THE LAME MAN AT THE KING’S TABLE
Pastor J. C. O’Hair
Note David’s
question in II Samuel 9:1: “Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul,
that I may skew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
As we think of this question let us think of II Samuel 3:1- I Samuel 18:11 - I Samuel 18:29 and I Samuel 19:1: “Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.” “And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.” “And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.” “And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and said to all his servants, that they should kill David.” So Saul was David’s enemy. But Saul’s son, Jonathan, loved David and David loved Jonathan. Note David’s statement concerning their mutual love: “I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: Very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful.” (II Samuel 1:26). Here let us think of Romans 5:10 and Titus 3:4: “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.” When we, like the house of Saul were weak, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6).
David means “LOVE”. Jonathan means “JEHOVAH’S GIFT.” We read in I John 4:8, “God is Love.” We read in John 3:16 that God so loved the world that His LOVE GIFT to sinners was His only begotten Son. We read in Ephesians 4:32 that the believing sinner’s sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (I John 4:10).
Ziba, Saul’s son, answered king David’s question. “Jonathan hath yet a son which is lame on his feet. Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.” (II Samuel 9:3 and 4).
Think of this unattractive, deformed man. Machir means “sold” or “bondage.” Lodebar means “the place of no pasture.” We think of Isaiah 53:6, “all we like sheep have gone astray.” Certainly “astray” means to the place of “no pasture,” sheep without a shepherd. Paul said, “I am carnal, sold under sin.” (Romans 7:14). Surely every sinner is spiritually deformed, lame on both feet, all in the strong man’s house (Matthew 12:29, the house of bondage, and living in Lodebar far from the true King. (Ephesians 2:13 - Ephesians 4:18). Let us note carefully II Samuel 9:6 to 8: “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! 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. And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?”
Of course, we have read Titus 3:4 and Ephesians 2:4 concerning the kindness and love, the rich mercy and great love of God toward deformed sinners, “afar-off,” even dead in sins. (Ephesians 2:13 - Titus 3:3 - Ephesians 2:1 to 3 - Ephesians 2:5). Every sinner should know what Mephibosheth knew. Mephibosheth knew that he deserved the king’s wrath and judgment. But in David’s dealings with Mephibosheth and the lame man’s response, we are reminded of the statement in Romans 2:4, “the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.” Note what the king said, “Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, shall alway eat at my table.” (II Samuel 9:10). “So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both feet.” (II Samuel 9:13).
From Lodebar to Jerusalem. From the house of bondage to the king’s house and the king’s table. What a change! We, as Christians, have been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of the Son of God’s love. “in Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13 and 14). We are already seated with Christ in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6, and we shall be at His table forever and ever an ever. “That in the ages to come He might skew the exceeding riches of His grace, in His kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:7). We are not only in God’s House, but there we are jointheirs with His Son.
Mephibosheth did not deserve the king’s favor, but rather the very opposite. But he received the king’s favor for Jonathan’s sake: Jonathan, “God’s Gift.” Read Romans 5:20 and Romans 3:24.
So grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:21). Certainly, no one word in the English language can define “grace.”
Between II Samuel 9 and II Samuel 18, King David was rejected and went away, “UNTIL THE DAY HE CAME IN PEACE.” (II Samuel 19:24). But during the time the true king was away Mephibosheth lost interest in all about him. He loved the king and longed for him. His thoughts and affections were upon the absent rejected king. (Compare II Samuel 19:24 to 30 with Colossians 3:1 to 4, with I Thessalonians 1:9 and 10 - Titus 2:13 - I Corinthians1:10).
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How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s
SALVATION.
Read Acts 16:31 Romans 1:16, and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
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