A Place to Belong: The Rescue of Mephibosheth

Dr. Richard Guillermo and Dr. Jesse Gill*

One of our favorite stories in the Bible recounts the harrowing and heartbreaking experiences of Mephibosheth in the book of Second Samuel. The movements of pain, shame, and fear are followed by an incredible act of redemption which brings us hope in this fallen world. As with most Scripture the deeper meanings of the narrative are more profound than the given story, which is powerful in its own rite.

Mephibosheth came from the lineage of his grandfather Saul, the first King of Israel. We first meet Mephibosheth during the chaotic transfer of power that occurred when his grandfather Saul and his father Jonathan were both killed by a rival kingdom at the Battle of Mount Gilboa.

Mephibosheth was only 5 years old. His nurse, fearing for Mephibosheth’s life, scrambled to rescue him from the palace where his life was in peril. Although she rescued his life, he sustained a terrible fall amidst her haste. This fall crippled him, and he was unable to walk for the rest of his life.

He went to live in secrecy and obscurity in the town of Lo-debar for the next two decades.

Devastating. In one fateful day the entire path for his life completely changed!