Speaker: Darlene Sala | Series: Encouraging Words | Mephibosheth—what a long and unusual name! It would be hard to print his name on the back of a basketball uniform! Mephibosheth was the five-year-old grandson of King Saul, the first king of Israel.

The day when sad news that King Saul had been killed in battle reached the Mephibosheth’s nurse, she quickly picked him up and fled.  But as she ran, he fell and became injured.

After David became the new king of Israel, one day he asked his staff, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness?” He was told, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.” And Mephibosheth was brought to the palace before King David.

“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness…. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” From that point on Mephibosheth enjoyed life as if he were one of the king’s sons (2 Samuel 9).

My Dad, who was a preacher, pictured King David’s table laid with a beautiful white linen cloth, exquisite tableware, and every delicacy a person could desire. As Mephibosheth sat at that table, the tablecloth would extend onto his lap and cover the fact that he was lame in both feet.  His disability would be concealed.  My Dad said it was a picture of God’s grace that covers all our imperfections and sins.  Looking at Mephibosheth at the table, you would never have known that he could not walk.

Isn’t that what God’s grace does for us? When we ask for forgiveness, He covers our sins.  He paid for our sins on the cross, and now His grace covers our imperfections.  Take a moment to thank God that, like Mephibosheth, you can have daily companionship with the King of Kings.