A man lame in both feet, from a land whose name means “nothing”, says goodbye to his wife and little son, convinced that a summons to the king means a death sentence. So begins the vividly told story of Mephibosheth, grandson of King Saul, whom David invites to the royal table (2 Samuel 9). This sermon is for anyone who feels stuck at a dead end in life, as if God himself had forgotten them, because it reveals a grace that cannot be earned and cannot be bought. Listen to how a man from nowhere ends up in the palace, and what invitation is waiting for you as well.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- In 2 Samuel 9:6-11 Mephibosheth falls on his face before David and calls himself a dead dog. What do these words reveal about how he saw himself and what he expected when the king summoned him?
- David shows kindness to Mephibosheth because of his covenant with Jonathan: he restores Saul's land to him and invites him to eat at his table for good. What does this scene show about the nature of grace that cannot be earned?
- For years Mephibosheth lived in Lo-debar, the land of nothing, bearing the consequences of other people's choices and tragedies he could not control. In what situations do you find it easy to conclude that God has forgotten you or doesn't care?
- The speaker reminds us that Jesus, the promised descendant of David, invites us to a table with bread and wine as children of the King. How does having a place at that table and an inheritance of eternal life change the way you see yourself?
- The sermon says that those who have experienced God's faithfulness and kindness are able to show it to others, just as David did. How does your own experience of God's grace shape the way you treat the people around you?
- Who around you feels like a person from nowhere right now, and what specific thing can you do this week to show them God's kindness with gratitude instead of complaining about your own circumstances?
