One day as King, a king such as pursued the heart of God, sat in Palace and contemplated the death of the king who preceded him and the death of that king’s son, being moved with sorrow, wondered, “Is there anyone in Royal Family who is yet alive, for I wish to show him the kindness of God?”

Upon hearing this request, a nearby servant of the King responded, “Yes, my lord. Indeed there is a son, yea, even a grandson of the king who is yet alive. But lo, O lord, he is crippled in both feet, yea, and needs someone to saddle even his riding donkey for him.” (Now it must be hereupon mentioned that Cripple was born as quite a normal baby and a perfect son. But upon the good intentions of Nurse, he fell, was bruised, broken, and became terminally lame in both of his legs.)

 

“Where is he, my servant?” King asked with tremulous voice, for indeed King wished with exceeding desire to see Cripple, as he was the son of his bosom friend, a mighty warrior who died an honorable death in a fierce battle one day, many days before. “Please find him and bring him to Palace straightway.”

Upon being rushed to Palace and once brought into the presence of the king, Cripple bowed low, in fearful silence. For you must also know at this point that the kingly grandfather of Cripple was an acute enemy of this present king. And if King so desired, Cripple’s destined fate was to have his head detached at a moment’s notice, and rightly so.

But at once seeing Cripple, King with restrained emotion, said, “Greetings, Son of my Bosom Friend.”

Cripple humbly replied, “I am your servant only.”

King, sensing a spirit of fear within Cripple, and stirred with compassion said, “Don’t be afraid. I only wish to show you kindness because of a vow I made to your father, my bosom friend. Now yours is the land and belongings which once was your grandfather’s. You are compelled to always eat at my table in Palace.”

Cripple bowed only lower with his face touching the dust and cried out, “Who am I that you should show such benevolence to one who is as a dead dog?”

But from that time forth Cripple, who was lame in both feet, resided in Palace and ate at King’s table daily.

My friend, does it come to your awareness who the King and the Cripple are in this story? Why, the King is none other than our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Anointed One, and the Cripple is you and I!  Indeed, we are also helpless in and of ourselves and are at the mercy of the King’s benevolent grace. We need Him to feed us. We need Him to saddle our donkey, and in so doing, commission us. He has sought us out, not because of what we have done, but because of what He wants to do with us. You see, it was because of our conceited intentions that we have also fallen, and thus are bruised, broken, and terminally lame in both feet. And while, because of His unmerited grace, we are permitted to come into His Presence, yea, even boldly into His Presence, it must be with our faces touching the dust. As he makes us heirs with Him, we cry, “Why do you consider me, a mere mortal, and why do you concern yourself with me, but a dead dog?” By inviting us into the throne room and by urging us to pull up at His table, He is the One Who receives the praise and gratitude that flows from our hearts. He will labor to continually conform us to His image, as is His desire, and in so doing bring us back to the state of perfection in which He first created us. May this King be exalted as we reside in His Palace and as He resides in ours, one not made with hands!

“But – when God our Savior revealed His kindness and love, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of His grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. Titus 3:4-7 NLT

--Brian Horst

adapted from the account of King David and Mephiboshedth , 2 Samuel 9