Overview:
Some Bible words have been handled and mishandled for so long they’ve become shopworn and of very little interest to anyone. Not so with the word grace; it still retains its luster and mystery. Perhaps this is because grace, unlike so many other biblical ideas, is never earned or rewarded. Grace is only given as a free gift, to all who are undeserving and disabled—all of us.
Message Summary:
In this moving message rooted in Romans 5 and 2 Samuel 9, Chuck Swindoll defines and illustrates the profound nature of God’s grace. He begins by dismantling cultural misconceptions of grace, clarifying that it is not merely a prayer before meals or legal leniency, but rather “free sovereign favor to the ill-deserving”. Swindoll establishes the theological necessity of grace by examining the human condition: we are not merely people who need a little help, but are identified in scripture as “helpless,” “sinners,” and “enemies” of God [20–21].
To illustrate this theology in action, Swindoll turns to the Old Testament narrative of Mephibosheth. King David, representing the King of Kings, seeks out a surviving member of Saul’s house not to judge him, but to show him kindness. Mephibosheth is found living in Lo-debar (a barren “no place”), crippled and fearful. Swindoll vividly recounts the moment the “nobody from nowhere” is brought before the King, expecting execution but receiving adoption.
The sermon outlines six powerful analogies between Mephibosheth’s rescue and the believer’s salvation, culminating in the image of the royal table. Swindoll notes that while Mephibosheth remained lame, once he was seated at the King’s table, the tablecloth covered his feet, making him indistinguishable from David’s other royal sons. The message concludes with a call to humility, reminding listeners that we are all spiritually disabled, and it is only by God’s grace that we have a seat at the table [63–64, 68].
Message Key Facts:
- A Theological Definition: Swindoll provides a specific definition of grace from theologian B.B. Warfield: “Grace is free sovereign favor to the ill-deserving.” It is emphasized that grace is not for the deserving or the friendly, but for the helpless and the enemy [17–18].
- The Corrie ten Boom Illustration: Swindoll shares the powerful story of Corrie ten Boom meeting a former SS guard from her concentration camp. Unable to feel forgiveness on her own, she prayed for Jesus’s forgiveness to flow through her. As she shook his hand, she felt a current of warmth and love, illustrating that grace is a divine power that overrides human inability [11–15].
- “Blue All Over”: To illustrate total depravity, Swindoll suggests that if sin were the color blue, humans would be “blue all over.” We are sinful to the core, inheriting this nature from Adam, which renders us helpless to save ourselves.
- God Helps the Helpless: Swindoll fervently corrects the popular saying “God helps those who help themselves,” noting it is not in the Bible. The truth of Romans 5:6 is that God helps the helpless [21–22].
- The Significance of Lo-debar: Mephibosheth was found in Lo-debar. Swindoll explains the etymology: Lo means “no” and debar implies “pasture.” He was living in a barren wasteland or a “ghetto,” symbolizing the spiritual state of humanity before God calls them [53–54].
- Six Analogies of Salvation: Swindoll draws six parallels between David’s treatment of Mephibosheth and God’s treatment of sinners:
- David sought a “nobody” out of sheer grace.
- David brought him from a desolate place to the palace.
- David restored him to a place of honor, replacing fear with kindness.
- David adopted him into the royal family.
- His disability served as a constant reminder of the King’s grace.
- At the table, there was no rank; he sat as an equal with the King’s sons.
- The Tablecloth of Grace: Swindoll offers a touching visual: when the dinner bell rang and Mephibosheth sat at the table, “the tablecloth covered his feet.” In God’s family, the grace of Christ covers our “disabilities” and sins.
Message References:
- 2 Samuel 9: The primary narrative of King David showing kindness to Mephibosheth.
- Romans 5:6–10: The description of humanity’s state before grace: “While we were still helpless… sinners… enemies.”
- Romans 5:20: “The Law came in so that the transgression would increase.” (Used to explain that the Law reveals sin but cannot cure it).
- John 1:14–17: The description of Jesus as being “full of grace and truth” and believers receiving “grace upon grace.”
- Ephesians 2:8–9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith… not as a result of works.”
- Romans 5:12: “Through one man sin entered into the world” (Reference to original sin).
