Mephibosheth . . . shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons. —2 Samuel 9:11
A British factory worker and his wife were excited when, after many years of marriage, they discovered they were going to have their first child. According to author Jill Briscoe, who told this story, the man eagerly told his fellow workers that God had answered his prayers. But they made fun of him for asking God for a child.
When the baby was born, he was diagnosed with Down syndrome. As the father made his way to work for the first time after the birth, he wondered how to face his co-workers. “God, please give me wisdom,” he prayed. Just as he feared, some mocked, “So, God gave you this child!” The new father stood for a long time, silently asking God for help. At last he said, “I’m glad the Lord gave this child to me and not to you.”
As this man accepted his disabled son as God’s gift to him, so David was pleased to show kindness to Jonathan’s son, who was “lame in his feet” (2 Sam. 9:3). Some may have disregarded Mephibosheth because he was lame, or because he was from Saul’s household, but David’s action showed that he valued him greatly.
In God’s eyes, every person is important. He sent His only Son to die for us. May we remember with gratitude how much He values each human life. —Dave Branon
