Idaho Faith: Morally or Spiritually Bankrupt? reach god

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Loren Yadon

In the desolate desert of Gilead, east of the Jordan, a crippled man named Mephibosheth shifted his weight in a makeshift chair as he watched a party of horsemen marching towards this remote village of LoDebar.

It was a strange sight as hardly anyone visited this abandoned outpost of civilization. Most people, including Mephibosheth himself, came here to hide from society. The closer the horsemen approached, the more the heart of Mephibosheth constricted with dread. They were military officers who appeared to be on official business, which could mean serious trouble.

“Are you Mephibosheth, son of Prince Jonathan and grandson of King Saul? asked the commander. Trapped and defenseless, Mephibosheth could only answer meekly, “I am.”

Knowing that it was customary for new kings to eliminate members of the old royal family, this noble-born man now anticipated his fearsome execution. 2 Samuel 4:4 says that when news came of the death of his father and grandfather, his nurse caught him when he was 5 years old and tried to run away to hide. In her haste, she dropped the child.

“You, sir, have orders to come with us immediately and appear before King David,” the officer announced.

“Why? What have I done? I’m just trying to exist in this desolate place? Please leave me alone! I’m not a threat to anyone because I can’t even not walk.

The 90-mile journey to Jerusalem took several days, long enough for Mephibosheth to repeat his plea for mercy before the new and powerful leader who occupied his grandfather’s throne. When finally brought into the presence of David, Mephibosheth stumbled on the ground and bowed face down.

“Who is your servant that you consider a dead dog like me? The king’s heart was filled with compassion because he had used this same self-deprecating slang term many years before when bowing to this man’s grandfather (1 Samuel 24:14).

“Associates, help this man up!” David smiles. “I brought you here to bless you with the kindness I promised your father, my dear friend Jonathan! I will restore all of your family’s property and wealth, and make you a permanent place here at my table! (2 Samuel 9:10)

Overwhelmed with mercy, Mephibosheth was left speechless. He was going to be blessed by a pact of friendship that his father had made with the new king 22 years before!

David’s grace to this crippled son of Jonathan was the zenith of his life, surpassing even his defeat of Goliath, the Philistine giant. It was (and is) also an illustration of the grace that God would like to grant to many morally and spiritually handicapped people who live in hiding, fearing his wrath. He has sent his messengers asking them to come into his presence where he would like to shower them with the blessings of a covenant he made with his son, Jesus Christ.

When Jesus died on the cross, God accepted the bloody sacrifice of his Messiah as the true and final payment for the sins of everyone in the world. God has invited all who come to him in faith to be blessed with the blessings promised in the covenant he made “for Jesus’ sake!”

This is why the apostles rushed into the world. They had “good news” that people living in hiding from God’s wrath could be blessed with a covenant they had never made and didn’t even know existed.

Are you hiding spiritually from guilt and fear? Do you see the king’s messengers approaching? They will surprise you with good news. An audience with the king is the start of an abundant life you never thought possible.

Loren A. Yadon is pastor of New Life Fellowship of Boise.

The Idaho Statesman’s weekly faith column features a rotation of writers from different faiths and perspectives.

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