AT THE KING’S TABLE
There have been many stories written about people who were considered to be very poor (i.e. paupers and peasants) who dreamed of one day becoming wealthy (i.e. royalty and living in a palace). Stories like “Cinderella” or “The Prince and the Pauper”.
“Cinderella” was only a poor girl until one night she was fortunate enough to be invited to King’s Palace for the Ball… that’s a great classic in literature, but only a dream for most young girls. Everybody enjoys stories of people who become successful and rich while living in obscurity or poverty. Those kind of stories never grow old and yet seldom does anything like that ever happen to someone as common as you or I.
Or does it? Did you know that the Bible has lots of success stories you can read about and enjoy…and I mean really enjoy? Especially in that all the stories of success found in the Bible are all true stories.
This morning I have a classic story to share with you about a young boy who was once destined to live in royalty…at least so he thought. He was the grandson of King Saul and was destined to one day become the king of Israel. That is until tragedy came to his life when he was only five years old. Everything that was ever promised to him came to an end when in one day his grandfather, King Saul, and his father, Prince Jonathan, were killed. That same day he was in an unfortunate accident when both of his feet were crushed and he was crippled.
Perhaps many of us had great dreams for our lives when we were young. We dreamed that someday we would be somebody. We would be so different from everybody else we knew. Perhaps the dreams you had were of becoming a famous movie star or a great athlete. I know of one child that is convinced that he will one day become the President of the United States.
And then one day we all grow up and realize that those dreams are not going to take place. We are not as naive or innocent as we once were…
So then – what’s my point?
God’s Word tells us that God’s plan for our lives is one of blessings and prosperity, and that’s not a dream…
Example: One day was talking with His disciples after He had done several miracles. Hs disciples were very impressed and Jesus said this to them,
“Greater things than this shall you do…”
you see – Jesus believes in you. In Matthew 17:20 Ejsus also said that,
“if you have faith as a mustard seed you will say unto this mountain, ‘Mover from here to there’, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
None of the great plans for your life will ever happen unless you know the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
God’s plan of mercy and forgiveness includes taking you out of your poverty of sin and disbelief and allowing you to come and sit AT THE KING’S TABLE.
Text: II Samuel 9:6 – 8
There is a great deal to this story, but we don’t have enough time to tell it all. What we can see in these few verses is that there is a very kind and compassionate king who has shown favor to a poor boy who was crippled and helpless. This cripple boy could not come into the king’s presence without being carried.
The boy’s name was Mephibosheth and he was the son of Jonathan and grandson to the previous king, Saul. Both his father and grandfather had been enemies to King David, but now Mephibosheth had been summoned to come to the palace.
This all happened because King David had once made a promise (covenant of friendship) with Jonathan. Even though Jonathan had betrayed his friendship with David, King David would now honor that promise.
King David was a man of his word and mercy.
This story of the King’s friendship serves as an example to all of us of the promise God made to all of mankind.
Even though mankind betrayed the King of Heaven and Earth with disobeying Him, god still wants to restore His friendship with you. The King of Heaven and Earth is One Who will always keep His Word with us.
Consider in our story that King David had ruled the greatest nation in the world, and the people of Israel loved and obeyed him. All of King David’s enemies had been destroyed and his territory had grown to ten times of what it had been.
King David was strong and mighty. His riches were great, but he had one last bit of business to take care of before his great kingdom would ever be complete.
That bit of business was forgiveness for the one who had betrayed and disobeyed him. Even though the one who had betrayed him had died, King David would still live up to his promise. You see King David was a righteous king full of mercy and forgiveness.
The Bible says that if you do not have Jesus Christ as your Savior and King that you are simple dead to your sins. And this morning God wants to honor His promise with you. God wants to save you and invite to come and dine AT THE KING’S TABLE.
I must tell you that there was a day in my life the King of Heaven and Earth had favor on me. He called me to come to Him and sit AT THE KING’S TABLE. I did not deserve to be there but my life changed from the poverty of sin and shame to live in the riches and blessings of King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
Think of all the great riches and glory that God has in heaven, and that God still wants to fulfill the promise he made to you thousands of years ago. My friend –
God has summoned you to come into His presence.
Right now - You may feel like Mephibosheth did when he first met the king of Israel. Mephibosheth was crippled and had nothing to offer the king except his weakness, shame and humility.
We should ask ourselves:
1. What would a great king like David ever want to do with a cripple who was born in disobedience?
2. What would the Great Lord God Jehovah want with someone like you and me?
We have nothing of consequence to offer the King.
I cannot tell you why God loves you, only that He does!
Our heavenly King is righteous and full of mercy, grace and forgiveness.
He delights in the thought of blessing even the most insignificant of sinners with His Grace and Mercy.
In our story – I can only imagine how frightened Mephibosheth must been when he first heard that King David was looking for him. He must have cried out,
“What does the king want with me?”
Perhaps Mephibosheth thought that the king would judge him as he did his father and grandfather.
The sins of his forefathers was upon Mephibosheth. Jewish custom and tradition warned that judgment could be “visited upon the third generation”.
The same can be said of our forefathers. The sin of Adam and Eve was only the beginning of the many sins made against our heavenly king.
In our story – the response that King David had for Mephibosheth is in some ways like the response King Jesus has for your sins, and the sins of your forefathers.
King David welcomed and honored this crippled boy to eat with him AT THE KING’S TABLE.
And their AT THE KING’S TABLE was all four of the King David’s sons. Mephibosheth did not consider himself as royalty, but he was treated as though he were.
Notice verse 13 –
So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.
My friend there is coming the day when those who have been called and chosen of God will enter into the Kingdom of God. we will be welcomed by our king just as King Jesus promised in Matthew 25:21,
“Well done thy good and faithful servant…Enter into the Joy of the Lord.”
You may be here today and feeling as Mephibosheth must have felt. You may be hanging your head in shame and guilt for how your life has turned out. You didn’t ever become what you had hoped you would, but you should know that the King really does love you.
Close:
It really is interesting how Mephibosheth became crippled at the age of 5. What happened was unfortunate. One of the servants was panicked when she heard what had happened to Mephibosheth’s father and grandfather. In here fear, the nanny grabbed Mephibosheth and ran to escape, but she tripped with the little boy in her arms.
In all of her fear and running from the King who wanted to save Mephibosheth, she crushed his little feet and destroyed his life.
• Is there something you may be frightened of this morning?
• Are you running from your past?
• Or, has your life been crushed while running from God?
• Do you feel like Mephibosheth in that your are permanently scarred for life?
• Is there no one else you can turn to this morning?
Good News! King Jesus -
• Has invited you to come into His presence and sit at His table.
• Still loves you and has many promises of healing and restoration for your life.
• Has summoned you to come and live forever in His kingdom.
• Is not ashamed of you and is willing to take you as you are.
There really is something “Amazing” about Grace.
II Corinthians 12:9 says,
“My grace is sufficient for you…My strength is made perfect in weakness…”
