The King's Table

In this world, only the best of the best can sit at the Kings table. If anything at all is wrong with you, you are not considered worthy to take a seat in the presence of the King. There was however an appointed time in history where this rule was ignored, a pardon given not just for a day, but for a lifetime. It was a pardon born of a promise made by King David out of love.

You see David was not on the throne due to his ancestry. He was grafted into the Kingdom, by the favor of God, working through the love and devotion of his friend Johnathan. Although Johnathan was the son of King Saul, and heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Israel, he was confident in the fact that David was the Lord's chosen anointed King. He loved David as himself from the moment he heard David speak to his father Saul, and became one in Spirit with him. He made a covenant with David to be his servant out of love, and to step down and allow him to become King when the time would come. Because of Jealousy, and distrust in the heart of King Saul, he wanted to kill David. Johnathan pleaded for the life of David, and reminded his Father of all of the ways that David had served him. He was able to reason with his Father regarding the matter, but while he promised not to harm David, he later tried to drive a spear into into him, but hit the wall instead. David knew that he needed to escape. Michal was the daughter of the King, and the bride of David. She remained loyal to David, and helped David escape. David knowing that Saul wanted to kill him, brought the matter to Johnathan. He did not want to believe him at first, knowing that his Father always revealed any plans he had to him, and he had not mentioned killing David. So Johnathon and David devised a plan, in order that they could see the true intentions of Saul's heart towards David. Johnathan agreed to the plan on the condition that David, once on the throne would show him as well as his entire family, unfailing kindness like that of the Lord until the day that they died. The plan went through without a hitch, and it was confirmed that Saul wanted to kill David. They knew they needed to part ways in order to keep David safe. David bowed down in front of Johnathan 3 times, with his face to the ground. They kissed each other and wept, but David wept the most. Johnathan said to David, "go in Peace for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying "the Lord is a witness between your descendants, and mine forever."

Much time had passed by. David had spent years in hiding, being heavily pursued by King Saul. When they day had finally come that King Saul should die, sadly enough it was also the same day of death for Johnathan, as well as the other sons of Saul. David grieved their deaths, especially Johnathan because he loved him so. Johnathan had a five year old son named Mephibosheth at the time of his death. It was custom for those that wanted to take the throne, to take the lives of any living heirs in the event that a King should die. Because of this his nurse fled with him and in the midst of the excitement dropped him, and he fell causing him to be lame in both feet for life.

It does not say how much time had passed, but it must have been quite some time until David had remember his promise to Johnathan, because his son already had sons of his own. Perhaps David after hiding all of those years was maybe unaware that Johnathan had a son to begin with. It seems David was caught up in the newness, and excitement of becoming King, but finally David inquired about the house of Saul. He asked is anyone still alive of the house of Saul that I can show kindness to? He was told yes, Johnathan has a living son that is lame in both feet, named Mephibosheth. David sent for him right away. Once he was there, he told him not to be afraid, (it was usually not a good thing for a king to call on a possible heir to his throne, and usually meant death). When he arrived David let him know that he would be eating at the King's Table all of the rest of the days of his life. Mephibosheth was bewildered, he knew that a person with two lame feet was not fit to sit at the King's Table. This story can be found across the 1st and second book of Samuel. It makes note of Mephibosheth having two lame feet twice in 2 Sam 9, three times over the course of both books. This is something the author really wants us to pay attention to, and for good reason.

In reading this story, I realized that David is playing the role of Jesus, as we are Mephibosheth. While we may not have the outward appearance as one who is lame, we are broken spiritually in many ways. It is the Spirit of fear that caused the nurse above to drop Mephibosheth, which resulted in him being lame. So we too can become lame and unable to walk towards the Father out of fear that we are not good enough.If the nurse had known the promise that the King had made to Johnathon, she would not have run and they would have entered the rest of King David. They would have known that they were worthy of the Kings favor through no reason other than the promise.  So we too are able to enter the rest of God through His Son Jesus. We are permitted to come and eat at His table, and have fellowship with Him every day through the promise that God has made to us through Jesus.. We are no longer held back for not being perfect. We are accepted because of a promise that was made out of love for us. All we have to do is come when we are called, accept His invitation and believe in His promises. Unbelief in the promises of God is no different than calling God a liar. I suppose I would be upset if I promised my son something and he didn't believe me. Especially since my track record of keeping my promises has proven to be very good. I am fallible however and sure that I messed up a time or two. God is love. He is perfect and will NEVER fail us.