A Dead Dog

2 Samuel 9:1-11

David had a deep love for Jonathan and visa versa. 1 Sam 18:1

He reached out to Ziba hoping there would be someone left from Jonathan’s family he could show kindness unto.

Enter Mephibosheth. Crippled in the feet at age 5 when his nurse stumbled while trying to flee Jerusalem after the death of King Saul and Jonathan. He was much older now and lived in LoDebar “no pasture”. This prince grew up not in a palace but in a desolate area, crippled and with no means of self support. Worse, he feared the custom of incoming Kings hunting down and exterminating possible heirs from the previous monarch. When he learned David sought him, he feared the worse and said, “Why should you pay attention to a dead dog like me?” He didn’t feel worthy of the King’s grace.

Do you ever feel like that?
Do you feel invisible, passed over, devalued?
First, Contentment cannot coexist with inadequacy
Is your income inadequate?
Are your relationships inadequate?
Is your prayer life inadequate?
Is your self-esteem inadequate?

Why is it important to feel good about yourself? Self-esteem must be replaced with Christ-esteem. Paul considered himself chief of sinners, but was bold in the power of Jesus. 1 Tim 1:15
In fact the very things most would consider to boost his self-esteem Paul called rubbish. Phil 3:4-7
Accepting that God loves you completely is essential to the advent message. The declaration to lowly shepherds and birth in a manger all show us that God places exceptionally high value on the undervalued.
God loves you and that is enough. You don’t need the esteem or love of family, spouse, children, or friends. You want those things but you don’t need it for your sufficiency is wrapped up completely in Christ. You don’t need it to be content. Contentment is more than peace with finances, it also extends to peace with who you are.
Charles Spurgeon says, “contentment is not a power that can be exercised naturally, but a skill to be acquired gradually.” God wants us to be content with what we have and who we are. Our appearance, personality, strengths and weaknesses, and spiritual gifts.

In college Billy Graham struggles with the authority of scripture. There are so many things in the Bible that defies natural law. There are things in the Bible about man, nature, and the afterlife that cannot be scientifically verified. At one point he went up into the mountains to wrestle over these issues and to pray. In those mountains of North Carolina he decided that a person either takes God’s word by faith or not at all. He chose to trust.
It is the same about the issue of value. Believing that God’s love is true and completely sufficient is an act of faith. Trust that God is all you need and move on by faith! In Job 13:15 Job says, “Though He slay me, yet will trust Him, but I will plead my case with Him”.
Go ahead, tell God how you feel. Pour it all out to Him, but when you’re done….put your trust in Him.
“Be anxious for nothing “. Paul says in Phil 4:6. But to do so requires giving thanks for all things, circumstances and self-worth.

Mephibosheth put his value on the things of this world until grace found him.

David did pay attention the forgotten crippled man and returned Saul’s lands and fortune to Mephibosheth. An estate so large it took Ziba and 35 others to manage it. And then asked Mephibosheth to sit at the King’s table every day. What grace!
David showed incredible grace uncharacteristic to his position. No wonder God was so willing to show David grace 2 chapters later.

The advent is the ultimate ‘search and rescue’ mission. Luke 19:10. Jesus came to seek and save. He became one of us in order to conquer sin, death, and hell by dying on a cross for our sin and leaving the tomb 3 days later. We were truly lost so a simple heavenly declaration wasn’t enough, we weren’t paying attention, weren’t believing the prophets and preachers. Jesus had to be born of Mary. Live a perfect life, perform miracles then lay down his life so we might live. Eph 1:18-23