Come Up Higher
There’s a beautiful story of friendship between David and Jonathan in the Bible that you can read in 1 Samuel 20 for background information. This week we will look at a story of restoration that takes place many years later, relating to their covenant promises to take care of each other’s descendants. After the deaths of both Jonathan and King Saul, David found the former king’s grandson living in a place he should not have been. It was a lower place. David brought him up to a higher one. The following verses give us a spiritual picture of the contrast between a believer’s past life and the new one God offers. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts about coming up higher in our relationship with the King of kings.
Read 2 Samuel 9:1-13
1. Where was Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, living before King David found him? What was his condition? vv. 3-4
Read Ephesians 2:1-13
2. Describe the former state of believers before coming to Christ. (v. 1-3).
3. Where has God’s love and mercy seated us? (v. 6) What does that mean to you?
4. What was the former state of those without God? (v. 12).
5. What does the blood of Jesus accomplish? (v. 13 )
We learn that Mephibosheth’s state was changed from a beggar to an heir. King David removed his shame of lameness and seated him at the king’s table. We also were once lame in our sinful state (like LoDebar), but God expressed His kindness to us through Jesus Christ making us heirs to His Kingdom and beneficiaries of spiritual blessings. Let’s not choose to dwell beneath our inheritance. Thank God we are children of the King of kings, and we dwell in Him! The challenge is to come up higher through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan was lame on his feet and he was living in the house of Machir in Jerusalem. The former state of believers before coming to Christ was they were all sinners and were not doing the works of the Lord – they were fulfilling the lusts of their bodies – dwelling in their sins. We have all been seated in Heavenly places – this means we have all been made new in the sight of the Lord – he is so wonderful to each one of us when we give our bodies unto him for his great service. It is just wonderful to server the Lord in every way in our lives today – the Lord is so good to us. At that time the people were without Christ – they were strangers from the things of promise – having no hope – they were without God in their lives. By the blood of Jesus we are close to him – what a wonderful thought – just to be in his presence and very close to him – you and I were beggars at one time also and now we are joint heirs with others – PRAISE THE LORD – great lesson – more dwelling points to remember in our lives – Great lesson – Karen – Thank you.
Thanks again Karen for your faithful Bible Study lessons. I love how you brougjt out the comparison of Mephibosheth’s state of being a beggar, lameness, in LoDeBar with our state of being, having no hope, separated from God, dead in sin and as the Message translation puts it “having no clue” before coming to Christ. His great grace and mercy by Jesus’ shed blood has bought us back from sin. God has done it ALL, we can do nothing to earn the grace his has for us and by His grace we are saved through faith in Christ Jesus, even the faith that He gives us is by His great grace!!! Praise be to God!