Back in 1 Samuel 20, David and Jonathan made a covenant of friendship, and swore that they would show kindness to each other, and to each other’s descendents. Jonathan had an infant son, Mephibosheth. When Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle, and the house of Saul fell, a nurse hurriedly fled with the child, who was injured and became crippled in both feet.

After David was established as king, he remembered his covenant with Jonathan, and asked if there remained any person in the house of Saul to whom he may show kindness for the sake of his friend. Mephibosheth was found, and David said to him, “Don’t be afraid…for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” Thereafter he dined at David’s table as one of the king’s own sons.

Mephibosheth benefited from a covenant that he did not make, but he received kindness due to his association with a person who entered into covenant on his behalf. He did not press for an audience with David – the king sought him out. He was a cripple, and did not perform acts of valor to earn David’s respect – the king decided to honor him. The only reason David bestowed on him a king’s estate and a prince’s place was because of his association with Jonathan.

Mephibosheth did not have to worry if he was good enough for this – he was not – but Jonathan was good enough in David’s eyes. He did not have to gain David’s acceptance, because David had already accepted Jonathan. And he did not have to wonder if David would change his mind and throw him into a dungeon the next day, because David made a promise to Jonathan and sealed it with a covenant. Mephibosheth’s confidence rested on his knowledge of David’s attitude toward Jonathan.

Likewise, there is nothing that we have or that we can do to gain God’s attention and favor. We are not wise enough, righteous enough, beautiful enough. But concerning Jesus Christ, the Father declared, “This is my beloved Son. In him I am well pleased.” And he gave evidence of his approval when he raised Jesus from the dead. Now in Jesus Christ we are loved, saved, justified, and preserved forever. We come boldly to the throne of grace, not because we have confidence in our own goodness, but even in our weakest moments, we are sure of the goodness of Jesus Christ, and we are sure that God accepts him, so that he is ever before the Father’s throne to intercede for us. Do we doubt the Father’s love toward us? We do not doubt the Father’s love for his Son, and we can come before the Most High with the same measure of confidence that we have concerning the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

We should exude the same power as we preach the gospel. Unbelievers demand, “How dare you talk to us this way? Are you perfect?” We reply, “We are not perfect, but we speak for one who is. And it is to him that we command you to yield.” That said, it is obvious that so many who claim to serve God do so on the basis of confidence in themselves. Sometimes my confidence so offends them that they accuse me of pride and self-importance. But of course my confidence is total – it reflects my opinion of Christ. They reply, “But you say that you are invincible in your defense of the faith.” Of course! It is because Christ is invincible. Why, who are they defending, and who are they depending on? What does their accusation imply about their own thinking? Should we assume that the measure of confidence that they have in the gospel is really nothing other than the measure of confidence that they have in themselves? Or, perhaps the truth is that they have a low opinion of Christ. If either is true, are they even Christians? My brothers and sisters, when you speak for Christ, consider his perfection, proclaim his greatness, and stop thinking about your own!

Mephibosheth answered wisely: “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” Any person who understands the truth about humanity would readily confess that he is but a dead dog before the Lord. And any person who preaches the truth will not hesitate to declare this. Non-Christian, do you see yourself as a dead dog before God? You say, “No, I am wise, I am good, I am able. I will reach the throne of God by my own efforts and command his attention. I will compel him to favor me.” But you will not get an audience with David unless you are related to Jonathan. God will not hear you, and your life can have no value or purpose, other than for a display of divine wrath, unless you are related to Jesus Christ through faith. Come to him. But do not come as a prince, lest he strike you down. Come as a dead dog, with confidence that Jesus Christ stands as your righteous advocate before God, and you shall dine at the king’s table, as one of his own sons.