Mephibosheth

MEPHIBOSHETH
(2nd Samuel 4:4; 9: 1-13)
“Mephibosheth, the king is looking for you.”
I was stunned. 
How did he know where I am? 
I am finished! I wish I could run, 
but how far and how fast could a 
cripple like me go? 
The king is so vengeful!
 So, he wants to kill me because of 
what my grandfather did to him.
 And he waited till I grew up 
before hatching his plan. 
I remember very clearly when 
my nanny heard that my father, 
Jonathan and my grandfather, 
Saul were dead. 
She carried me to run away to escape. 
In her haste, she tripped and fell down. 
I rolled down the staircase and broke my
 legs. I have been lame since then. 
Being a prince, she knew the new king 
would want to kill everybody that was 
directly linked with the former king. 
That was why she ran off with me to 
hide me. 
I have been hiding here in Lodebar 
for the past two decades…
How fast do destinies change! 
My grandfather was the king. 
The first king of our country. 
He was chosen by God himself. 
My father was his first son. 
He was destined to become the 
king whenever his father died. 
Succession is always hereditary. 
My father was first in line, 
and I was next in line to him.
 I was born royalty! 
I was young, but I knew I was born 
into a special family. 
I attended the best school and 
was treated differently from other 
school kids. 
I was chauffeur-driven to and from school, 
I lived in the royal palace. 
Servants and maids were at my beck and call, 
even as a child of four years old. 
I used to look at my grandfather with awe. 
He was the tallest man in the country. 
He looked like a giant, to a four year old. 
He would carry me on his laps and sit on 
his throne. 
“One day you will sit on this throne as 
the king of the country”, he would say…
My father was a very loving dad and devoted son. 
He was very loyal to his father and 
they used to go out to fight wars 
together. 
I was too young to understand these things- 
I used to think war was fun! 
They would go out to war and return 
after several weeks with lots of goods 
and precious things. 
To me, war was like going on a vacation 
for shopping!
I was five years old when the news 
came that my father and grandfather were dead. 
They died in a war. 
How? Was it a plane crash? 
I was old enough to know what a 
plane crash was, but I didn’t understand 
the grimness of war…
And nanny carried me in a rush and 
the rest is history.
Now, I’m a cripple, squatting with my friend,
 Machir in the village called Lodebar. 
I figured there is no way anybody would 
know I am the son of Jonathan, 
the son of King Saul. 
Nobody would know I am a prince. 
Until today.
I was sitting on the porch about an 
hour ago when I saw the convoy drive 
into the village. 
I had wondered what the King’s convoy 
would be doing in Lodebar. 
I just assumed it was passing through. 
Then the convoy stopped. 
I saw the king’s chief of staff come down, 
beckon on some folks and they talked. 
I was not close enough to hear their 
discussions, but I assumed they needed 
directions. 
These folks who live in the city hardly 
know their way around these rural areas.
I picked up my crutches and went inside. 
A few minutes later, I drifted off to sleep…
I was woken up by my friend, Machir. 
“The king is looking for you!” 
Seriously? Am I dreaming? 
I stared at him, hoping it is a dream. 
He shook me vigorously. 
“Mephibosheth! The king is looking for you! 
His men are outside, they want to take you 
to meet him immediately”
I know Machir has my back. 
But his hands are tied. 
he could save my neck, I’m sure he would. 
But this is way beyond him. 
I got out of the bed and decided to 
take a shower. 
If I would die, let me die with dignity. 
I got out of the shower and wore my best 
clothes. 
As I reached out for my crutches, 
I heard the king’s chief of staff say, 
“That won’t be necessary sir. 
My men will carry you to the car.”
Carry me? To the car? 
 What is going on? 
I turned to look at Machir, hoping 
I could read anything from his face. 
It was as confused as mine. 
I was carried on a royal stool by four men. 
As we got out of the house, 
I could feel the eyes of the entire 
village on me. 
I would have enjoyed the moment, 
if not that my heart was palpitating 
with fear.
We got to the convoy and the first 
thing I noticed was there were six cars, 
none was a prison van. 
I was carried into the limousine and
 we drove off. 
“What would you want to drink sir? 
Would you want anything to eat?” 
I turned around to see if this guy 
was talking to someone behind me…
We got to the palace and my heart was 
beating so fast, I felt faint. 
I was carried into the throne room to 
meet with the king. How would I greet him? 
I remembered how defeated kings and 
prisoners of war used to prostrate flat 
on the ground before my grandfather. 
I decided to do same, 
I knew I was just like them- a prisoner 
of war. 
The limousine treatment did not deceive me.
The king walked in and I went down flat. 
It was not difficult to do- as a cripple, 
I am almost always on the ground anyway.
And I got the biggest shock of my life. 
The king said, “Mephibosheth! How are you doing?
 It’s so good to see you! 
Your father was my best friend, you know! 
I am now the king of the country, but 
I can never forget the kindness of your 
father towards me. 
I will restore back to you all the assets 
of your father and you will eat dinner with 
me every day from this day forward…”
I laid down there, not sure what I heard. 
It seemed my mind had decided to play 
games with me today. 
I looked up at the king. 
“Sir, did I hear you well? 
I am not sure what you said…” the king laughed. 
“You heard me very well, Mephibosheth. 
You will be having dinner with me every 
day from today, and all your father’s 
assets would be given back to you.”
And my destiny was restored…

- Haruna Daniels