_Here’s the NT attitude. Ephesians 2:7 “That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding
riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” Think
about God’s kindness towards you. It’s “through Christ Jesus.” It’s not because
you are deserving of it.
Here’s Titus 3:4 “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, (5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; (7) That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Kindness, pure kindness, is God’s attitude towards you and me. All we truly deserve is justice. And He shows us kindness.
1. David exhibits the quality of the kindness of God.
2. Mephibosheth exhibits the quality of humility.
Look with me at verse six. (6) “Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!”
Someone has wisely stated that that there are two ways of dealing with the matter of humility; one active and one passive. Active means that you choose the attitude of humility. In this sense you “humble yourself.” Passive means that you are humbled by God through life events which He allows to come into your life in order to humble you. It is obvious that Mephibosheth chose the active one. He humbled himself when he came before King David. Here is Mephibosheth in action. And, as you find with many people in Scripture, God has put them there as your example. Now, honestly consider your own life. See if you don’t find yourself doing just what this man did.
1. Humility is a chosen attitude. Here’s the attitude chosen by Mephibosheth; verse six. (6) “Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!”
He fell on his face and did reverence, meaning he showed David the honor he deserved by coming before him in a way that expressed his respect for him. He didn’t say anything. Instead, he knelt down and waited for David to speak to him. And when David does speak to him, here’s how Mephibosheth responded; verse six “Behold, thy servant!”
The last thing Mephibosheth was about was trying to get David to recognize his abilities or his position. Instead, he saw himself for what he truly was – a servant, someone who is ready to wait on the needs or desires of others. If anything he must have thought something like this. “I’m David’s enemy. All I have to offer is the fact that I’m related to Saul through Jonathan.” I doubt if he had any true idea what David wanted of him. Rather, he was ready to receive whatever David gave or didn’t’ give; whether positive or negative. Mephibosheth came before King David in lowliness of mind. All he did before David was to offer himself and be at his disposal.
Now, imagine for just a minute how you stand in the eyes of the LORD before coming to Christ for salvation.You have only one thing to bring when you come for salvation; your nothingness. So, if you don’t come to God in simple humility with nothing in your hand, you might as well not even come before Him. No one can come before God and bring his own greatness, his own anything and sort of brag before Him. You have nothing to offer God but the sense of your own sin and undeservedness. Here’s how the prophet Isaiah puts it. Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Our natural state is the state of a straying sheep. Left to ourselves we would stray as far from God as we could. Yet, fortunately for us, the LORD did for us what we could never do for ourselves. He laid on Christ our personal sins. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Go on to Page four
Here’s Titus 3:4 “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, (5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; (7) That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Kindness, pure kindness, is God’s attitude towards you and me. All we truly deserve is justice. And He shows us kindness.
1. David exhibits the quality of the kindness of God.
2. Mephibosheth exhibits the quality of humility.
Look with me at verse six. (6) “Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!”
Someone has wisely stated that that there are two ways of dealing with the matter of humility; one active and one passive. Active means that you choose the attitude of humility. In this sense you “humble yourself.” Passive means that you are humbled by God through life events which He allows to come into your life in order to humble you. It is obvious that Mephibosheth chose the active one. He humbled himself when he came before King David. Here is Mephibosheth in action. And, as you find with many people in Scripture, God has put them there as your example. Now, honestly consider your own life. See if you don’t find yourself doing just what this man did.
1. Humility is a chosen attitude. Here’s the attitude chosen by Mephibosheth; verse six. (6) “Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!”
He fell on his face and did reverence, meaning he showed David the honor he deserved by coming before him in a way that expressed his respect for him. He didn’t say anything. Instead, he knelt down and waited for David to speak to him. And when David does speak to him, here’s how Mephibosheth responded; verse six “Behold, thy servant!”
The last thing Mephibosheth was about was trying to get David to recognize his abilities or his position. Instead, he saw himself for what he truly was – a servant, someone who is ready to wait on the needs or desires of others. If anything he must have thought something like this. “I’m David’s enemy. All I have to offer is the fact that I’m related to Saul through Jonathan.” I doubt if he had any true idea what David wanted of him. Rather, he was ready to receive whatever David gave or didn’t’ give; whether positive or negative. Mephibosheth came before King David in lowliness of mind. All he did before David was to offer himself and be at his disposal.
Now, imagine for just a minute how you stand in the eyes of the LORD before coming to Christ for salvation.You have only one thing to bring when you come for salvation; your nothingness. So, if you don’t come to God in simple humility with nothing in your hand, you might as well not even come before Him. No one can come before God and bring his own greatness, his own anything and sort of brag before Him. You have nothing to offer God but the sense of your own sin and undeservedness. Here’s how the prophet Isaiah puts it. Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Our natural state is the state of a straying sheep. Left to ourselves we would stray as far from God as we could. Yet, fortunately for us, the LORD did for us what we could never do for ourselves. He laid on Christ our personal sins. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Go on to Page four