Mephibosheth(merib baal)
“Destroying Shame”
Summary
The lame son of Jonathan whom David showed kindness for his father's sake, restoring Saul's lands and giving him a place at the royal table.
☩Background
When news came of Saul's and Jonathan's deaths at Gilboa, Mephibosheth's nurse fled with him and dropped him, making him lame in both feet (2 Samuel 4:4). He was five years old at the time. He later lived in Lo-debar ('place of no pasture') in the house of Machir.
☩David's Kindness
David sought to show kindness 'for Jonathan's sake' to any survivor of Saul's house (2 Samuel 9:1). When Ziba informed him of Mephibosheth, David sent for him. Mephibosheth fell on his face in fear, but David said: 'Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually' (2 Samuel 9:7).
☩Ziba's Deception
When David fled from Absalom, Ziba met him with provisions and falsely claimed Mephibosheth had joined the rebellion (2 Samuel 16:1-4). David hastily gave Ziba all Mephibosheth's property. When David returned, Mephibosheth explained he had been unable to follow because of his lameness and that Ziba had slandered him (2 Samuel 19:24-30). David divided the land between them.
☩Spiritual Picture
Mephibosheth pictures believers in several ways: he was lame (spiritually helpless), living in a barren place (estranged from the king), brought to the royal table (grace), shown kindness for another's sake (Christ's covenant), and given an inheritance he could not earn. His response—'What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?' (2 Samuel 9:8)—reflects the humility grace produces.