By: Reverend J. Loren Russell
2 Samuel 4:4
“ Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.”
David had a friend named Jonathan who was the son of king Saul. Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth (pronounced ma-fee-bo-chef). Although he was the grandson of king Saul, he was disinherited when the Lord gave the kingdom to David. Once Saul was deposed by God of his role as king, everything that belonged to him became the property of the Lord’s new appointee to the throne, David.
And, David was indebted to his friend Jonathan for saving his life. Because David and Jonathan were as close as brothers, they swore an allegiance to each other where they promised they would extend favor to their descendants.
Although David did not know that Jonathan had a son, he lived up to the commitment he made to his friend as soon as he found out. He tells Mephibosheth that he would show him kindness for his father’s sake, give him all the land that belonged to his grandfather, give him a permanent seat at his dinner table, and then commanded Saul’s former servants to serve him, work the land, and see to it that the harvest would be for his benefit.
Mephibosheth could not provide for himself. He was lame from the age of five. But David had made a commitment to Jonathan. David made sure that all the needs of his friend’s son were met from the vast resources he had at his disposal. David did for Mephibosheth what he could not do for himself. He became his intercessor.
There are some things we cannot do for ourselves either. We often need an intercessor, a mediator, a savior. What we cannot do for ourselves, Christ does for us. He provides the means for us to be fed at the table of the King of kings, to receive the inheritance promised to the heirs of the King, even make our enemies our footstools (Psalm 110:1). He does for us what we cannot do for ourselves.
Be Blessed!
Rev. J. Loren Russell is President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial Strategy & Consulting; an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx; creator & host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM on Facebook LIVE and author of Matters of Faith: The Book (eBook available at www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177)
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