An Invitation to Eat at the King’s Table

An Invitation to Eat at the King’s Table
2 Samuel 9:1-13
August 7-8, 2021

King David was sitting in his house in Jerusalem, he stood back and could see the amazing hand of God’s blessing on his life. It made him want to do something grand and wonderful to honor the God of Israel who had blessed him so amazingly.

David wanted to build a temple in Jerusalem, a house for God and a footstool on the earth. God responded by saying to David, “I love your heart, David, you did well in wanting to build a house for Me. But you are a man of war, a man of bloodshed, the one who will build My house will be a man of peace. But because you wanted to do this for Me, I will something for you. I will make you a great name like the names of the great men on the earth. And I will build you an everlasting kingdom. Your throne shall be established forever.”

God will fulfill the promise of giving David a great name in that when the Messiah of Israel returns in the latter days, he will be called the Son of David. God also fulfilled the promise of giving David a great name by making his character and faith known to the world.

An aspect of David’s faith and character is found in this chapter. He wants to bless the house of Saul because Jonathan, Saul’s son, was a deep and loyal friend.

Ever since the day David killed the Philistine giant, Goliath, Jonathan admired him and love him as himself. When Saul the King became insecure and fearful of David and relentlessly pursued him to take his life, Jonathan stood up for David.

Jonathan knew that one day David would be king in Israel and wanted to sit at his right hand. Jonathan loved David heart and soul. And now, David sits as King and wanted to bless the house of Saul to honor his friend.

David inquired and learned there was a son of Jonathan still alive. His name was Mephibosheth, and he was lame in both feet. When he was a boy, his grandfather Saul died in battle and the nurse ran with the boy in her arms to put him into hiding, but she fell and both feet of the boy were broken in the fall.

David calls for Mephibosheth and restores to him all the land of his grandfather Saul and invites him to eat at the king’s table like one of the sons of the king.

There are great lessons in the story, lessons of faith and character. In this story is a picture of the kindness of God given to us through Jesus, the Son of David; an invitation to sit at the table of the king.

There is in David also a life lesson in learning what it means to bless others, to show the kindness of God.

I. Blessed are Those Who Bless

• One of the things we love about the heart of God is His desire to bless His people. We love to hear about the favor of God, the blessings of God, and the kindness of God. In other words, we love to receive blessings! We love to be on the receiving end of God’s favor.
• David also saw the favor of God, and the kindness of God on his life. But David also understood the significance of blessing others, of showing the kindness of God.
• When David brought the Ark of the Lord into Jerusalem, it was a day of rejoicing and celebration. The first thing he did was to bless God with burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. Further, he gave to all the people a cake of bread, and a cake of dates and a portion of meat.
• Then David returned to bless his own house.
• This is a deep aspect of faith and character. Be a conduit through which God’s favor and blessing extends to people around you. In other words, if you have received God’s favor and blessing, then be a blessing to others. Blessed are those who bless.

Illus – When I was in the restaurant business, Christians had a reputation for being, let’s just say, less than good tippers. What a simple way to be a blessing, especially during the pandemic!

At the Wednesday service, one of our ministry partners was sharing about when he asked a server how he could pray for her. She responded, “Pray that I don’t take my life.” What an opportunity to show the kindness, compassion, and love of God.

A. Blessed are the peacemakers

• Mephibosheth was in Lo-debar. It’s a nothing town. That’s literally what the name means. It was a place to hide. Normally, when a king was replaced, everyone in his family was in danger.
• When David asked if there were any left in the house of Saul, he made it clear that his intent was to show the kindness of God.
• This is what makes David different. Most people in that situation would do what is expected and dispatch any remaining relatives to ensure there are no future uprisings against him.
• David wants to show the kindness of God.
• When Saul pursued him relentlessly, David refused to lift a hand against him. “You can pursue me to take my life, but I will never be against you.”

Romans 12:18-20, If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved… If your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.

Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

B. Partake of God’s divine nature

• We love these qualities of David’s character. But where do such qualities come from? Are you born with them? Can you obtain them in some way?
• No one is born with such qualities of character. Everyone is born with human nature, but we can be transformed. How? The God factor: God in us is the hope of glory.
• The Spirit came upon David mightily when he was anointed by the prophet Samuel. If you opened your heart to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and trusted Him in faith, the Spirit also came upon you mightily.
• It’s God in you, the Holy Spirit of the living God, who will transform your character to give you beautiful godly qualities that will bless your life and cause you to bless others.
• In other words, in the kingdom of God, there are no self-help programs; there are only God-help programs.

Illus – When I was a young man, in my early 20s, I didn’t like the person I saw in the mirror. I didn’t like who I had become. I asked God for help. I felt like God said to my heart, “Walk with Me step-by-step, one day at a time and I will transform you.”

2 Peter 1:3-9, His divine power… has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. For this very reason, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he who lacks these qualities is blind or shortsighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.

• These are beautiful qualities of faith and character that come from partaking in God’s divine nature that will bear beautiful godly fruit.

Illus – It’s the sap in the tree that gives it life, without the sap, it’s dead and it bears no fruit and its leaves wither.

• That life is near to you. It’s in your mouth and in your heart, that is, this word of faith we are preaching. With the heart man believes, and with the mouth he confesses.
  II. Life is Found at the King’s Table
• Four times in these verses it says that David invited Mephibosheth to eat at the king’s table. One time it says that he ate at the king’s table as one of the king’s sons.
• How beautiful is that? It’s a picture of the invitation extended to you and me through the Son of David, Jesus Christ.

Revelation 19:19, Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

• I love quoting Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him and he with Me.”

A. It’s not just the eating, it’s the fellowship

• To eat at the king’s table as one of the king’s sons, is to have fellowship with the king. That’s the point of the invitation.
• It’s that fellowship that will transform you. There, at the king’s table, his conversation will enlighten your soul, it will inspire hope and give you vision for life.
• He will speak into your character and open your eyes to all that’s good and right.
• But it’s not just the fellowship, it’s also in the eating. Mephibosheth came from Lo-debar — no pasture, no word, no thing — and then eats with the king daily.
• What you partake of at that table is beautiful to the soul.

Psalm 34:8, O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Isaiah 55:1-3, “Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live.”

Illus – There is much in the world that people partake of that is poison to the soul. Let’s call it the Twinkies and Ding Dongs and Doritos of the world. I used to love those things when I was young, but there’s nothing good in them. They don’t satisfy and leave you feeling terrible.
God invites you to the king’s table to partake of that which will satisfy your soul and give you a beautiful godly life.

B. God’s heart is to restore

• Verse 7 — David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul.”
• Mephibosheth was lame in both feet, couldn’t care for himself, and lived in hiding in Lo-debar. Then one day he got word that King David had summoned him.
• Before the story is over, Mephibosheth will be given a permanent place to eat at the king’s table and will have all the land of his grandfather, Saul, restored to him, because of a covenant made before he was even born.
• David never forgot the promise he made to Jonathan. All these years later, David never forgot his promise.
• There are many people in the same position as Mephibosheth. They’re damaged, have nothing to stand on, and have lost everything that matters. They’ve been living in Lo-debar, a place of no pasture, no word, and no thing. They feel discarded and of no value.
• Some people live their whole lives in Lo-debar. But what a beautiful picture of the restoring of God in your life. God hasn’t forgotten you.
• God will restore hope, He is not forgotten His promises, and you will always have a seat at His table! You’ve been invited!