Exterminating Shame
Mephibosheth means "exterminator of shame." True legitimacy can only come from God and, in the process, shame is exterminated. You can read the story of Mephibosheth in II Samuel. He was the grandson of Saul and son of Jonathan. On the day his grandfather and father were killed, his nurse dropped him as they fled Jerusalem, causing him to be crippled for life. He grew up in hiding until David was crowned king and brought him to live in Jerusalem and eat at David's table as one of his sons. David did this to honor the covenant he had with Jonathan. David also gave to Mephibosheth all the property and servants of Saul, making him a very wealthy man.
Mephibosheth proves his loyalty to his king
Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has returned home safely." II Samuel
When David's son Absalom was trying to overthrow the kingdom, David fled from Jerusalem. Later, when it was safe to return, a dispute arose between Mephibosheth and Ziba, Saul's former servant. Ziba claimed that Mephibosheth had tried to take over David's throne while he was gone. Mephibosheth claimed Ziba betrayed him and that he was loyal to David. David didn't know which one to believe, so he said for the two men to divide all of Saul's wealth he had previously given Mephibosheth. That's the backstory. The heart of the story is Mephibosheth's response to David:
-
David, who had just been betrayed by his son, didn't know if he could trust Mephibosheth. Did Mephibosheth try to betray him, too? Who can David trust? Which of the two men are lying?
-
Mephibosheth knew that David would never violate the covenant with Jonathan, and he trusted David that he would always sit at his table.
-
But Mephibosheth could not bear the pain of David suspecting he was not loyal. How could he enjoy a meal with David when David would be forever thinking that Mephibosheth might betray him?
-
By telling David to give all to Ziba, Mephibosheth would live his life a destitute cripple, unable to succeed, but resting at David's table knowing that his king could trust his heart.
Is the loss worth it? How is this act a statement of legitimacy? How did his actions exterminate shame?
