2 Samuel 9:13

So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem and he continually ate at the king's table. He was lame on both his feet.

Mephibosheth was no great ornament to a royal table, yet he had a continual place at David's table, because the king could see in his face the features of his beloved Jonathan. Like Mephibosheth, we may cry to the King of Glory, "What is your servant, that you should look upon a dead dog such as I am?". But still the Lord indulges us with a most familiar interaction with Himself, because he sees in our faces the memory of his dearly-beloved Jesus. The Lord's people are dear for Jesus's sake. Such is the love which the Father bears to His only begotten, that for His sake he raises his lowly brethren from poverty and banishment, to courtly companionship, noble rank, and royal provision. Our deformity shall not rob us of privileges. Lameness is no bar to son-ship, the cripple is as much the heir as if he could run like Asahel, the mighty warrior. Our right does not limp, although we might. A king's table is a noble hiding-place for lame legs, and at the gospel feast we learn to glory in infirmities, because the power of Christ rests upon us. Yet grievous disabilities may mar the best-loved saints. Here is one feasted by David, and yet so lame in both his feet that he could not go up with the king when he fled from the city. Therefore, he was maligned and injured by his servant Ziba. Saints whose faith is weak, and whose knowledge is slender, are great losers. They are exposed to many enemies, and cannot follow the king wherever he leads. This disease frequently arises from falls. Bad nursing in their spiritual infancy often causes new converts to fall into a despondency from which they never recover, and sin in other cases brings broken bones. Lord, please help the lame to leap like a deer, and satisfy all your people with the bread of your table!