Handling Life’s Failures

Grace in a Barren Place

May 14, 2017

Please turn in your Bibles to 2Samuel 4 and 9

Mephibosheth (muh-fib-uh-sheth)

Q: Can you relate to this statement? “In my lifetime there have been a number of unlikely things that have happened to me personally?”

Samuel 4:4: Mephibosheth

 King Saul’s grandson

 Prince Jonathan’s son

Q: Have you ever had a Mephibosheth moment? (Ref. 2Samuel 9:1, 3b, 5)

Grace: acceptance—a positive action done on behalf of someone who did nothing to earn or deserve it.

Lo-debar: “pasture-less”; “(lit.) A place of no bread”

1Chronicles 8: Called by the wrong name

o Meribaal: “opponent of false gods”

o Mephibosheth: “son of shame, or “shameful thing.” (ref. 2Samuel 9:7-8)

Q: Have you ever felt worthless?

Grace: pursued: the one in hiding pursued for the purpose of blessing

V 10b: (David said) “And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.”

V 11b: So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons.

Grace: taken from a place of desolation and place at the king’s table

We are all Mephibosheth’s

1: Something got messed up (see Romans 3:12)

2: We are not forgotten (See John 3:17, Luke 22:29b-30a)

What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?