May 27, Morning
C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling
"So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet." — 2 Samuel 9:13 · KJV
Mephibosheth was no great ornament to a royal table, yet he had a permanent place at David's board, because the king could see in his face the features of his beloved Jonathan. Like Mephibosheth, we may cry out to the King of Glory, "What is Thy servant, that Thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am?" and yet the Lord grants us the most familiar fellowship with Himself, because He sees in our faces a reminder of His dearly loved Jesus. The Lord's people are dear for Another's sake. Such is the love the Father has for His only begotten Son that for His sake He lifts His lowly brothers and sisters out of poverty and exile into royal company, noble rank, and royal provision. Their deformity will not rob them of their privileges. Lameness is no barrier to sonship; the crippled man is just as much an heir as if he could run like the swiftest of soldiers. Our right does not limp, even though our strength may. A king's table is a noble hiding place for lame legs, and at the gospel feast we learn to glory in our weaknesses, because the power of Christ rests on us. Still, serious disability can mar even the best-loved saints. Here is a man feasted by David and yet so lame in both feet that he could not go up with the king when he fled the city, and so he was slandered and wronged by his servant Ziba. Saints whose faith is weak and whose knowledge is thin are great losers; they are exposed to many enemies and cannot follow the king wherever He goes. This condition often comes from falls. Poor care in their spiritual infancy frequently leaves converts in a despondency they never recover from, and in other cases sin has broken their bones. Lord, help the lame to leap like a deer, and satisfy all Your people with the bread of Your table!