KEY SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 9 

So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.

RELEVANCE

Few people have the honour of standing before royalty, let alone being seated in their presence at the Monarch's request.

We have seen numerous documentaries about Queen Elizabeth II and her magnificent dinners, with guests seated around lengthy, ornate, elegantly dressed dining tables. They were special people who received special invitations. The Bible speaks of a special invitation issued to a man. Its parallel to our walk of faith is compelling. 

Our key scripture (whole chapter) tells the story of King David and Mephibosheth, the son of his good friend, Jonathan, the son of King Saul. When Mephibosheth was only five and crippled from birth, both Saul and Jonathan—his grandfather and father—were killed in battle against the Philistines. Following that, Saul's estate was forfeited due to another son's rebellion (Ishbosheth vs David. 2 Samuel 2:8-17) and added to David's assets as King. 

Many years later, David recalled his long-forgotten oath to Jonathan regarding his family's welfare (1 Samuel 20:14-17) and reached out to help any children he may have had. 

Is there any yet left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness? (2 Samuel 9:1)

The story sets out this marvellous scene of salvation, where the King takes pity on Mephibosheth. David called this crippled forgotten soul to higher ground — that of eating at the King’s table. Reading this short story shows that Mephibosheth understood he would be useless to the King but humbly accepted the offer. He soon found himself eating daily in the presence of the King until his death.

Humankind is called to eat at the King’s table—that is, King Jesus. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus despatches a blanket invitation to all who would listen. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

This verse is only 33 words long, the same amount as the years Jesus lived, and has the same call to spiritual freedom that Jesus spoke in John 3:17: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

King Jesus almost begs us to accept His offer, and we don't want to become too self-crippled to acknowledge it. That is, too crippled in our ears to hear His voice, too crippled in our hearts to feel the need for a better life, too crippled in our minds to comprehend the freedoms within the calling.  When Mephibosheth accepted King David's offer, his entire life changed immediately. When people today accept King Jesus, their lives change dramatically into something extraordinary beyond their imagination.   

Removing the barriers to a better life and accepting the call of the King is the greatest decision we will make in this life.

Both Mephibosheth's and our stories show the abundant mercies of Almighty God. So, if you haven’t made a decision for Christ or feel you need to remake it, do it.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, thank you so much for your kindness and mercies. We would be lost without them.

Photo by Megan Watson