Such a dead dog as me!

(Charles Spurgeon)

"Mephibosheth bowed down and said: What is your servant, that you take an interest in such a dead dog as me!" 2 Samuel 9:8

If Mephibosheth was thus humbled by David's kindness-then what should we be in the presence of our gracious Lord?

The more grace we have-the less we shall think of ourselves; for grace, like light, reveals our sinfulness.

Eminent saints have scarcely known what to compare themselves to, as their sense of unworthiness has been so clear and keen. "I am," says holy Rutherford, "a dry and withered branch, a piece of dead carcass, dry bones." In another place he writes, "I am essentially no different than Judas and Cain."

The basest objects in nature appear to the eminent Christian, to be better than himself, because they have never contracted sin. A dog may be greedy, fierce or filthy-but it has no conscience to violate and no Holy Spirit to resist. A dog may be a worthless animal, and yet by a little kindness it is soon won to love its master, and is faithful unto death. But we often forget the goodness of the Lord, and follow Him poorly.

The term "dead dog" is the most expressive of all terms of contempt-but it is none too strong to express the self-abhorrence of eminent believers. They do not affect mock modesty; they mean what they say; they have weighed themselves in the balances of the sanctuary, and found out the vanity and depravity of their hearts.

At best, we are but clay, animated dust, mere walking dirt!
But viewed as sinners-we are monsters indeed!

Let it be published in Heaven as a wonder, that the Lord Jesus should set His heart's love upon such as we are! Dust and ashes though we are, we must and will magnify the exceeding greatness of His grace.

Could not His heart find rest in Heaven? Must He needs come to these black tents of Kedar for a spouse, and choose such an unlovely bride? O heavens and earth, break forth into a song, and give all glory to our sweet Lord Jesus!

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Abraham acknowledged, "I am dust and ashes!" Genesis 18:27
Job said of himself, "Behold, I am vile!" Job 40:4
David admitted, "I am a worm!" Psalm 22:6
Isaiah confessed, "Woe is me! I am ruined!" Isaiah 6:5
Peter affirmed, "I am a sinful man, O Lord!" Luke 5:8
Paul considered himself, "The chief of sinners!"
He clearly stated, "What a wretched man I am!"