Tuesday, July 20: That’s just lame!

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about Mephibosheth, the lame son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul. Though David had been a faithful servant to King Saul, playing the harp to soothe the king’s nerves, slaying a giant to save the king’s land and lifting a sword to support the king’s battles, King Saul wanted David dead. At the same time, David and Jonathan became the closest of friends. When King Saul and Jonathan died together in battle and were beheaded, it solved one of David’s problems yet created another. King Saul no longer would be trying to kill David, but the new king was broken-hearted for the loss of his dearest friend. When David became King of Israel, all of King Saul’s supporters went into hiding. After searching, King David found the closest descendant, Mephibosheth. Once found, Mephibosheth ate at the king’s table for the remainder of his life. Additionally, King David ensured that the servants cared for the land with the profits going to Mephibosheth.


What is the significance of a lame man feasting with the king? Each of us suffers the same walk as a crippled man. Our walks point to the direction of our lives, and without God, they always are pointed the wrong way. Yet even as believers, we continue to trip and fall. Every man’s battle seems to be sexual temptation, as Jesus pointed out that lusting is identical to committing adultery. While that sin is common to man, there is a long list of sins that continues to trip up even the strongest believers. Without God leading us in the paths of righteousness, we will quickly find ourselves in the paths of unrighteousness.


For You have delivered my soul from death.
Have You not kept my feet from falling,
That I may walk before God
In the light of the living?
Psalm 56:13


God knows that we are sinners. Being omniscient, He never is surprised by our mis-steps or sins. God is quick to forgive when we ask for His forgiveness, though He desires for us to understand the ramifications of our sins.


The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
Psalm 51:17

If our sins broke our own hearts as much as they broke God’s heart, we might begin to walk closer to Him. Yet the most amazing aspect is that He comes to wherever we are with as little as each of us has to offer. We don’t earn His love or His salvation. That is His gift, and because of that gift, we will eat at the King’s table for all of eternity! Though we cannot earn the gift, we certainly should be thankful for it!


8For You have delivered my soul from death,
My eyes from tears,
And my feet from falling.
9I will walk before the LORD
In the land of the living.
Psalm 116:8-9