April 15, 2025 - 2 Samuel 9:8 - "Such a Dead Dog as I Am!"

2 Samuel 9:8

"And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?"

What a striking expression of humility and wonder. These are the words of Mephibosheth, the crippled son of Jonathan, when King David called him into his royal presence—not for judgment, but for mercy. David had made a covenant with Jonathan, Mephibosheth’s father, and for Jonathan’s sake, he sought to show kindness to any of his remaining house. As it is written: “Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” — 2 Samuel 9:1

Mephibosheth, was “lame on his feet” (2 Samuel 9:3). He was five years old when reports arrived that his father and grandfather had fallen in the battle of Mount Gilboa. In her haste to escape potential assassins, his nurse picked him up and ran off but dropped the boy and as a result he became lame in both feet for the rest of his life (2 Samuel 4:4). David restored to him all the inheritance of his grandfather Saul and granted him a continual place at his royal table: “Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him… But Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread alway at my table… So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet.” — 2 Samuel 9:10,13. Here we see a beautiful type of God’s elect—sinners who, in and of themselves, are spiritually lame, ruined by the fall in Adam, without strength to come, and utterly undeserving of favor—and yet brought near by sovereign grace. Not for their sake, but for the sake of Another: for the sake of Jesus Christ, the Covenant Surety of His people, the One in Whom the everlasting covenant is ordered in all things and sure (2 Samuel 23:5).

The name Mephibosheth as a verb means to wither (of plants or body parts). As an adjective, it means dry or dried. As a noun, it refers to dry land. That's how Mephibosheth rightly saw himself as “a dead dog” (2 Samuel 9:8). In the eyes of this world, such language may seem harsh or extreme. But the sinner who has been made to see the holiness of God and the depravity of his own soul knows this to be no exaggeration. It is the honest confession of a heart that has been humbled by grace. Like the publican in the temple: “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a [the] sinner.” — Luke 18:13. Or like the prophet Isaiah, who, upon beholding the Lord in His holiness, cried: “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” — Isaiah 6:5. Dead in trespasses and sins, helpless to lift ourselves, and with no claim upon the King—we marvel that such mercy has come to us. This is the language of every elect soul when effectually called by God's grace in Christ. As Paul wrote: “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).” — Ephesians 2:5. And again: “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past… and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” — Ephesians 2:3 The Spirit of God brings the sinner down from lofty thoughts of self, strips away imagined merit and worthiness, and lays bare what we are by nature: unclean, rebels, spiritual cripples.

But then comes the sweet word of the Gospel, as David spoke to Mephibosheth: “Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake.” — 2 Samuel 9:7. Child of God, this is what the Lord has done for you. Not for your sake. Not because of your will, or your works, or your worth—but for Jesus’ sake: “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” — Ephesians 1:6. And again: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us… hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” — Ephesians 2:4,6. God the Father honors the everlasting covenant He made with His Son—the eternal Surety of His people—and for Christ’s sake, He shows mercy to those who were afar off, even to enemies by nature (Romans 5:10).

And what was the result for Mephibosheth? He sat at the king’s table continually, “as one of the king’s sons” (2 Samuel 9:11). So too, every believer—though still lame in both feet from the fall of Adam—now sits at the Gospel feast, robed in Christ’s righteousness, loved with everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3), and adopted into the family of God: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” — 1 John 3:1. And again: “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” — Romans 8:17.

We were as dead dogs—but now we are children of the Most High, seated with Christ in heavenly places. Oh, how amazing is grace! That the King should look upon such as we are—and not only pardon—but embrace us, exalt us, and eternally bless us in His Son. Let us echo Mephibosheth’s words—not in despair, but in humble wonder and worship: “What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?” — 2 Samuel 9:8