KenH
Well-Known Member
And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? 2 Samuel 9:8.
Mephibosheth, the lame son of Jonathan, is introduced to the king: he thus expresses the affection of his royal heart to him, “Fear not; I will surely shew kindness to thee, for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.” Had any of David’s subjects a right to arraign, and call him to an account, for this sovereign act of favour? Which of them would dare to say unto him, What doest thou? But yet proud hearts rise with indignation, and utter their horrid speeches, against the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth, for dispensing his free favour and rich grace, which he owes to none, to whom he pleases. See how Mephibosheth is affected. Struck with astonishment, he bows with humility, and rates himself a dead dog! totally undeserving such signal favours. Generous love, in freely bestowing unmerited mercies, sinks reflecting minds into deep humility and self-abasement. O that God’s free grace to us in Jesus, may so affect us! ...
Why is all this? “For Jonathan thy father’s sake.” O, sinner! be it known unto thee, all these favours, in time and to eternity, are bestowed upon thee for Jesus, the Son of God’s sake, only. Now, what say you to all this? Will you not fall down and own, I am as a dead dog, and deserve to be as a damned devil? “But grace reigns.” (Romans 5:21)
- excerpt from William Mason's A Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God, Volume 2, March 21
Mephibosheth, the lame son of Jonathan, is introduced to the king: he thus expresses the affection of his royal heart to him, “Fear not; I will surely shew kindness to thee, for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.” Had any of David’s subjects a right to arraign, and call him to an account, for this sovereign act of favour? Which of them would dare to say unto him, What doest thou? But yet proud hearts rise with indignation, and utter their horrid speeches, against the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth, for dispensing his free favour and rich grace, which he owes to none, to whom he pleases. See how Mephibosheth is affected. Struck with astonishment, he bows with humility, and rates himself a dead dog! totally undeserving such signal favours. Generous love, in freely bestowing unmerited mercies, sinks reflecting minds into deep humility and self-abasement. O that God’s free grace to us in Jesus, may so affect us! ...
Why is all this? “For Jonathan thy father’s sake.” O, sinner! be it known unto thee, all these favours, in time and to eternity, are bestowed upon thee for Jesus, the Son of God’s sake, only. Now, what say you to all this? Will you not fall down and own, I am as a dead dog, and deserve to be as a damned devil? “But grace reigns.” (Romans 5:21)
- excerpt from William Mason's A Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God, Volume 2, March 21