How would you like to be known as a "Dispeller of Shame"? There is one character in the Bible who bore the name, "Dispeller of Shame". His personal story gives us insight as to how shame, the emotional consequence of one's true guilt and one's fall from a good standing, can be forever dispelled.

Jonathan, the son of King Saul, had a son who was lame in both feet. His name was Mephibosheth (literally 'Dispeller of shame'). According to the Bible, Mephibosheth was five years old when the news of the death of his grandfather Saul and father Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, fearing that the child would also be killed. But as she hurried to leave, Mephibosheth fell from her arms and became crippled. (2Samuel 4:4)

Mephibosheth grew up with the shameful stigma of his family's failure. He was the grandson of King Saul whose right to rule was forfeited through his disobedience to God. Although originally destined for the throne, Mephibosheth now lived in hiding, orphaned and crippled by failure.

However, years earlier his father Jonathan and David made a sacred covenant, saying, "The LORD will be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants forever." (1Samuel 20:42 NASB).

After Jonathan's death, David, now king, remembers this covenant and asks, "Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?" (See 2Samuel 9:1-10).

When David learns that Jonathan has a surviving son, Mephibosheth, he orders him brought from the place where he is hiding. Mephibosheth is brought out from the house of Makir (meaning 'sold into slavery') the son of Ammiel (the flock of God) in Lodebar (meaning 'the place where there is no pasture') and brought into the king's palace.

When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he is fearful that he will be punished.

David said, "Mephibosheth!...Don't be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table."

Mephibosheth bowed down and said, "What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?"

David takes Mephibosheth into his royal palace and restores to him his lost inheritance. He learns that his lands will be farmed on his behalf and he will enjoy the fruit of them and be continually provided for.

We are all like Mephibosheth in the sense that we all suffer the effects of the Fall. We bear the shame of the reality of sin and the consequences of our personal fall. We have been left lame on both feet. When it comes to justifying ourselves before our God and King, we do not have a leg to stand on!

But the good news is that we who were brought into the realm of sin and death by the disobedience of someone apart from ourselves (Adam) are legally brought into the realm of gracious blessing through the obedience of someone apart from ourselves (Jesus Christ)! (See Romans 5:17-19)

Because of a new covenant, made by our father with Another, the promised Son of David, the Lord Jesus Christ, we, who were by nature of birth, enemies, and by nature of heart, sinners, (totally lame when it comes to fulfilling righteousness in our own strength) have become heirs of grace! We who were outcasts are brought to the king's table where we are seated together in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 2:6). (Our lameness is no longer an issue in God's sight - It's under the table! Our lives are hid with Christ in God - Colossians 3:3) He has dispelled all our shame by taking the consequences of our sin upon Himself. He becomes our righteousness. He even provides Another, his Servant, the Holy Spirit, to bring forth the fruit we are looking for in our lives (Galatians 5:22).

This is the way of the gospel; the way of substitution. A legal covenant has been made on our behalf providing for our full pardon and adoption into God's family. All of this is accomplished for us by Another. "For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace." (John 1:16 NASB; One blessing after another - John 1:16 NIV).

You too can be a 'Dispeller of shame' when your faith rises to receive the free gift of God in Christ Jesus. You will know the gift of a full pardon and be brought to the table of His fellowship to enjoy the full provisions of His surpassing grace.

In the reality of Christ's finished work of redemption,