“My people” tend to be pretty familiar with a guy named Mephibosheth (2Samuel 9). A competing heir to the throne, crippled in both feet, and shown kindness for the sake of another. A natural enemy without any strength to elevate himself raised to the level of royalty, given a seat at the king’s table and a lifetime of supply from the king’s riches. Yeah, most of my tribe knows about that guy.

But what about Jehoiachin? Jehoia- who? Yeah, that’s what I thought.

Really similar story. A king also, though he reigned only 3 months. Without strength or power also, as not only was he in bondage to sin but was taken as a prisoner by the king of Babylon. An enemy, not only of Babylon but of God, as he had done “what was evil in the sight of the Lord” (2Kings 24:9). But then, in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin, something pretty unexpected happens.

. . . Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison. And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king’s table, and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, as long as he lived.

(2Kings 25:27b-30 ESV)

Okay, my Mephibosheth friends, doesn’t this sound kind of familiar?

Jehoiachin is graciously freed. To render it literally, a pagan king named Evil (who names their kid that?) “did lift up the head of Jehoiachin” (KJV). Not just pardoned, not just released, but his head lifted up. Raised. Elevated. A going nowhere life all of sudden going somewhere. A dark prison cell exchanged for the light of day.

Because he deserved it? Nope. He was graciously freed. Like I said, sound familiar?

Moreover, this worldly monarch is moved to speak kindly to this natural enemy and gives him a seat above other conquered kings — and what a seat it will be! And Jehoiachin’s newfound freedom comes with a new set of clothes — the orange jumpsuit he’s been wearing for almost four decades traded in for a three-piece suit. And every day — yes, every day — this defeated rebeller against God dines at the kings table and, for as long as he lives, his daily needs are met.

Come on! Doesn’t this 2 Kings epilogue sound a whole lot like that 2 Samuel story? I’m thinkin’ . . .

So why don’t I know that guy’s name, too? Why doesn’t Jehoiachin’s name come to mind as readily as Mephibosheth’s when, on Old Testament trivia night, the question is asked, “Who was given a seat he didn’t deserve at a king’s table?”

But hey, maybe the only name I really need to remember is my name. For those guys point to this guy.

For, whether it’s David’s kindness or Evil’s kindness (again, what were his parent’s thinking?), they but foreshadow the unfathomable kindness of a greater Lifter of Heads, the Lord Jesus. The One who is the King of Kings and yet gives Himself to graciously exchanging prison chains for prime seating (Eph. 2:6). Who alone — because of the finished work of the cross He bore on behalf of those who’ve done evil in the sight of the Lord — freely replaces rags of bondage with a robe of righteousness. And of Himself, and through Himself, He sets a table — day in and day out — and says, “Come, eat with me” (Rev. 3:20).

And who’s Jesus talking to? This guy. That’s the name I hear whispered by Him who’s name is above all names.

Yeah, that’s the name to never forget.

By His grace. For His glory.