Feet of Clay

Feet of Clay

Dictionary.com defines Feet of Clay as:

Noun

1. A weakness or hidden flaw in the character of a greatly admired or respected person: He was disillusioned to find that even Lincoln had feet of clay.
2. Any unexpected or critical fault.

There was a man in the Bible who had weak feet - literally.  His name was Mephibosheth:  

And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.  And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.”  2 Samuel 9:3-7 NIV

Mephibosheth’s critical fault was the fact that he was the grandson of King Saul - David’s enemy.  It was expected and accepted that David would destroy the entire household of Saul, so that none of his family would one day seek revenge on David.  Mephibosheth was literally unable to flee David’s wrath because of his weak feet.  Feet of clay.

David’s mercy transported Mephibosheth to his own household and table.  Grace.  Stronger than familial sin.  Stronger than physical impediments.

My weaknesses don't exclude me from God's mercy, and his provision of joy and strength through grace.  I was just as much God’s enemy as Mephibosheth was David’s, simply by being born into the human family. Like Mephibosheth, I was just as powerless to do anything about it. Feet of clay. But God’s grace, through Christ, has brought me to his table.  The food’s pretty good there!

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?  Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.”  Isaiah 55: 1-2