23/08/2026
The Word In Season Devotional
Sunday 23rd August, 2026
Read: 2 Samuel 9:3–13
TOPIC; NO MORE DEAD DOG THINKING (1)
"And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?" 2 Samuel 9:8.
Mephibosheth's story is one of the most beautiful pictures of grace in the Old Testament. The grandson of Saul and the son of Jonathan, he had experienced loss, instability, and hardship from an early age.
An accident left him lame in both feet, and he lived in obscurity in Lo-debar, a place associated with barrenness and isolation. When King David summoned him, Mephibosheth expected judgment. Instead, he encountered kindness.
David was not motivated by Mephibosheth's worthiness but by his covenant with Jonathan. Because of that covenant, David restored Saul's lands to him, gave him provision, and invited him to eat continually at the king's table.
Yet, Mephibosheth struggled to see himself as David saw him. His words reveal a wounded identity: "What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?" Years of pain and limitation had shaped his self-image.
Many believers face the same struggle. Past failures, disappointments, weaknesses, or sins can distort the way we see ourselves. However, God does not define us by our wounds, our past, or our limitations.
Through Jesus Christ, we have been brought into a covenant relationship with God. We are accepted, forgiven, adopted, and loved. The covenant changes everything.
Just as Jonathan's covenant opened the door for Mephibosheth's restoration, Christ's covenant opens the door for our redemption and new identity. God sees us not as abandoned failures but as beloved sons and daughters seated at His table.
Prayer: Father, thank You for bringing me into covenant through Jesus Christ. Help me to see myself as You see me and to embrace the identity You have graciously given me, in Jesus’ name.
Bible Reading Plan - Day 233
John 4:43-54; 1 Chronicles 17; Zechariah 6
