Introduction:

Mephibosheth original name was evidently Meribbaal, I Chronicles 8:34. The name means quarreler or grappler or wrangler of Baal. He was evidently named at a time when Jonathan was having a controversy concerning Baal. I seriously doubt Jonathan was considering converting to the worship of Baal, but was probably trying to convince the worshippers of Baal that they were worshipping a false god.

Ammiel was the father of Machir, who is described below. Some believe Ammiel is the father of Bathsheba, although his name is spelled Eliam in II Samuel 11:3. Compare I Chronicles 3:5. The two parts of his name are reversed in these two scriptures. H5971 and H410.

Living in Lodebar. The name means pasture less or barren.

It is possible to live with good people, yet be without hope yourself. When God calls, all the power of the people around you is nothing at all. If you are trying to take comfort in the strength of those around you, there strength will melt when the king calls.

I. The reason for the call of Mephibosheth.

A. I Samuel 20:14,15 – Jonathan and David had made a covenant probably before Mephibosheth was ever born.

1. II Samuel 4:4 – I know that because Mephibosheth was only 5 years old when he was crippled.

2. I Samuel 20:15 – A part of the covenant was that David would never harm any of the descendants of Jonathan when he was made king of Israel.

3. The reason we are called unto salvation or even thought of by God is because there was a covenant made for us before the foundation of this world, before we were ever born.

4. Mephibosheth reaps the benefit of kindness to his dead father, who yet lives in the mind of David.

5. There is no way Jonathan will ever make David keep his agreement, but David will because God watches over everything.

B. There is a messenger that takes the message to Mephibosheth.

1. There is no power, strength or virtue in the messenger.

2. The message has power, strength, and virtue.

3. The messenger was obligated to go, because the king commanded him.

4. We are commanded to go, because the king commands us to go.

5. The messenger was living in perfect peace until summoned by the king.

6. When God calls us to go in his name to deliver the gospel message, we become greatly troubled.

7. I would imagine that Ziba was very much afraid when he heard that the king wanted to speak to him.

II. Where was Mephibosheth living?

A. II Samuel 9:4 – in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.

1. MACHIR. I have a notion these two are the same person.

a. Personal name meaning "sold." 1. Oldest son of Manasseh and grandson of Joseph (Josh. 17:1). He was the father of Gilead (Josh. 17:1), Peresh, and Sheresh (1 Chronicles. 7:16), and a daughter whose name is not given (1 Chronicles 2:21). He had a brother named Asriel (1 Chronicles 7:14) and a wife named Maacah (1 Chronicles 7:16). Machir was the head of the family called the Machirites (Num. 26:29). Apparently Machir along with his family had a reputation for being expert warriors (Josh. 17:1). "Because he was a man of war," Machir was allotted the territory of Bashan and Gilead, east of the Jordan (Josh. 17:1). Apparently the territory of the Machirites started at the site of Mahanaim, on the Jabbok River, extended northward, and included the region around the Yarmuk River (Josh. 13:29-31).

b. Son of Ammiel and member of the tribe of Manasseh. He came from the site of Lo-debar, perhaps a village near Mahanaim. He is recognized in the Old Testament for the assistance he provided Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan (2 Sam. 9, especially vv. 4-5) and David during the period of Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam. 17:27-29). See Manasseh.

c. Even though Mephibosheth was living in a "royal" house, and he was royalty, he still had not faced the king after the death of his father.

d. I would imagine Mephibosheth lived in dread of the time when King David would call for him, and he would be killed.

e. In the mean time, his life went on, and he evidently married and had a son named Micah, II Samuel 12:9, and I Chronicles 8:34.

III. God will give us plenty down on this earth, and will also supply all our daily needs. God will make you very comfortable with you lack, and with your bounty.

IV. When Mephibosheth ate at the king’s table, nobody could tell he was crippled.

A. When we come into church services, we sit and eat around the table of the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

1. We are still sinners, with all the trouble and trials that go with sin, yet people all around us cannot tell we are still crippled.

2. Many people look at us and think we are better than we really are, but the truth is, we are still crippled.

3. Sometimes we look at ourselves, and think we are better than we really are, but the truth is, we are still crippled.

V. II Samuel 19:24 – when King David came back to his throne, Mephibosheth had not dressed his feet, trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes.

A. He was in mourning because his king was not on his throne.

1. If, as Ziba told King David, Mephibosheth were waiting on the chance to take over the throne, he would surely have cleaned himself up so people would understand he was ready to ascend to the throne.

2. Matthew 9:14,15 declares, "Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast."

B. All of God’s children are in much mourning now because our Lord and saviour is not on the throne of his kingdom.

1. We will meet our savior when he returns from his father to sit once again on his throne.

2. We will not care about any earthly things, but will only have thoughts of gladness because our king is returned.

3. II Samuel 19:25-30 – the conversation between Ziba, David and Mephibosheth.

C. Ziba is the deliverer of the gospel message, and he is also the accuser of Mephibosheth.

1. This is often the way it is in this present world.

2. May God help us all not to be like Ziba, who was more concerned with this present world than he was with the world to come.