mephibosheth experienced some incredible trauma.
He lost his lost his home—his security, protection, and provision.
He lost his family—his male relatives and mentors are dead
He lost his identity—his title as future king is replaced by orphan
He lost his mobility—his independence and ability to provide for himself
He lost his manhood—his ability to defend his nation and provide for family.
For more than 15 years, he lives in hiding in Lo Debar with Makir, which means “salesman.” (We don’t know if he was a salesman, but that’s what his name means.) Makir is the son of a Levite priest, which could explain his generosity.
Lo Debar, far from the palaces of Saul and David, means, “pastureless,” “no word” “no thing.”
This man who was called “exterminator of shame” was likely carrying a lot of it. Trauma can leave us feeling like nothing, carrying shame that paralyzes us and keeps us in a place where we see nothing ahead. But that’s not the end of his story--or yours.
In the King’s Presence
Now, back to our story in 2 Samuel 9.
King David arranges for Mephibosheth to travel from Lo Debar to the palace in Jerusalem, about 80 miles/128 km. Maybe he rode on a camel or a donkey, or maybe he walked with crutches. We don’t know.
At that time, healthy people traveled about 8 miles a day, so this journey gave him more than a week to wonder why King David had summoned him.
When Mephibosheth arrives, he may be expecting the worst. The original Hebrew says he fell on his face in honor, using the same Hebrew word for fell that described his injury (2 Samuel 9:6).
He drops to the floor, lying flat on the ground with his face down, as one shows honor to royalty. It is likely physically and emotionally painful to put himself in such a vulnerable position, and he probably can’t get up by himself.
King David says, “Mephibosheth!”, and Mephibosheth answers, “At your service!” (2 Samuel 9:6 NIV) I love that before King David says anything else, he first says, “Don’t be afraid.” (I Samuel 9:7)
And then King David continues. Because Jonathan was his close friend, the king is going to honor Mephibosheth by giving him all the land that belonged to his Grandpa Saul. Saul came from a wealthy family (1 Samuel 9:1), but we don’t know how much land he owned or how David came to own it.
Somehow, after Saul’s death, the land was transferred to David—possibly because Saul’s last surviving son, Ishbosheth, had rebelled against David, or David may have inherited the land through his wife, Michal, the daughter of Saul, since all of Saul’s sons were dead. By offering Mephibosheth his grandfather’s land, King David was restoring what should’ve been his inheritance.
This is working out so much better than Mephibosheth could’ve imagined! Remember, according to the laws of the day, he probably expected death for himself and his family who are considered enemies of the throne. Instead, King David blesses him beyond all expectation!
David’s Generous Offer
David continues his generous statement, “and you will eat at my table forever.” (I Samuel 9:7) Mephibosheth has a standing invitation to eat at the kings table, three meals a day, for the rest of his life.
David’s favor was unexpected. The author of Samuel repeats King David’s offer in verses 10, 11, and 13 because it was so unbelievable and countercultural--for the characters in the story, for those who heard the story generations later, and for us who hear it thousands of years later.
David’s kindness is likely overwhelming to Mephibosheth. We don’t know when he got up, but once again, he’s flat on the ground with his face to the floor, and he says, “Why should you care about me? I’m worth no more than a dead dog.” (2 Samuel 9:8b CEV) Or, in the original Hebrew, “I’m worthless” and “worthy of death.”
Trading Shame for Grace
How can you undo years and years of believing lies that others have said about you or the lies you say or think about yourself? Words and memories can cause deep wounds that leave us feeling insignificant and inferior.
Mephibosheth judges himself to be worthless and unworthy to receive the extravagant blessings David offers him. Shame has a way of inviting us to harshly judge ourselves and avoid blessing.
Like Mephibosheth, how can you trade shame for grace? In our brokenness, God invites us to His table and heals our brokenness.
But it’s all true.
God has made a way for us to make a trade: with courage and trust, we give Him the shame and regrets that keep us paralyzed and in return, He gives us the grace that gives us freedom. It’s seems impossible, right?
But it’s true.
Mephibosheth’s Happy Ending
Our story ends with verse 13: “And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.” (2 Samuel 9:13 NIV)
Some scholars say that Mephibosheth was invited to live in the palace, but we don’t know for sure where he lived in Jerusalem. But we do know where he had dinner!
The final phrase reminds us: he was still lame.
Mephibosheth lost everything, probably including hope that anything in his life could change. But through David, God restored the inheritance Mephibosheth had lost:
property which assured him of provision and a place to call home.
position at the king’s table in a palace more extravagant than Saul’s.
posterity, the ability to leave an inheritance for his son (2 Samuel 9:12).
Mephibosheth chose to accept the invitation to trade shame and judgment for grace and freedom. I hope you’ll do the same today.
If you have any questions or would like prayer, email me at joy@insightandunderstanding.com.
Think about it . . .
How has God restored to you what has been lost? Praise and thank Him for what He has already restored, and pray for God to restore the lost people and things in your life.
Do you live with shame—self-hatred, intense regret, severe judgment of yourself? When those thoughts pop into your mind, replace them with, “God loves me.”
Ask God to renew your mind to see yourself as He sees you.
Sources:
New International Study Bible Notes
Jerusalem: From Canaanite City to Israelite Capital
Succession to the Throne in Ancient Israel
Biography of Saul, King of Israel
Lexham Bible Dictionary
