Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

May 27– Morning

 by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem. He was lame in both feet, but he ate continuously at King David’s table.” 

—2 Samuel 9:13

 

Mephibosheth was no great ornament to a royal table, yet he had a continual invitation from King David to be there. David could see in his face the features of his dear friend Jonathan. Like Mephibosheth, we may cry unto the King of Glory, “[Lord], who am I that you should favor me the way you do?” But the Lord brings us close to himself, inviting us to his table because he sees in our faces the image of his dearly-loved Son.

The Lord looks at his people as though he was looking at Jesus Himself— and he loves them for Jesus’ sake. He raises his lowly brothers from poverty and banishment to noble rank and royal provision. Their deformities do not rob them of their privileges. Lameness cannot destroy sonship; the cripple is just as much the heir as if he could run like a deer. Even though one’s body is weak, his authority can be strong.

It is still true, however, that those who remain cripple at the Lord’s table must bear all sorts of difficulties. Mephibosheth could not travel with the King when he fled from the city and was injured by his servant, Ziba. Saints who remain weak in faith and knowledge are exposed to many enemies and cannot follow the king wherever he goes. Their life-crippling disease is sometimes the result of a serious fall or, perhaps, bad nursing in their spiritual infancy. Some can fall into a spiritual depression from which they never seem to recover.

Lord, help the lame to leap like deer, and satisfy all your people with the bread of your table! [M&E]