Covenant Day Message

I was invited to give the sermon on Covenant Sunday - 3rd January. I was led to speak on "Fulfilling our covenant." I've given a number of Covenant Day sermons in this church at Changi and did not want to repeat myself. The Lord led me to base my message on 2 Samuel 9: 1-13

David was now safely on the throne. Enemies like Assyria had moved back to the north east, Egypt to the south west. There were no more threats and he had time to reflect on the past and plan for the future. In his reflection he remembered the covenant had had made with his friend and brother-in-law Jonathan. 1 Samuel 18: 3-4.

This remembrance led David to do something for someone in Jonathan's family - one way to fulfil the covenant. David was reminded of Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth, now a cripple living in a remote place called Lo Debar ( meaning 'land of no pasture) When David became king, all of Saul's family fled for their lives for fear that David might take revenge on them for the way Saul had mistreated him in the past. In their haste to escape the nurse had picked up the five year old Mephibosheth to carry him to safety. Unfortunately she fell resulting the boy injuring both his legs and crippled for life.

David showed compassion and sent to Mehphibosheth, brought him to Jerusalem and settled in the palace and be treated like one of the princes. It's a beautiful story of kindness and forgiveness and the fulfilling of a covenant made with Jonathan so many years ago.

What a joy for Mephibosheth to hear the King speaking peace to his heart; the restoration of his wealth and glory that once belonged to Saul, his grandfather. David promised to a place on the King's table. It was a joyful and humble heart that embraced the treasures of grace.

In a way we are like Mephibosheth. We were crippled by sin - born in sin and bred in iniquity living in the land of No Pasture. But God kept His covenant to bring us to Himself.

Let us in turn look for the Mephibosheths and ask ourselves, "Is there any Mephibosheth we need to seek to fulfil our covenant with the Lord. Retired General John Gowans has beautifully put the mission of The Salvation Army in a sentence.
"to save souls, to grow saints and serve suffering humanity.