The King’s Table
Theme: The ruler of the universe invites us to dine with Him.
Text: 2 Samuel 9:1-13
Here’s a thought: Jesus likes me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.
In Queen Victoria’s time, a young woman had the good fortune of being escorted to dinner by William E. Gladstone, considered one of the most brilliant statesmen of the 19th century. On the following evening, the same young lady was escorted by Benjamin Disraeli - novelist, statesman and twice prime minister of Great Britain.
When asked for her impression of these two great rivals, she replied, “After an evening with Gladstone, I thought he was the most brilliant man I’d ever met. After an evening with Disraeli, I thought myself to be the most fascinating woman in the world!”
1,000 years before Christ, King David of Israel was more interested in loving than impressing in 2 Samuel 9:1-13:
1 David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They called him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” “Your servant,” he replied. 3 The king asked, “Is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?” Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet.” 4 “Where is he?” the king asked. Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.” 5 So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel. 6 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honour. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “Your servant,” he replied. 7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” 8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” 9 Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.) 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth. 13 And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was crippled in both feet. NIV
There is a striking parallel between Mephibosheth’s relationship with King David and our relationship with King Jesus. A relationship with God is based upon:
Our King
The king’s kindness is demonstrated in David’s inquiry, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
There was Mephibosheth (which means “dispeller of shame”), who was living in Lo Debar (“no pasture”) in the household of Makir, a wealthy landowner. Mephibosheth had no hope of living in a palace. A messenger was sent to usher him into the king’s presence.
Similarly, God’s kindness is demonstrated by His inquiry, “Who will respond to my love?”
David was not out to get something from Mephibosheth. He was searching for an outlet for his kindness. Mephibosheth was discovered and summoned. A messenger was sent with the good news, “Mephibosheth, the king wants to meet with you. He wants to give you more than you ever dreamed!”
God is not out to “get” something from us. He does not need anyone or anything. He is whole and complete as He is. He receives great satisfaction in giving. His kindness is so abundant and overflowing that He looks for an outlet to bless. He has sent His Son to seek us out.
God wants to show His kindness to people. He sends out His messengers with the good news, “God loves you and wants to have you live with Him forever!”
2 Samuel 4:4 describes how Mephibosheth was crippled by a fall:
Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan [their defeat at the hands of the Philistines] came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became crippled. His name was Mephibosheth. NIV
We have also been crippled by a fall. When God created the earth, He created it perfectly. The first man and woman were made to enjoy an unbroken relationship with their Creator. With their formation, however, came the freedom to accept or reject a relationship with God. Adam and Eve chose to eat the forbidden fruit and deny intimacy with God. As a result, they and all creation were crippled by a fall from perfect harmony with God. Since sin was conceived, it has spread like a cancer through all creation, causing it to decay gradually.
Mephibosheth looked like a pathetic human being before King David. We are also a pathetic sight - gnarled, twisted and crippled by sin - before the perfect, incomparably majestic Almighty King of the Universe.
A kind-hearted old gentleman saw a little boy trying to reach a doorbell. The elderly man stopped and rang the bell for him and asked, “What now, little boy?”
“Run!” answered the boy. “That’s what I’m gonna do.”
You might already know that God loves you. But do you know that He also likes you? There is a big difference.
Jesus calls His followers His friends in John 15:15:
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. NIV
To think that the God of the universe has given us this title is incredible. Because He has made us His friends, I know He “likes” us. Wherever you go or whatever you do this week, remember that Jesus likes you!
God extends His hand of friendship and kindness to us so we may commune with Him. God wants us to benefit from His kindness. Maybe you sang as a child, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” This is also true, “Jesus likes me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
What is your king like? Is he a cruel taskmaster? Is he kind?
A relationship with God is based upon:
Our King
Our Mediator
Why did King David do this for Mephibosheth? He did it because he was kind and because about 20 years earlier, he had made a covenant with his best friend, Mephibosheth’s father, Jonathan.
David’s covenant with Jonathan is recorded years earlier in 1 Samuel 20:12‑17:
12 Then Jonathan said to David: “By the LORD, the God of Israel, I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favourably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know? 13 But if my father is inclined to harm you, may the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I do not let you know and send you away safely. May the LORD be with you as he has been with my father. 14 But show me unfailing kindness like that of the LORD as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, 15 and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family ‑ not even when the LORD has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.” 16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD call David’s enemies to account.” 17 And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself. NIV
King David showed his kindness to Mephibosheth for the sake of another. It was not because this disabled man had done or said anything to warrant such special attention. He was shown kindness for the sake of another, a mediator, Jonathan. When David looked at Mephibosheth, he saw Jonathan, the one he loved.
How do you suppose you will ever catch the attention of the king of the universe? Will you impress Him with your generosity, prayers, church attendance, intelligence or good looks? Not a chance! The Bible assures us these virtues are like filthy rags in His sight (Isaiah 64:6).
The Apostle Paul points us to our only hope for reaching God in 1 Timothy 2:5-6:
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men - the testimony given in its proper time. NIV
Jesus Christ has mediated a New Covenant with God for us. When we receive His offer, we become one with Christ and an adopted child of God. Now, our Father sees Jesus when He looks at us.
What is the basis of your relationship with God? Is it your good works or the sinless life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
A relationship with God is based upon:
Our King
Our Mediator
Our Reply
This story’s happy ending depends upon Mephibosheth’s reply to the king’s invitation. Mephibosheth could have declined all of David’s kind gestures and generous offers. Such a proud refusal of the king’s invitation would have kept him from moving into the palace and shown utter contempt for the king and his kindness. As hurtful as such a rejection would have been to the king, David let Mephibosheth accept or reject his invitation.
A pastor was planning a wedding at the close of the Sunday morning service. After the benediction, he planned to call the couple to get married in a brief ceremony before the congregation. He had a brain cramp and could not think of the names of those who were to be married. He invited, “Will those wanting to get married please come to the front?”
Immediately, nine single ladies, three widows, four widowers and six single men stepped to the front.
Rejection of God and His presence is what sends people to hell. The King’s invitation goes out, but people ignore or disregard Him. Through their apathy, ignorance or rebellion, they reply, “Thanks but no thanks.” Such a refusal rejects God and prevents them from fulfilling all the deepest longings of their soul.
Happily, Mephibosheth accepted the king’s invitation. He went to meet the king, honouring him and acknowledging his supremacy. This allowed David to reassure Mephibosheth of his intentions to restore his inheritance. He calmed his subject’s anxiety with words of comfort, “Don’t be afraid.”
Phrases like “do not be afraid” and “fear not” are mentioned over 300 times in the Bible. Lloyd John Ogilvie counted 366 “fear nots” in the Bible. One for every day, including a leap year! God continually assures us, “Don’t be afraid.” Our initial impression of God will likely be fear as we realize we fall far short of His perfection. We will want to avoid Him, fearful that He will strike us dead by demonstrating His power. However, as we get to know Him, we realize how close He wants to be to us. His perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18).
We will discover a new world by saying “yes” to God. Riches and treasures beyond our wildest dreams are waiting for us. As we allow Him to have His way in our lives, we will be amazed at what He gives us.
Mother Theresa reflected on her work with the poor in Calcutta, India, at the 1994 United States National Prayer Breakfast:
One evening we picked up four people from the street. One of them was in the most terrible condition. I told the others with me, “You take care of the other three; I will take care of the one who looks worst.” I did all that my love could do. I put her in bed, and she had a beautiful smile on her face. She took hold of my hand as she said two words, “Thank you.” Then she died.
I asked myself, what would I say if I were in her place? I would have tried to draw a little attention to myself. I would have said, “I am hungry, I am dying, I am in pain.” But she gave me much more; she gave me her grateful love. And she died with a smile on her face. Gratitude brings a smile and becomes a gift.
We are invited to the King’s table. A relationship with God is based upon:
Our King
Our Mediator
Our Reply
The ruler of the universe invites us to dine with Him.