Page Four: “Mephibosheth: Responding To God” – 4/22/2012
Now, the world tells you that when you’ve been slandered, you must return the slander with a defence of your person. In essence, fight for yourself. After all, shouldn’t we defend ourselves?
Yet, here’s a more Biblical approach. Let God be your Defender. Why? Because when you defend yourself, you are responding to something that has wounded your pride. And folks, responding out of pride will not announce the LORD’s glory.
Here’s what David later wrote on this same topic. Psalm 59:9 “Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence. (10) The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.”
Mephibosheth simply yielding himself to the will of King David when he said “but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes” (v. 27).
Then, when David decides to give half of his land back to him, Mephibosheth again expresses a humble heart to the king. Look again at verse twenty-nine. II Samuel 19:29 “And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land. (30) And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.”
Here’s his simple response. One, let Ziba, the one who slandered him take all. Two, I’m just glad that you have returned in peace to your home.
Folks, here’s a man with noble character. Here’s a true man. Here’s a man who knows the value of people in his life. Here’s a man who knows the value of things; that things are nowhere near as important as people. Here’s a man who, with all the injustices done to him, holds no animosity. Here’s a man of God.
In the words of Jesus, we read this. Matthew 20:25 “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. (26) But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
(27) And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: (28) Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Choosing the place of a minister, a servant of others, is choosing a life similar to that which Jesus led. Mephibosheth may have had numerous reasons to complain, especially when he was slandered. But he chose to not do so. Instead, he showed where his true values lay.
Here’s a word from the Apostle Peter on this same subject. I Peter 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: (22) Who did no sin, neither as guile found in his mouth:
(23) Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: (24) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
And from the Apostle Paul, these words. Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
(12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
God’s ways are much higher than man’s ways. And folks, you and I are called to respond to Him when we respond to those who slander us. That’s His way of teaching us to be Christ-like in this world.
Christ came into this world for at least two purposes. One, He came here to become the Substitute for your sin. And two, He came here to live His life through you.
So, He is here today, ready to save you from your sins. And this is the only adequate response to Him you could ever make: repentance and faith towards Christ.
Pray this prayer of trust and received Christ as your Savior today. “LORD, Thank you for the work of Jesus Your Son who fully paid the entire debt of my sin. I receive your forgiveness right now. Thank you for fully forgiving me.”
And, now, see Him as ready and willing to enable you to live a life that is honoring to Him in every way. “LORD, right now I submit all that I am to you, my spirit, my soul, and my body. Do with me what is most pleasing to you. Work out Your blessed will upon me today. Amen”
So in light of the words of the Scripture, you need to answer this question, “What will you do with God’s word today? What will you do when you are slandered? Will you choose to surrender yourself to the LORD? Will you choose to humbly do His will?” If not, why not?
Shall we pray?
Yet, here’s a more Biblical approach. Let God be your Defender. Why? Because when you defend yourself, you are responding to something that has wounded your pride. And folks, responding out of pride will not announce the LORD’s glory.
Here’s what David later wrote on this same topic. Psalm 59:9 “Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence. (10) The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.”
Mephibosheth simply yielding himself to the will of King David when he said “but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes” (v. 27).
Then, when David decides to give half of his land back to him, Mephibosheth again expresses a humble heart to the king. Look again at verse twenty-nine. II Samuel 19:29 “And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land. (30) And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.”
Here’s his simple response. One, let Ziba, the one who slandered him take all. Two, I’m just glad that you have returned in peace to your home.
Folks, here’s a man with noble character. Here’s a true man. Here’s a man who knows the value of people in his life. Here’s a man who knows the value of things; that things are nowhere near as important as people. Here’s a man who, with all the injustices done to him, holds no animosity. Here’s a man of God.
In the words of Jesus, we read this. Matthew 20:25 “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. (26) But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
(27) And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: (28) Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Choosing the place of a minister, a servant of others, is choosing a life similar to that which Jesus led. Mephibosheth may have had numerous reasons to complain, especially when he was slandered. But he chose to not do so. Instead, he showed where his true values lay.
Here’s a word from the Apostle Peter on this same subject. I Peter 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: (22) Who did no sin, neither as guile found in his mouth:
(23) Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: (24) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
And from the Apostle Paul, these words. Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
(12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
God’s ways are much higher than man’s ways. And folks, you and I are called to respond to Him when we respond to those who slander us. That’s His way of teaching us to be Christ-like in this world.
Christ came into this world for at least two purposes. One, He came here to become the Substitute for your sin. And two, He came here to live His life through you.
So, He is here today, ready to save you from your sins. And this is the only adequate response to Him you could ever make: repentance and faith towards Christ.
Pray this prayer of trust and received Christ as your Savior today. “LORD, Thank you for the work of Jesus Your Son who fully paid the entire debt of my sin. I receive your forgiveness right now. Thank you for fully forgiving me.”
And, now, see Him as ready and willing to enable you to live a life that is honoring to Him in every way. “LORD, right now I submit all that I am to you, my spirit, my soul, and my body. Do with me what is most pleasing to you. Work out Your blessed will upon me today. Amen”
So in light of the words of the Scripture, you need to answer this question, “What will you do with God’s word today? What will you do when you are slandered? Will you choose to surrender yourself to the LORD? Will you choose to humbly do His will?” If not, why not?
Shall we pray?