Mercy for the Broken



Prayer: He comes with rescue speedy To those who suffer wrong,
        To help the poor and needy And bid the weak be strong
        To give them songs for sighing, Their darkness turn to light
        Whose souls, condemned and dying, Were precious in His sight.

Read: 2 Samuel 4:4, 9:1–13
http://www.esvbible.org/2 Samuel 4:4
http://www.esvbible.org/2 Samuel 9

Think about It: On several occasions during his life, David acts as a “type” of Christ. That means his story mirrors that of Jesus’ in some important aspect. In his dealings with Mephibosheth, we see the    attitudes and attributes of Christ. As noted, Mephibosheth is physically broken. His accident as a child has left him crippled as an adult. When he comes before David, it is on crutches. He is probably scared, for David holds the power to have him killed, and quite possibly embarrassed. His grandfather was the one who chased David for over a decade with the intention of killing him. What would this audience with the king hold for Mephibosheth? Chances are he knows nothing of the covenant between David and Jonathan that  David is now about to honor.

How is David a type of Christ? First, he goes looking for Mephibosheth, not the other way around. Mephibosheth is probably trying to keep as much distance as possible between himself and the new king. But David pursues Mephibosheth with mercy and love. When Mephibosheth is brought before the king, he comes on crutches and throws himself on David’s mercy, which he receives!  David reaches out to him with a home, food, and protection for the rest of his life.

God has pursued each one of us. We don’t go looking for Him, but instead, he reaches out to us. When we stand before God, we too are completely broken. We hold nothing in our hands that God needs. We are empty and scared. And yet He extends to us His mercy and grace, granting us a home with Him forever. We don’t deserve it, have done nothing to earn it, and yet it is ours! His mercy is all               encompassing.

Prayer: O’er ev’ry foe victorious, He on His throne shall rest,
        From age to age more glorious, All blessing and all-blest.
        The tide of time shall never His covenant remove;
                   His name shall stand forever— That name to us is Love.

Comments

  1. Stacey Jewell STahlDecember 20, 2013 at 8:32 PM

    Thank you, Carolyn, for this post and yesterday's post. I needed this message.

    ReplyDelete

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