“David enquired, ‘Is there anyone still alive in the family of Shaul, to whom, for Yonatan’s sake, I can show kindness?’ Trivia answered the King, ‘There is still Jonatan’s son with the lame legs.’” 2Samuel:9-1:5
David’s heart is clearly revealed in this short dialogue. True friendship was extended beyond that which existed between Jonathan and himself; Jonathan had a son named Mevibothesh who tragically became crippled as a baby when his nurse dropped him. (2 Samuel 4:4).
Tziva, who had been Jonathan’s servant, held Mevibothesh in contempt and did not refer to him by name but as, ‘the one with the lame legs.’ To Tziva, Mevibothesh was useless because he was lame, and therefore unworthy of any respect. David instead considered that Jonatan deserved to sit before the king’s (his) table.
Spiritual lameness is indeed a strong impediment, but it cannot remove our pedigree before God, it simply limits our ability of service.
Mevibothesh became lame due to an accident shortly after birth. Sometimes, we may become victims of things which we have no control of in our lives with consequences that resonate and appear impossible to shake off or remedy. Yet, God still extends to us an invitation to feast at His table. The question is whose voice we choose to listen to?
We do not know much about Mephibothesh, other than he never really lived beyond the shadows of his low self-esteem. Are we the same, or are we prepared to go beyond our own limitations to receive from an unlimited God, One who sees us differently from others; He will accomplish that good work He has begun in us when we simply place our hands in His. When others give up on us, that is when God can really take over:
“Who do I have in heaven, and without You I have nothing on earth. My strength and my heart may fail, but You are the strength of my life and my portion for ever.” (Psalm 73:25-26)
