The King's Table

 

He brought me to the banqueting house and his banner over me was love.

—Song of Songs 2:4

During these days, we hear a lot about a peaceful “transition of power” within our own country. We also observe the destruction that happens in third-world countries when one party stages a coup to overturn an election and forecefully place their party’s chosen government in power.

As we study the Bible, we read of hundreds of transitions of kings, judges, and empires. Never was there a more unusual turnover than when King David began his rule in Jerusalem.

You may recall the stories of King Saul, David’s predecessor, who in jealous rages attempted to kill David on various occasions. Yet David, already anointed by God to serve as king, returned grace for hatred. David did this even though he had several opportunities to retaliate.

After Saul’s death and going against God’s will, Saul’s loyal army crowned his son, Ish-bosheth, king. David struggled against this opposition until God eventually gave him victory.

As newly crowned king over all of Israel, David asked this question, as recorded in 2 Samuel 9:1:

“Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”¹

When he was told about King Saul’s grandson, Mephibosheth, crippled in both feet, David called him to come. Then, David said to him, as recorded in 2 Samuel 9:7:

“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

This picture of grace should reinforce for all of us the way in which God treats us for His Son’s sake. We also have been invited to sit at His table all the rest of our lives.

When we consider God’s grace to us, we should worship Him, rejoice in His portion and in His riches that He has given us. And, we should vow to give ourselves in fealty to Him by living in grace toward others, just as He has given His grace to us.

The Puritan, George Swinnock, wrote:²

The believing soul feasts like Mephibosheth at David’s table continually. In his presence is fullness of joy, and at his right hand are pleasures for evermore… His love is infinitely better than life itself. Exalt him in your heart as your chiefest good, and he will make the gift of himself to you. Here is God, there is the world; here bread, and there husks; here substance, there a shadow; here a paradise, there an apple; here is fulness, there is emptiness; here a fountain, there a broken cistern; here are all things, there is nothing; here is heaven, there is hell; here eternity of pleasure, there eternity of sorrow and pain. Now, is not this an infinite reason to choose God for your portion?

Today, let us meditate on the way God’s abundant grace allows Him to look at us. Though He may see us clearly as unlovely and poor, nevertheless He lavishly bestows us with His presence and His riches. May His kindness demonstrate to us the way in which He would have us show kindness to others.

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1 Jonathan was King Saul’s son and David’s dearest friend.

2 Swinnock, George (author) and Richard Rushing (editor). Voices from the Past: Puritan Devotional Reading. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2009. p. 270.