There are many reasons
why a person may be marginalised in society: disability, the challenge of being
the minority in a foreign society. A female in a male dominated world and visa
versa. Family estrangement. Religious estrangement. Autism and other conditions
that make one misunderstood. loneliness, and many more issues unique to your
own circumstances.
Have you ever read a
story in the Bible multiple times and suddenly noticed something new? That
happened to me last week as I was reading 2 Samuel.
Mephibosheth is a man who
lived with a disability. He was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of King
Saul. In the language of the Hebrew text, he was described as “lame.” His story
begins when his caregiver, upon hearing the news of King Saul and Jonathan's
deaths, hurriedly fled with Mephibosheth, accidentally dropping him. This caused
injuries to his legs or feet, which were never properly treated. You can find
this in 2 Samuel 4:4: “Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth who became
disabled after a fall.”
If you are familiar with
this story, you know that later in 2 Samuel 9, King David, who wanted to honour
someone from King Saul’s family, sought out Ziba, a former servant of Saul.
Ziba informed him, “Jonathan has a son who is disabled.” Notably, Ziba did not
even mention Mephibosheth’s name.
When Mephibosheth came
before King David, he humbly acknowledged his lowly status, referring to
himself as a “dead dog.” He felt utterly worthless. However, David reassured
him, saying, “Do not be afraid, I will certainly show you kindness for your
father Jonathan’s sake. I will give back to you all the land of your
grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
This part of the story is
already quite powerful. It is a moving depiction of grace and restoration:
someone who was forgotten and marginalized is given a place of honour and
belonging at the King’s table. This narrative holds profound meaning for our
world today, particularly within the context of faith and the inclusion of
people with disabilities and other marginalising problems. Jesus simply said, “Come
to me!” Have you ever taken your cause of pain to Jesus? Why not do so.
Meanwhile, we who are
Christians have a responsibility to care for the marginalised,
“Most certainly I tell
you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to
me.” Matthew 11:30 (WEB).
Some marginalising
methods are robbing a person of identity by making them invisible, ridiculing
them, blaming them, humiliating them. Embarrassing them.
Are You Invisible and Feeling Marginalised?
“All you who work hard! All you who carry heavy loads!
Come to me!
I will give you rest.
Do what I tell you. Learn what I teach you.
I am gentle. I am not proud.
Then your hearts will rest.
What I tell you to do is easy.
What I give you to carry is not heavy.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (WEB).
Image by https://unsplash.com/@david_di
There are many reasons why a person may be marginalised in society: disability, the challenge of being the minority in a foreign society. A female in a male dominated world and visa versa. Family estrangement. Religious estrangement. Autism and other conditions that make one misunderstood. loneliness, and many more issues unique to your own circumstances.
Have you ever read a story in the Bible multiple times and suddenly noticed something new? That happened to me last week as I was reading 2 Samuel.
Mephibosheth is a man who lived with a disability. He was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of King Saul. In the language of the Hebrew text, he was described as “lame.” His story begins when his caregiver, upon hearing the news of King Saul and Jonathan's deaths, hurriedly fled with Mephibosheth, accidentally dropping him. This caused injuries to his legs or feet, which were never properly treated. You can find this in 2 Samuel 4:4: “Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth who became disabled after a fall.”
If you are familiar with this story, you know that later in 2 Samuel 9, King David, who wanted to honour someone from King Saul’s family, sought out Ziba, a former servant of Saul. Ziba informed him, “Jonathan has a son who is disabled.” Notably, Ziba did not even mention Mephibosheth’s name.
When Mephibosheth came before King David, he humbly acknowledged his lowly status, referring to himself as a “dead dog.” He felt utterly worthless. However, David reassured him, saying, “Do not be afraid, I will certainly show you kindness for your father Jonathan’s sake. I will give back to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
This part of the story is already quite powerful. It is a moving depiction of grace and restoration: someone who was forgotten and marginalized is given a place of honour and belonging at the King’s table. This narrative holds profound meaning for our world today, particularly within the context of faith and the inclusion of people with disabilities and other marginalising problems. Jesus simply said, “Come to me!” Have you ever taken your cause of pain to Jesus? Why not do so.
Meanwhile, we who are Christians have a responsibility to care for the marginalised,
“Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Matthew 11:30 (WEB).
Some marginalising methods are robbing a person of identity by making them invisible, ridiculing them, blaming them, humiliating them. Embarrassing them.