This is the fifth in a multi-part series about friendship. You can read the first post here, the second post here, the third here, and the fourth here.
I had a tough conversation with a friend last week. We may not be friends anymore. I also made a new friend. And, minutes before beginning this post, a friend from what sometimes feels like another life contacted me and wanted to talk. The journey continues, and this series reminds me of the influence that friendships of all categories and intensities have on my life. Most of all, I’m grateful for what God does through them. Because often, they are where God shows up
Right here in our (continuing) story, for example, is where God shows up for Mephibosheth. Terrified, crippled, alone, forever lame Mephibosheth.
Watch what happens next, after Mephibosheth falls to the floor and says: “Behold, I am your servant.”
David replies to him: “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather, and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”
Then Mephibosheth bowed himself and said; “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?”
At this point, I want to say something about what we’re doing here. And by here I mean here, on this blog, and also here, in life, as Christ-followers. I know this blog series has turned into the multi-part story that got away, like my first conversation about women and friendship was the gateway drug to this blog series. And yes the cliffhangers are a little like waiting to find out the ending to Inception.
Here’s the deal. When I read the records of Jesus in the Bible, of him walking and talking and “doing stuff,” a lot of times I read them as examples. Things I want to aspire to. A life I want to live. His patience, his wisdom, his equanimity – all character traits I desire.
And so my faith can start to look like things I do, and my understanding of myself as a Christian can resemble a to-do list. Forgive that person. Give resources towards that cause. Share this encouragement. Support that initiative. You get the idea.
It’s tempting for me to read this story, about David and Mephibosheth, and see it as another instruction. Be more like David. Give grace to the undeserving. Show mercy.
Which is not a bad thing. By all means, feel free to see this chapter as a call to be generous like David. At the same time, let’s remember that Christianity is not a list of Dos and Don’ts.
The good news in this chapter invites us primarily to be like Mephibosheth, not David. To let God do something wonderful for us, today.
I would love for us to be able to put ourselves in the place of the poor, crippled, rejected, petrified young man, utterly confused, as he stands before the king who almost died so many times at the hand of the boy’s grandfather, and to hear the king say this to us.
Because here, my friends, is where Mephibosheth, in his amazement and skepticism, discovers what is true of us as well.
He discovers that he has been restored.
No, he didn’t retrieve the ability to walk. Mephibosheth’s weakness did not vanish. The end of the story is clear about that. “He was [still] crippled in both feet.”
But he was given a place at the table of the king. This goes far beyond giving Mephibosheth what was rightly his. This is extravagant provision.
Next time I’ll tell you how Robyn did this for me.
* “All For Love” refers to one of the songs that instantly transports me back to high school. Nancy Wilson from Heart sings it as part of the soundtrack of the movie “Say Anything.” Join me in appreciating lace gloves and trenchcoats with shoulderpads here.
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