What’s Your Name?

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I love the story of Mephibosheth, told throughout the second book of Samuel in the Old Testament.

Mephibosheth was lame in both his feet. Many years ago, when I was learning to have a right relationship with God… not one based on my own merit, but one based on His redeeming grace… I read and meditated on Mephibosheth’s story many times.

He lost his family as a small child. His father and grandfather were both killed on the same day when he was five years old, and the rest of the household were forced to flee for their lives. Whether he fell or his nurse dropped him in the process of leaving is unsure, but that’s how he lost his ability to walk.

They fled to a town called Lo-debar, which means “no pasture,” “no word,” and “no communication.” It was an isolated and desolate place far from Mephibosheth’s home city of Jerusalem. He was taken in, probably around the age of five years old, by Makir son of Ammiel, a descendant of Makir son of Manasseh, from the tribe of Manasseh.

I find it interesting that Manasseh means, “God has made me forget all my troubles.” I wonder if that’s what God did for Mephibosheth by placing him with Makir, a generous and wealthy landowner who later ended up helping King David and his followers during Absalom’s rebellion in 2 Samuel 17:27-29.

Mephibosheth could have ended up anywhere, but this was no accident.

I Have Called You by Name

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine.”

Isaiah 43:1

I love the importance the Bible places on the meanings of names, both of places and people. There are four times in the Bible when God Himself changed a person’s name, and every instance involved a blessing:

• Abram changed to Abraham… from “exalted father” to “father of many nations,” protector of God’s family and His covenant son (Genesis 17:5).
  
• Sarai changed to Sarah… from “princess” to “My princess.” This marked an end to barrenness and the beginning of walking in faith with her God (Genesis 17:15).
  
• Jacob changed to Israel… from “deceiver” to “you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome” (Genesis 32:28). Israel engaged directly with God and accepted His lordship over his life.
  
• Simon changed to Peter… from “God has heard” to “Rock,” as in “upon this Rock I will build my church.” He experienced failure and forgiveness, then complete acceptance by his Savior. Peter eventually grew into his new name by preaching boldly and building God’s church, in Jesus’ name (Matthew 16:17-19).

God took each person’s life and breathed new energy and divine purpose into them, simply by changing their name. But looking back at Mephibosheth’s story, the meaning of his name was perfect from the beginning… it was his life that needed a slight adjustment.

Destroyer of Shame

David’s first word to Mephibosheth was to say his name, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.”

Mephibosheth threw himself to the floor in humility before the king, not knowing his true purpose, and replied, “I am your servant.”

A servant is one who does whatever he is commanded, as one who is under the authority of another. Mephibosheth’s answer means… whether I live or die… whether you are for me or against me… my life is in your hands.

Don’t be afraid! I intend to show you kindness…

2 Samuel 9:7a

Mephibosheth was a grown man with a son of his own by the time King David sent for him. No message came along with David’s servants, just the order to go get Mephibosheth and bring him to Jerusalem… the “city of Peace.”

They most likely would have carried him in a cart pulled by a donkey. The eighty-mile journey from Lo-debar to Jerusalem would have taken about four days, possibly over rough terrain.

It would have been a difficult journey… but the journey between where we are now and where God wants to take us often is. There’s so much waiting, pruning, and travail… so much time to think and overthink… and plenty of time to assume the worst, if that is what we choose to do. But the blessing of God will absolutely blow our minds when we finally reach our place of promise.

So David said to Mephibosheth…

I intend to show you kindness because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!

2 Samuel 9:7

Mephibosheth’s name means “destroyer of shame.” He was the grandson of an unstable and dethroned king… the son of a murdered father… lame in both feet and living in constant dependence on others. Our enemy of shame never fails to take every opportunity to bring us down, and Mephibosheth’s circumstances would have been no exception.

His response to David’s blessing revealed his self-deprecating thoughts…

What is your servant, that you would be concerned for a dead dog like me?

2 Samuel 9:8

Was it random that David thought to bless any living descendant of Jonathan? I don’t believe so. I believe God whispered to David and said something to the effect of, “Hey, what about your promise to Jonathan? Does he have any living relatives?” And in that very moment, I fully believe that God was already in the room where the blessing was about to happen. He already had his hand on Mephibosheth’s shoulder. He was already working and setting the stage to restore legacy and inheritance into his life, and into the house of King Saul.

God worked in Mephibosheth’s life the same way He does in ours. He sees us where we are, picks us up out of our shame and disgrace, and places our feet upon the Rock of Christ… and there, through no effort of our own, our lives are forever changed.

That was Mephibosheth’s experience. Through no effort of his own, he was transformed from an “orphan” to a “son” in an instant! He went from grandson of a dethroned king and son of a murdered father… living in obscurity in a land of “no word” called Lo-debar… to one whose former lands were restored, former household returned, and accepted as a son in the house of mighty King David.

It was more than he ever would have expected. Exceedingly, abundantly more.

And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table, like one of the king’s own sons.

2 Samuel 9:11b NLT

What’s Your Name?

God is always speaking a better word over us than we would speak over ourselves. He holds in His hand a better hope than we ever could have expected for our lives. And the power to activate His Word and His better hope is found in the fact that we are lame in both our feet, just like Mephibosheth.

His name means destroyer of shame, and that is not by chance. His story was revealed to us so that we would know the One who really does destroy shame. He rides in like King David, ready to transform and restore, but His name is King Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5).

We have peace with God because of Him. We have been made right with God through our faith in Him. He has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand (Romans 5:1-3).

He has called us by name. And of all the names He has called us in His Word… Redeemed, Beloved, Accepted, Blessed, Healed, Forgiven, Strong, Mighty, Able… the only name that really matters is when He calls us “Mine.”

We have His name, we have His inheritance, it’s His legacy that now pours through our veins. We are privileged to dine at His table every day as sons and daughters of the King. Accepted and not rejected. Above only and not beneath. Held in His tender care. Disciplined as His beloved child.

Just like Mephibosheth.

I have turned your fear and humiliation into Grace and Glory, your sorrow and suffering into Joy and Peace.

Adapted from Hinds’ Feet on High Places, by Hannah Hurnard