LAME FEET
II Samuel 9
2 Samuel 9:1 - 13 (NKJV) 1Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “At your service!” 3Then the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet.” 4So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.” 5Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar. 6Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?” And he answered, “Here is your servant!” 7So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.” 8Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?” 9And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. 10You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.” “As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at £my table like one of the king’s sons.” 12Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. 13So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.
TRANSITION: Many of us do not realize that we are like Mephibosheth today.
BEING LIKE MEPHIBOSHETH MEANS:
1. Realizing that I am lame with sin.
1. Realizing that I was sought out by the king….Just as we were…lame feet and all.
2. Understanding what I deserved from the king.
3. Acknowledging the ones who brought me to the
king…those faithful servants.
4. Humbling myself in the sight of the king.
5. Rejoicing in the words of the king…all is forgiven.
6. Accepting the provision of the king.
7. Adjusting my life to the requests of the king.
APPLICATION: Psalm 51:12. Most people are unaware of the power of grace. Many Christians have forgotten what grace is all about. May we never take for granted what God has done in bringing us “dead dogs” to the table of life.
Everyone of us gathered here tonight can associate with Mephibosheth. We are all lame before the Lord…all unworthy…all have been to Lodebar (A place of low esteem) …yet the King has called us…restored us…and given us a place of honor at the table.
There were two ordinances given to the church to carry out until the return of Christ. They are the ordinance of Baptism and the Ordinance of Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper.
The book of I Corinthians reminds us of the seriousness of the ordinance we are about to observe.
1 Corinthians 11:23 - 30 (NKJV) 23For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, £“Take, eat; this is My body which is £broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and £blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For he who eats and drinks £in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the £Lord’s body. 30For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
We will take a few moments to allow this important step of self examination to take place.
Matthew 26:26 - 30 (NKJV) 26And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, £blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28For this is My blood of the £new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” 30And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
