2 Samuel 9
Grace - IT'S AMAZING
When Billy Graham was driving through a small southern town, he was stopped by a policeman and charged with speeding. Graham admitted his quilt, but was told by the officer that he would have to appear in court.
The judge asked, “Guilty, or not guilty? ”When Graham pleaded guilty, the judge replied, “That’ll be ten dollars—a dollar for every mile you went over the limit.”
Suddenly the judge recognized the famous minister. “You have violated the law,” he said. “The fine must be paid—but I am going to pay it for you.” He took a ten dollar bill from his own wallet, attached it to the ticket, and then took Graham out and bought him a steak dinner!
“That,” said Billy Graham, “is how God treats repentant sinners!” Progress Magazine, December 14, 1992. http://www.bible.org/illus/g/g-70.htm#TopOfPage
And that, my friend, is a picture of grace that is amazing.
Lou Johnson, a 1965 World Series hero for the Los Angeles Dodgers, tried for 30 years to recover the championship ring he lost to drug dealers in 1971. Drug and alcohol abuse cost him everything from that magical season, including his uniform, glove, and the bat he used to hit the winning home run in the deciding game.
When Dodger president, Bob Graziano, learned that Johnson's World Series ring was about to be auctioned on the Internet, he immediately wrote a check for $3,457 and bought the ring before any bids were posted. He did for Johnson what the former Dodger outfielder had been unable to do for himself.
Johnson, 66, who has been drug free for years and a Dodger community relations employee, wept when given the gold ring. He said, "It felt like a piece of me had been reborn."
John didn't deserve to get his ring back, but he did. Another picture of grace that is amazing.
G.W. Knight - "When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day’s pay for his time, that is a wage. When a person competes with an opponent and receives a trophy for his performance, that is a prize. When a person receives appropriate recognition for his long service or high achievements, that is an award. But when a person is not capable of earning a wage, can win no prize, and deserves no award—yet receives such a gift anyway—that is a good picture of God’s unmerited favor. This is what we mean when we talk about the grace of God." Clip-Art Features for Church Newsletters, G.W. Knight, p. 53, http://www.bible.org/illus/g/g-71.htm#TopOfPage
GRACE IS EVERYTHING FOR
NOTHING
TO THOSE WHO DON’T DESERVE ANYTHING
Our Daily Bread, Sept.-Nov. 1997, page for October 31, http://www.bible.org/illus/g/g-70.htm#TopOfPage
I've tried to illustrate for you the grace of God that is absolutely amazing. As sinners we deserve nothing but punishment. God in His love sent His Son to die for our sins. He, Jesus, rose from the dead. He paid for our sins and all we have to do is accept Gods' free gifts of forgiveness and salvation by faith in order to have them.
This morning I would like to share with you another illustration of the grace of God. It is found in the Old Testament in 2 Samuel 9. It is the story of a man who had nothing that was given what he didn't deserve.
On a communion Sunday I thought it good for us to be reminded of God's grace, which is amazing. The story is about a man named Mephibosheth, who was the Son of King David's good friend Jonathan, and grandson to David's old enemy, King Saul.
Mephibosheth becomes a picture of grace when David decides to show him kindness. Mephibosheth was shown grace in at least four ways.
HE WAS SEPARATED
HE WAS SOUGHT - Vss. 1-5
HE WAS SAVED - Vss. 6-13
HE WAS A SON - Vss. 7, 13
HE WAS SEPARATED
When Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle, a nurse felt that Mephibosheth was in danger. It was well known that David would be the eventual king of Israel. The custom was for new kings to kill off the old kings' family members, so nobody could lay claim to the throne.
In her haste to protect Mephibosheth the nurse dropped him, damaging his feet so that he became lame for life.
2 Samuel 4:4 - And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.
Because there was a new king in Israel, Mephibosheth was evidently kept in hiding. He stayed in what was probably an isolated place called Lo-debar.
It was very possibly in or near the desert. According to Chuck Swindoll, the word Lo-debar means "no pastureland."
As he grew older, Mephibosheth would have become aware how careful he needed to be, just in case David wanted to find and kill any descendents of Saul. Separation in a remote place was probably viewed as a good thing.
Every person born into this world is just like Mephibosheth.
Just as Mephibosheth was separated from David and his court, we are separated from God.
Our problem is sin!
We have all failed God!
We have all done things against His will.
Isaiah 64:6 - But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
What is Sin?
· Man calls it an accident, God calls it abomination.
· Man calls it a defect, God calls it a disease.
· Man calls it an error, God calls it an enmity.
· Man calls it a liberty, God calls it lawlessness.
· Man calls it a trifle, God calls it a tragedy.
· Man calls it a mistake, God calls it a madness.
· Man calls it a weakness, God calls it willfulness.
Moody Monthly, http://www.bible.org/illus/s/s-103.htm#TopOfPage
Isaiah 59:2 - But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
You're natural state, as a sinner is to be separated from God.
That's why Ezekiel 18:4 says …the soul that sinneth it shall die.
We are separated from God now because of sin, and face the possibility of separation for all eternity.
HE WAS SEPARATED
HE WAS SOUGHT - Vss. 1-5
During this time of separation for Mephibosheth, King David sought him.
Vs. 1 - Perhaps David was sitting in his palace one day, remembering his old friend Jonathan. Jonathan had been a true friend to David, often protecting David from Jonathan's father Saul, and showing David great love.
David might have remembered a promise that he had made to Jonathan to show kindness or grace to Jonathan's family.
So David wondered if there was anyone left that he could show kindness or grace to.
David was not looking for someone in Saul's family because they had earned or deserved anything. They hadn't.
But out of David's love for Jonathan, he wanted to show grace on someone in his family.
Vss. 2-4 - David found a servant of King Saul, who would have known the family. He asked Ziba if there was yet anyone left in the family to whom he could show kindness.
Ziba mentioned a son, who was living in the home of a man named Machir in Lo-debar. Machir had probably been a loyal subject of King Saul's and was probably harboring Jonathan as a kindness for the former king.
Vs. 5 - David sent for him.
If it was up to Mephibosheth, these two people's paths would never have crossed and Mephibosheth would have lived in fear of David all his life. David had to do the seeking for this meeting to take place.
Why is it that you who know Christ as Savior ever came to Him?
Is it because you sought Him?
Oh, you might have been searching for Him, but it is only because He sought for you first, and put the desire for Christ in your heart!
Romans 3:10-11 - As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: [11] There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Today, God seeks out sinners to show kindness to them.
§ God sent his Son to die for sinners.
Luke 19:10 - For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
1 John 4:10 - Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
§ God sends the Holy Spirit to convict sinners.
In Luke 15 Jesus told a story about a lost coin.
A housewife had lost this coin that was probably part of a necklace of 10 coins. A coin being lost was the equivalent of a lady losing an engagement ring.
So the lady searched and searched until she found that lost coin.
I believe this is a picture of the work of the Holy Spirit in salvation. The Holy Spirit searches for and convicts the poor lost sinners who turn to Christ as their Savior.
John 16:8-11 - And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: [9] Of sin, because they believe not on me; [10] Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; [11] Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
§ God sends the church to seek the lost. Mark 16:15
God has given us the privilege of joining the search for those who need Christ as Savior.
The Holy Spirit does the convicting, but we are responsible to seek for and tell others the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Quick Quiz: What do Brazil, El Salvador, Mexico, The United States, Russia, Hong Kong, Pakistan and Papua New Guinea all have in common? These are countries where missionaries that we support are seeking the lost, those without Christ.
Mark 16:15 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
In two weeks we are having a Harvest Homecoming. My friend, we would love to see people without Christ in the congregation that day. And it is your job to get them here. If someone was trapped in a fire, you would do everything to get them out of the fire. Your friends in loved ones without Christ are headed for a fire which nobody will be able to get them out.
However, we can reach them now with the precious good news that Christ died for them. If you would do everything you could to save a dying person in fire, do all you can now to prevent people from going to eternal fire! Invite them for November 17, and if they won't come, bring them another day, or share the Gospel with them yourself.
Just as David sought for Mephibosheth to show him kindness, God seeks for lost sinners to show them kindness.
§ God sends the Holy Spirit to convict sinners.
§ God sent his Son to die for sinners.
§ God sends the church to seek the lost. Mark 16:15
HE WAS SEPARATED
HE WAS SOUGHT - Vss. 1-5
HE WAS SAVED - Vss. 6-13
Vs. 6 - Can you imagine what Mephibosheth was thinking?
All the way to his appointment with David, he probably thought this his life was good as gone! He probably expected to lose his life.
It was with fear and trembling that Mephibosheth fell at David's feet.
And many a person has viewed God as an awesome Judge and He is!
But right now He wants to show you mercy.
Vs. 7 - David informed Mephibosheth that he was receiving all the land that had belonged to King Saul. Mephibosheth himself would eat at the King's Table.
Vs. 8 - Mephibosheth was flabbergasted that the King would do such a thing for a man who was a cripple, who was the grandson of a deposed king, for a man who for most of his life hid from this same king.
Mephibosheth was saved from a life of disfavor to be a given a life of much favor.
What did Mephibosheth do to earn this blessing.
Nothing! It was all of grace.
What did Mephibosheth do to make David's promises come true?
He accepted what David said as true. He believed it.
I imagine that he was setting at the king's table the very next meal.
Again when it comes to the saving of our souls from hell and having eternal life, we are just like Mephibosheth.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God says, "Here is eternal life. My Son paid for your sins. There is nothing that you can do to earn this privilege. You can't pay for something that's already paid for. All I want you to do is by faith accept my Son as your Savior. Believe on Him."
And I think our response should be similar to that of Mephibosheth. "What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I?"
"Father, who am I that you should send your son to die for such a wretch as me?"
Amazing grace! How sweet the
sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
HE WAS SEPARATED
HE WAS SOUGHT - Vss. 1-5
HE WAS SAVED - Vss. 6-13
HE WAS A SON - Vss. 7, 11, 13
Vss. 9-13 - Ziba was given the word.
Ziba and family were to take care of Mephibosheth.
But Mephibosheth was to be treated as one of the
King's Sons.
And just think, if you have been saved you are also a son, a son of God. You become a son in two ways.
First, you are born into the family!
John 1:12-13 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: [13] Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Second, you were adopted into the family. That means, you have all the rights and privileges of an adult son. You don't have to wait to grow up.
Romans 8:15-17 - For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, NAS
The story of Mephibosheth is the story of God's grace.
If you are going to Heaven it is also your story.
You should be filled with gratitude as we come to the Lord's Table this morning.
If you have not truly trusted Christ as your Savior, you can and should this morning.
HE WAS SEPARATED
HE WAS SOUGHT - Vss. 1-5
§ God sends the Holy Spirit to convict sinners.
§ God sent his Son to die for sinners.
§ God sends the church to seek the lost. Mark 16:15
HE WAS SAVED - Vss. 6-13
HE WAS A SON - Vss. 7, 13