Long ago, I woke up to a disturbing pain in my body that left me suspecting evil using his wiles to weave me into his web, so I took it straight to God in prayer as it was excruciating.
While on my knees praying however I heard the name MEPHIBOSHETH. Though I’m aware of biblical name, I became curious of its meaning, a deeper story behind the man and the description of the meaning so I researched. While researching I came to understand that there were two Mephibosheth (s). One was King Saul’s son who was hanged for his father’s slaughter of the Gibeonites, not the one I’m focused on. But from it derived a lesson, it’s best to live a life where one’s offspring need not pay for our actions. The price is too costly and the soul very precious. The other, on whom my spirit stayed was Jonathan’s son, King Saul’s grandson and Mica’s father. He lost his father and grandfather at age 5. His nurse while escaping with him at that time for fear of assassination accidently dropped him which caused him to be crippled for life. King David later honored and welcomed him because of his friendship with Jonathan.
Mephibosheth means One Who Destroys Shame, End Of Shame or SHAME NO MORE, Exterminating The Idol. From my research I came to an understanding and derived at a meaning for his name that seem to sit well within my spirit. It’s an instrument used to slash shame=Shame Slasher, a person that clings to humility=Humility Clinger. I found this also, from man’s modest privates (body parts) or from a dry land (or from an inferior state) flows (comes forth) a society of glorious cities.
Definition repeated, “From man’s modest privates or a barren land flows or springs forth a society of glorious cities.” (If this was a blessing extended to and upheld within each individual at birth, how much more grandiose, each one’s life would be more valued ). This last definition seem to extend a blessing on one’s offsprings, (on one’s children and children’s children for numerous generations to come). I don’t know how many people can relate to this or even consider seeing that far into the future but to me, it urges one to look past the selfish, inferiority complex, self-deprecation of one’s inner person.
Because Mephibosheth’s physical appearance was not at par with the norm of his society at that time, no doubt he must have suffered false judgments, reprimands, labels, scrutiny, mockery and more. Surely he must have endured continuous hardships as humanity often looks and judges based on what the eye catches. How surprising it must’ve been to many when he finally found someone who loved him enough to accept him as is, looking past his physical flaws, seeing more than meets the eye then to bare him kids. Though his physical limits had raised many eyebrows and questions, no one knew how far God planned on reaching with him. Nor did they know how capable he was because surely just by looking at him many limited his ability. God in a person is limitless when that person surrenders to God completely without boxing/measuring Him into one’s own little version of what one thinks He might be.
The latter definition seem to encourage one to consider not just de-rooting past and present evil but becoming a living bridge to lay down a new, solid, well-grounded foundation for the generations to come. It’s an obligation that comes with carrying the Patriarch and Matriarch seal for passing the torch!
Strangely, in the past one of my personal phrases had been and still is “THERE’S NO SHAME IN ME.” So to have heard this name, having researched it then having gained a new understanding from that sheds new light over me as a servant of God and adds brightness to my relationship with God. It boosts my desire to be more for God. Like that Haitian song states, “I FEEL SOMETHING INSIDE URGING ME TO CONTINUE.” JUST AS IN 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10 GOD IS PERFECTED IN MAN’S WEAKNESS;
AS YOUR INNER MAN CRIES FORWARD, MAY GOD RECOGNIZE, AWAKEN, RESTORE & HONOR THE MEPHIBOSHETH IN YOU TO TAKE YOU DEEPER IN YOUR FAITH AND RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. MAY YOU SURPASS THE NORM THAT PRESENTLY EXIST IN YOUR SOCIETY TO REACH GOD’S COMPLETED YOU VERSION; THUS NOURISHING AND SOLIDIFYING THE ROOTS OF YOUR GENERATIONAL FOUNDATION AS YOU BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN MAN AND GOD!!!
MBM-Tine Brice
Reference:
https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Mephibosheth.html#.X5G-cufT-fY.link
Martine Brice 