Mephiboshep. Sent into hiding in a far-flung area of the kingdom during hostilities between his father Saul and the usurper David. Inevitably, David was seemingly willed by God to the kingship, as Israel had petitioned the Lord for a king to be over them. And his eventual answer was David.
It's said, on the way out, he was dropped on his young feet, injured for life. So he was hobbled.
When the dust settled, and David was King of Israel, he could have hunted Mephiboshep, making a seemingly God-sanctioned execution of the previous king's bloodline. And yet he did not. Mephiboshep insisted he was not worthy of the new king's attention.
However, David did him such a better turn. He was restored his lands of birthright, Mephiboshep, and given servants, PLUS guaranteed a spot at the new king's table.
This was the mercy of God working in David, and he was keen to demonstrate this mercy, not unlike the mercy bestowed upon him in his own favor during the slaying of the Philistine.
I think of Jesus feeding the 5000 with just a few crusts of bread, and I wonder if any starve today. We all deserve mercy, and at some point blame and circumstance must be lain over to the side, and the healing begun in earnest.
We gave away a huge meal yesterday, and just moments later, several more mentioned a need for food. And I'm thinking, is there ever really enough for all of them? Are we hoarding? Are we gluttons? I'm left depleted after parting with all that food, hands open at my hips, in a kind of lost state, but I know further that I can pray for them, that the needy are filled, the hungry satisfied.
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