Have You Experienced God’s Grace?

© 2022 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

God had no obligation to plan kindness for His elect.  When Adam and Eve sinned, they earned eternal death punishment upon themselves and their descendents.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12)

Throughout history, God has presented many illustrations of His amazing grace.  Mephibosheth is one of these illustrations.

Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan, and grandson of King Saul.  King Saul had disobeyed God who had, subsequently, announced that David’s family would replace Saul’s family as the royal family.  Saul didn’t like this, and tried, repeatedly, to kill David.  However, David, and Jonathan (Saul’s son) were loyal friends.  They made a covenant committing themselves, and their future descendents, to love and care for each other.  Jonathan had sorrowfully warned David that his father was determined to kill him.  As David prepared to flee for his life, Jonathan said,

“… Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. …” (1 Samuel 20:42)

Though God had decreed that David would replace King Saul, David fled from him for years.  Eventually, Saul and his son, Jonathan, were killed in battle by Israel’s enemies.  As prophesied, David ascended to the throne becoming the famous king of Israel through whose line the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would come.

In those days, the normal behavior for a new king was to destroy the entire family of the old king.  This eliminated dangerous competition for the throne.  After ascending to the throne, David sought to keep his oath to Jonathan and his descendents.  He discovered Mephibosheth, the crippled son of Jonathan.  However, instead of killing Mephibosheth, King David showed grace to him and his descendents.  Mephibosheth became a prince in Israel who ate continually at King David’s table.  He became like one of David’s own sons.  Thus, David honored the covenant between himself and Jonathan’s family. (see 2 Samuel 9)

We were all born under the death curse upon Adam and Eve.  None of us deserves anything better than God’s eternal punishment.  However, He has an eternal covenant with His Son, Jesus Christ, who paid the sin penalty for all who believe.  All who do can say,

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” (Psalms 23:6)

King David’s kindness to Mephibosheth is an example of grace.  It is a small picture of God’s kindness guaranteed to all who know Christ as Savior.

We don’t deserve it and there is no other remedy.

 

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