Text: II Samuel 9:1-13 Introduction: Have you ever wondered what the grace of God looks like? Through the story of Mephibosheth, we see a crippled man, hiding, and living in fear of his life in a desolate place with no hope. All but forgotten, until one day he is brought before King David. No doubt, he thought his life was about to end, but the king with a kindly face, tells him not to fear for he is going to show him kindness (grace). Look what grace does: 1. Grace searches out for anyone. It doesn't care who the person is (1,3). David after many years of being king, he finds himself thinking about his friend Jonathan. He remembers the oaths he gave to him and to his father, Saul. He asks if there is any family left, anyone. Grace, like David, it searches out for anyone to show kindness to. 2. Grace doesn't care about our condition or where we are at (4). Even when David was informed there was a crippled son of Jonathan left from the household of King Saul, who was living in obscurity, poverty, in a little desolate town called Lodebar. All David cared about was to show the kindnes of God to him. We are like Mephibosheth, living in obscurity from God in destitution, because of our sinful state. All grace cares about is showing us the loving kindness of God. 3. Grace makes us humble (5-6, 8). Mephibosheth finds himself before a sovereign king, fearful of his life all he could do was fall down before David as a humble servant. Soon the fear was gone, assurance from the king, no harm would befall him. He hears words of undeserving kindness. Still beyond belief, Mephibosheth asked why would the king consider a dead dog like him to be gracious to? Like Mephibosheth, we are like a dead dog before a righteous, sovereign God, deserving of nothing from Him. There is nothing in us that is desirable at all that He should be gracious to us. Grace is all His choice, and His alone. God is gracious toward us simply because He want to and we are humbled before Him. 4. Grace restores all that was lost (7, 9). When David became king all that was Saul's was gone. The kingdom, the palace and all the riches became David's. At the news of the death Saul and Jonathan, all their families fled for their lives. During the flight, the infant son of Jonathan was dropped by a nurse maid which crippled his feet. For the rest of Mephibosheth's life, he lived in fear, hiding and in poverty (I Samuel 4:4). With words of kindness from the king, all that had belong to the house of Saul was restored of to Mephibosheth. All was lost for mankind, when Adam sinned. In the Garden, Adam lost the blessings of paradise that was given to him by God. Through the sacrificial giving of His of Son, Jesus regain back all that was lost through Adam. We who have believed upon Him, have experienced God grace, have been restored to perfect fellowship with Him (Romans 5:12-21). 5. Grace brings privilege (10-12). Not only was Mephibosheth restored all the riches of Saul, but he was given royal privilege just as though he were King David's son. Mephibosheth, a lame man, who lived in poverty and obscurity is now living a life of a prince, eating at the king's table and living in his palace. Through God's grace we have all the privileges of a child of God (John 1:12-13). 6. Grace is permanent (13). The promise of David to Mephibosheth, he would always eat at his table and he would always live in the king's palace. God grace is forever to those who have placed their trust in Him. Conclusion: Like Mephibosheth, we don't deserve grace, we can never earn it, nor are we ever able to pay for it. Grace is freely given, all we have to do is to accept it. | 
