Gods Challenged Champion For Christ Bible Blog 2

                                             “Give The Boy A Hand”

In the 2 Samuel 9:8 David said “Mephibosheth do not be afraid for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul and you will always eat at my table.”

What David did was “Give the boy a hand.” I can’t tell you how many times I heard that phrase growing up as a boy who had Cerebral Palsy. So many times if I were carrying something really heavy or having to walk up a flight of stairs., people would sometimes ask or say someone ”Give that boy a hand”. In fact, I still hear this offer for extended help even today. As I was thinking about this aspect of my life it got me thinking of favorite Bible story that teaches a valuable lesson about what happens when we give people a helping hand.  It takes place in 2^nd Samuel  9. At this time David has become the king over Israel and Judah and has defeated all his enemies. The Bible tells us that David asked if there was anyone left of the house of Saul that he could show kindness to for the sake of Jonathan. Asking this question I think might have socked or surprised David advisers. After all surely they would have remembered all that Saul done to David. At one time David had been Saul’s friend, but then because of Saul’s jealousy David became his most hated enemy. I’m sure his advisers wondered why David wanted to show kindness to the house of Saul the first king of Israel after all that had happened between them. However the Bible says that David wanted to show this act of Kindness for the sake of Jonathan who was his best friend. David had become friends with Jonathan, Saul’s son.  Regardless of the history, David wanted to show kindness to Jonathan’s son even though he was the grandson of David’s biggest nemesis.

As it turns out there was one person David could still show kindness too. His name was Mephibosheth.   Although the Bible does not have much to say about his background the Bible does contain one very important aspect about Mephibosheth life -  he was crippled in both feet. I may be reading into this a bit but this very fact has always lead me to believe that Mephibosheth had some kind of Cerebral Palsy like me. I think that why I consider him one of my favorite characters in the Bible. So Mephibosheth comes before David not knowing what is going to happen. He addressed David as if he were David’s servant. However David reassures him that he is not in any danger. In fact David tells Mephibosheth that he is going to restore all the land and wealth that belonged to his grandfather Saul and that he will be welcomed into his own family by always eating with David  at the king’s table. Wow talk about an incredible offer. Here is a man who comes before the king of all of Israel crippled and without any hope and is given the greatest gift imaginable. I  often wondered what gave King David the desire to do this great act of kindness. Answer: I believe he did it out of the Love he had for Jonathan his best friend. I’m sure David never forgot about the man he loved as much as his own soul and I am sure he missed him very much. I have always felt that David was giving “the boy  a hand” by welcoming him into his own family.  He was saying, Jonathan,  do worry about your son - I know he has special needs and I will take care of and watch over him.

In a way we all can relate to Mephibosheth. You see  we were all crippled at some point in our lives. I don’t mean in a physical way but in a spiritual way. Jonathan’s son becomes an example in that we were all crippled at some point in life because of the sins we committed against God. David in this story becomes an example of Jesus Christ. When we were crippled spiritually by sin and in need of a Savior, God the king of the universe was able to provide us with a helping hand that could meet our most important spiritual need - the need for forgiveness of sins. He did this by sending his son into the world to die on a cross and to be raised to life on the third day.  Like David who showed this act of kindness to Jonathan’s son, out of love God also sent his son into the world to die on a cross for our sins because He loved us as well. Because of this  audacious act of love all who believe in the name of Jesus Christ have a place at the King’s table. Amazing isn’t it???? Mephibosheth goes from a man who is crippled in both feet to a man who becomes a dear friend to the king and sits at his table.  So do we!!  At one time we were crippled spiritually by sin, but because of what Jesus did for us on the cross we now have a place at the table  of the King of Kings.

A challenge from the Challenged Champion.

David decided to give Mephibosheth a helping hand because of the love he had for Jonathan. So who do you know that needs a helping hand? Who is it in your life that could use some help in meeting a need. Maybe it’s a simple act like carrying a package or letting someone else go first.  Maybe it’s something much bigger.  Take a moment this week to “Give the boy a hand”.  Helping others out of love is one of the ways we show the world we a disciples of Jesus Christ.

“By this all men will know you are my disciples if you love one another John 13 :34-35