Is there any specific story or passage from the Bible that have had a significant impact on your life?
If yes, which story or passage and how did it impact your life?
The story of David, Jonathan, and Mephibosheth always reminds me that God deals with His people on the basis of Covenant.
Jonathan was the son of Saul, and heir to the throne. David was just a shepherd who had killed Goliath. But David and Jonathan became very close friends. (1 Sam. 18:1) "...the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul."
And David and Jonathan made a covenant between them. Jonathan, the heir to the throne, gave David all he had, but David had nothing to give. (1 Sam. 18:3-4)
As Saul became an enemy of David and wanted to kill him, David knew he would have to leave. He and Jonathan devised a plan to find out Saul's real intentions. (1 Sam. 20:1-13) Before they enacted their plan, they renewed their covenant, as they possibly would not see each other again.
Jonathan knew David was the Lord's chosen. Thus he made David promise and swear to him, (1 Sam. 20:14-15) "And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not; But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever; no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth." See also (1 Sam. 20:42) Also, (1 Sam. 23:17-18)
Later on both Saul and Jonathan were killed by the Philistines at mount Gilboa. (1 Sam. 31:1) Jonathan had a son, Mephibosheth, who was 5 when Jonathan was killed. And when the nurse who was taking care of him heard the sad news, she fled with Mephibosheth, and in someway Mephibosheth fell and became lame in his feet the rest of his life. (2 Sam. 4:4)
Well, David later on was made King. (2 Sam. 5) And later still, he remembered his covenant with Jonathan. (2 Sam. 9:1) "...Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" And a servant of Saul, Ziba, spoke up, "And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet;"
Now Mephibosheth could have been killed because he was of the seed royal to Saul. And that is what kings did back then. But of course David was in covenant with Jonathan. So David sent for Mephibosheth. Which must have scared him to death. (2 Sam. 9:6,8) But David told him all that was his from Saul would be restored to him. And Mephibosheth would eat at Davids table continually. (2 Sam. 9:7, 10)
In other words, Mephibosheth was recipient to the covenant between David and Jonathan. It was Jonathan that David loved. (2 Sam. 9:13) "So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table' and was lame on both his feet."
Usually when this story is told, it ends there as it depicts covenant relationship. But there is another verse which I believe makes it complete. When David was at war and taking the city of Jerusalem from the Jebusites, they mocked David and his men from behind the walls. They said the blind and the lame could defeat David behind these walls. (2 Sam. 5:6)
This infuriated David. And he said, "...whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteh the Jebusites , and the lame, and the blind, that are hated of Davids soul...." ( 2 Sam. 5:8) David hated the lame and the blind. It doesn't matter what any want to think about the wrong or right of it. David hated the blind and the lame. And all knew it. (5:8) "Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into thy house."
So, not only was Mephibosheth seed royal to Saul, but he was lame, and that in both feet. But the covenant. David's hatred for the blind and the lame didn't cease. The fact that Mephibosheth was recipient to the covenant is how David would always see him.
Jesus is the 'only begotten'. The Covenant Son. The One in Whom are all the promises given. And we who are believers come into those promises. And we like Mephibosheth have much that is detestable to God. That God hates. Yet He always sees us in the Covenant, in Jesus Christ. And we will eat at His table forever.
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