But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of The LORD's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul." [2 Sam 21:7]
It came to pass, in a certain year of King David, that “there was a famine…three years, year after year.” [2 Sam 21:1] For three years the famine prevailed, until David “enquired of The LORD. And The LORD answered, it is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.” [2 Sam 21:1] When David therefore had asked the Gibeonites, “what shall I do for you? And wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of The LORD,” [2 Sam 21:3] then they said to him, “let seven men of [Saul’s] sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto The LORD in Gibeah of Saul.” [2 Sam 21:6]
For the sins of Saul, seven of his sons must have died. It was the recompense required so that the famine might be stayed. And yet, even though the blood of seven sons were required, Mephibosheth, who was a son of Saul, was delivered. We read in 2 Samuel,
“But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of The LORD’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.” [2 Sam 21:7]
In the same way that blood was required for the sins of Mephibosheth’s father, blood is required for the sins of our father, Adam. Though Adam was the one that sinned, yet even so, that sin has fallen upon our heads, and blood is required for the repayment of those injustices which he performed. As it is written,
“Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the multitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come.” [Rom 5:14]
Mephibosheth’s life was on the line. Because of his genealogy, he was like to be killed. But because of David’s covenant with Jonathan, Mephibosheth was spared, as it is written, “but the king spared Mephibosheth.” And praise be to God, for in the same way that Mephibosheth was spared from death, so too we have been spared from the consequences of our father Adam’s sin, and that because of the covenant we have entered into with Christ Jesus. Yes, even though we had sinned; even though we were guilty and condemned, hanging over the edge of hell as it were, yet for Jesus’ sake – and for no merit or doing of our own – we have been spared from death. Yes and even more than mere deliverance: for just as David saw and treated Mephibosheth through the lens of Jonathan, so too we are viewed by God through the lens of Christ, and we have been attributed with and given the righteousness of Jesus, so that we stand as Christ in God’s presence, even as Mephibosheth stood as Jonathan in David’s. As it is written,
“…The judgment [pronounced against us] was by one, [that is, by Adam], to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which lay hold of the abundance of the grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life through one, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as by the offence of one, [that is, Adam’s offence], judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one, [Jesus Christ], the free gift [of righteousness] came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, [even] so, by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” [Rom 5:16-19]
Just as the judgment of Saul’s sin was pronounced upon Mephibosheth, but he was delivered from that condemnation: so too Adam’s sin was passed to us, and we have inherited death and condemnation. But through Jesus Christ, and our reception of Him through the continued belief in His person and work, that condemnation is changed into justification, so that our sins are no longer unto our condemnation but unto our justification. Praise God, for “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” [Rom 5:20] Yes, and praise God again, for because of that glorious and immutable oath which was made between The Father and Christ before the world began, and because of our belief in God’s Son Jesus, we are set free from death and condemnation, no longer doomed to inherit Adam’s reward, but Christ’s.
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