Morning Light – June 23rd, 2015: Carried to the King's Table

Morning Light – June 23rd, 2015
Today: [2 Samuel Chapter Nine]: Carried to the King’s Table. In this chapter David seeks to show kindness to any survivors of the house of Saul. He finds that the only remaining heir is a son of Jonathan who is crippled in his feet. The man was crippled when his nurse was seeking to flee after the death of Saul. This is a representation of the judgment of God on sin. Man tries to flee from the justice of God and finds he is a spiritual cripple. Jesus brings us to the king’s table just as David brought Mephibosheth to his table. This son of Jonathan was a recipient of the kindness of the king just as you and I are carried to the king’s table daily to enjoy the full benefits of the sure mercies of David through Christ Jesus.
[2Sa 9:1-13 KJV] 1 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake? 2 And [there was] of the house of Saul a servant whose name [was] Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, [Art] thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant [is he]. 3 And the king said, [Is] there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, [which is] lame on [his] feet. 4 And the king said unto him, Where [is] he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he [is] in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar. 5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. 6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
Normally when a king sought out descendants of a previous monarch it was for the purpose of eliminating contenders to the throne. When David asks this question regardless of the mention of kindness this can only be the interpretation of it by the people around him. David however had made a covenant with Jonathan on two occasions and also with Saul that he would spare his seed and show kindness to those that came after them. Thus in this chapter David purposes to seek out any remaining heirs of the house of Saul. There are none that come forward however there is a servant of the house of Saul known to David’s court by the name of Ziba. David calls for Ziba and asks if Ziba knows of any survivors to the line of Saul. Ziba is aware that Jonathan had a son that David knew nothing about. At the time that Saul died Mephibosheth was only five years old and David had not seen Jonathan during that time nor would he have known about this young son. Furthermore Mephibosheth was crippled when the nurse took him up to flee upon hearing of the death of Saul and Jonathan.
What can we learn from all of this? Remember that David is a type of Christ. David is honoring a covenant made long before Mephibosheth is born to protect and to bless and provide for him. Jesus likewise made a covenant on the cross to protect and care and provide for you and I. Mephibosheth was born into the blood line of a sworn enemy of David. Likewise you and I were born in enmity against God. Yet in spite of being born an enemy of God Jesus loves us and inquires after us to show us kindness. Mephibosheth lived in Lodebar which means “not a word”. In other words he had no standing to approach the court of David to demand just or fair treatment. Likewise you and I outside of the kindness of Jesus Christ – the sure mercies of David have no approach to God. There is no basis outside of Christ that we can demand our rights or require of God to do anything in our behalf. Mephiboseth is a cripple. He is incapable of walking just as you and I are incapable of doing anything of any value even to care for ourselves outside of the enabling grace of God. Mephibosheth in spite of all these set backs has been called before the king as you and I were called when Jesus said “whosoever will let him come …”
7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. 8 And he bowed himself, and said, What [is] thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I [am]?
Just as Mephiboseth becomes the recipient of the kindness of David you and I are recipients of the sure mercies of David through the Lord Jesus Christ. Mephibosheth is restored, provided for and honored not because anything has changed in his value or rightfulness but because David chooses to show kindness. We likewise had nothing to bring BEFORE or AFTER we were called to the throne – we like Mephibosheth are totally and completely reliant upon the kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ who chooses to love and bless us out of his own heart.
Notice that David restores to Mephibosheth everything that was lost due to Saul’s disobedience. Likewise for you and I what was lost in the fall is restored in Christ. Thus we can read in the first three chapters of Genesis and get a glimpse of the authority and blessing that God has set in store for us. Mephibosheth’s response to David was not “what took you so long…” He did not respond to David “I totally agree with what you are doing – I will think a kind thought about you occasionally….” Rather his response was one of humility and transparency. This is the heart condition that ingratiated him to David and this is the heart response of every person called before the throne of God finding not judgment (however justified) but unconditional and unearned kindness from our King Jesus in our behalf.
9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master’s son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house. 10 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in [the fruits], that thy master’s son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
David calls Ziba the former kings servant and instructs him to till the lands and estates that he has now restored to Mephibosheth. Ziba’s name means “station” or “statue”. Before the fall Adam’s commission was to subdue all the earth and bring it under subjection. After the fall all of creation continued unsubdued, wild, untamed and in fact a danger to Adam its former ruler. When Jesus came to earth he commanded the winds, the waves and even death itself. Ziba after Saul’s death was free to seek his own path but now he is placed once again in subjection to the house of his rightful master. You and I also see restored authority in Christ over all the earth which was created for our good. It is our job and our right to subdue it and have authority over all of its resources naturally and spiritually.
11 Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, [said the king], he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons. 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name [was] Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba [were] servants unto Mephibosheth. 13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet.
Ziba was to work in Mephibosheth’s behalf but Mephibosheth himself was to eat at the king’s table. David wanted fellowship with Mephibosheth. David wanted this son of Jonathan always before his face. He didn’t want to telegraph his kindness from a remote distance – he was seeking relationship and intimacy. Likewise Jesus has beckoned us to the king’s table. He says we are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. All that heaven affords is at our disposal in the context of intimate friendship and fratneral relationship at the table of the king. For all of this kindness Mephibosheth was yet lame in his feet. He had to be CARRIED to the table of the king. He couldn’t do anything for himself. Likewise you and I must REJECT performance based religion that says we must EARN OUR RIGHT to this table. It is freely given. It is God Himself who BRINGS US to the table of the Lord. We cannot bring ourselves. There is nothing in this that we can do to earn or access the kingdom through our own merits or abilities. We are brought to this resource of God’s love through the kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ and our only portion is to partake freely and without fear of what He so willingly and lovingly has given us.