Accepted in the Beloved
David eventually became the King of Israel. He wanted to show kindness to one of King’s Saul’s descendants. Mephibosheth was accepted.
Acceptance
Everyone wants to be accepted. All human beings want a place where they are accepted and feel important. In their family. Among their friends. At school. At work. In church. It could be as simple as being on a team or being welcomed at the local coffee shop. Unexpected acceptance has a big place in the story of David and Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9.
And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, ‘Mephibosheth!’ And he answered, ‘Behold, I am your servant.’ And David said to him, ‘Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your [grand] father, and you shall eat at my table always.” And he paid homage and said, ‘What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?’ (And David said) Mephibosheth … shall always eat at my table.
(2 Samuel 9:6-10)
David and Mephibosheth
David is at the high point of his life. He has been made king in Hebron and then in Jerusalem. He has restored the ark and received the Davidic covenant from God. Chapter 8 tells us that he defeated the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Amalekites, the Edomites, the Mosquito-bites, and every other “ite” you can think of.
2 Samuel 8:15 caps it off by saying,
David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and equity to all his people.
2 Samuel 8:15
Most kings would look around for everyone related to their conquered enemies …. To kill them and scorch that family name from the earth. David looks around and here is what he says:
Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul … that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?
(2 Samuel 9:1)
It turns out there is a such a person, a man named Mephibosheth. David has every reason to resent Mephibosheth’s grandfather, Saul. But he loved Saul’s son, Jonathan. Mephibosheth is “accepted in Jonathan.” God is fully just to punish sinners. But he made it possible for us to be accepted in his Beloved Son, Jesus.
Accepted in the Beloved
Ephesian 1:6 states,
He made us accepted in the Beloved. (Ephesian 1:6 NKJV)
Who is “The Beloved”? God answered that question in a voice out of heaven:
Saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’
(Matthew 3:17)
David’s Kindness & God’s Acceptance
The reason for David’s promised kindness was a commitment David made before Mephibosheth was even born. As verse 9 tells us, it was “for the sake of your father Jonathan”. God’s plan for you wasn’t just made before you were born – it was made before the universe was born.
Revelation 13:8 declares that Jesus is, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 13:8
There are 3 surprising things about God’s acceptance:
1st, no one deserves this acceptance — but anyone can have it.
2nd, you don’t need any talents or virtues to be accepted — but some will not be accepted.
3rd, it doesn’t cost anything — but some won’t take it — many will not accept the acceptance.
We Don’t Deserve to be Accepted
You and I don’t deserve God’s acceptance, but anyone of us can have it, by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. When we accept him by faith, God can accept us because of the value of Christ’s blood to cleanse away our sin.
You don’t need any special virtue to be accepted — in fact it is our sin, our failure, our lack of virtue that brings out God’s mercy to forgive our sin.
Though it doesn’t cost us anything, it cost Jesus everything – forsaken by God, pouring out his life … for you. Will you accept God’s acceptance in the Beloved?
How have the words, “do not fear” helped you? Contact us at HopeStreamRadio, or comment below.
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