- Artist: Pastor Jeff Gilboy
- Title: 07-27-08
- Length: 22:07 minutes (5.07 MB)
- Format: Mono 22kHz 32Kbps (CBR)
2 Sam. 4:4 (Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became crippled. His name was Mephibosheth.) Following the deaths of Jonathan & Saul at the battle of Mount Gilboa in 1 Sam. 31, there was a lot of blood shed between the Houses of David & Saul. The nurse was right to flee with the child. The boy was cared for by a kind man named Makir who later also showed kindness to King David and his men as they fled from Absalom.
Mephibosheth was unable to walk for the rest of his life, following the accident (2 Sam. 19:26)
Some years after this, when David had subdued all the adversaries of Israel, he began to think of the family of Jonathan: Read 2 Samuel 9
Mephibosheth is a type of mankind apart from God: flawed, crippled by sin, deceived into blaming God, missing out on the blessing that God intended. As David called for Mephibosheth, God's Spirit is what draws the sinner. God doesn't wait for us to draw near to Him. He makes the first move. Mephibosheth had a place of honor at the king's table not because of his goodness, talents, or abilities. He did nothing to earn or deserve this place of honor. He was given this seat because of a covenant and because of the "kindness of God."
What is keeping me from the blessing of God?
1. Ignorance: Mephibosheth didn't realize that God had a blessing waiting for him. He didn't know anything of King David's character or of his covenant with his father, Jonathan.
2. Fear: Mephibosheth feared David (2 Sam. 9:7)
3. Inability to recognize the blessing: God promises life in abundance (John 10:10). Many people buy the lie of "the thief" and believe that a life that honors God is a drag. They miss out on the blessing he intends.
4. Misconception of what the blessing is: the values of our culture do not parallel the blessings of God (beauty, brains, brawn, bucks). Often God's blessings come through times of pain and difficulty. (2 Corinthians 4:17)
5. Self-deprecation: Mephibosheth describes himself as a "dead dog." (2 Sam. 9:8). Maybe he really was worthless. Maybe he was just having a pity party or acting humble. But the blessing that David extends has nothing to do with Mephibosheth's worth or value, and everything to do with the "kindness of God." If any of us had to wait until we deserve God's blessing, that day of blessing would never come. Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Speaking blessings and cursings
1. Following the deaths of Jonathan & Saul, was ensued between the Houses of David & Saul. The captain of David's army, Joab, treacherously murders Abner (formerly the commander of Saul's army, but now faithful to David). David speaks this curse on Joab: 2 Sam. 3:29 29 "May his blood fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house! May Joab's house never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food."
2. "I'll be damned."
3. Matt. 18:18 "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
4. Jacob deceiving his father, Isaac, in order to receive the spoken blessing that should have gone to his older twin brother, Esau.
CONCLUSION:
Numbers 6:22-27
The Priestly Blessing
22 The LORD said to Moses, 23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
24 " ' "The LORD bless you
and keep you;
25 the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace." '
27 "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."