The Table of the King
Today was my planned no exercise day, getting caught upon taxes and few other projects. Sue and Sam joined us for lunch. After they arrived I was transferring myself from the recliner to my wheelchair using my walker. I found out that my walking backwards is as challenging at getting up a step.
For some reason I thought I could just back up several steps to my wheelchair. This didn’t work out so well, so I ended up on the floor. However, falls will occur and this gave me an opportunity to use “Steve’s steps.” These are the steps that Steve Grimes made for me for exercise and as a fall recovery system. (see picture above) They worked out pretty good. As a result, my no exercise day turned into more effort than I had planned.
Tomorrow morning I have an appointment with my infectious disease doctor. I will be eager to see what he thinks of my progress and the status of my current antibiotic treatments. On Tuesday I will return to Northern Colorado Rehab Hospital for some nerve testing on my left shoulder.
I read one of the more heartwarming accounts in the reign of King David today. It is the story about David bringing Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan to his royal palace as one of his sons.
There is some significant history leading up to this event…
…Jonathan, David’s closest friend and son of King Saul ask of David, “As long as I live show me kindness because of the Lord. And even when I die, never stop being kind to my family.” (1 Sam. 20:14,15)
 …When David was running from Saul, yet refused to harm him, Saul recognized that one day David would be King. He asked David, “Swear an oath to the Lord that you willnot wipe out my descendants or destroy my name in my father’s family.” (1Sam. 24:21)
…Mephibosheth a son of Jonathan’s was five years old when Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle. When news of the defeat in battle was heard in the palace his nurse picked him up to flee but dropped him and he became crippled.
…When David conquered Jerusalem from the Jebusites they taunted David with the words, “even the blind and lame could turn you away.”  As a result when David took the city there became a saying, “The blind and the lame will not get into the palace.” (2 Sam.5:6,8)
A number of years have passed and David secures his kingdom by subduing rebellion from the house of Saul and then a string of victories over enemy nations. At this point David either has time to recall or feels that timing is right to fulfill his promise to “the household of Saul for Jonathan’s sake.” He finds through a servant of Saul’s that Jonathan has a crippled son named Mephibosheth.
When Mephibosheth comes before David he does so with fear. Undoubtedly he has heard that David has spent years and many battles securing his kingdom. The only thing left would be to kill of any remaining members of the previous monarchy. What a surprise when Mephibosheth hears David’s reassuring words and that not only his life was being spared, but he was being given back the land of his grandfather Saul and that he would be provided for at the king’s table living as one of the king’s sons.
In this story and history leading up to it, we find David being faithful to his word to Jonathan, as well as to Saul. Twice in eight verses we are reminded that Mephibosheth is crippled. The chapter ends with a focus on Mephibosheth’s elevated status with the words, “However, Mephibosheth, who was disabled, lived in Jerusalem. He always ate at the king’s table.” (2 Sam. 9:13)
I don’t intend to over allegorize the story but as a “man after God’s own heart” I find much of the heart of God in this story. The name LoDebar carries the meaning of “a pasture-less place.” A place of desolation that would be far different than the ample supply found at the king’s palace.
We find in this story, an account of a royal status restored. Not in the official sense, but in the privileges that were extended to this “outcast” of a royal family living in a desolate place. Mephibosheth had no standing in David’s eyes due to his connection to the house of Saul and because he was crippled. Remember, “…the lame will not get into the palace.”
What made the difference? Mercy, grace and keeping of a promise. That is exactly what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. He has granted us a position as His children when we have no rights. He has provided for us when we had no claim to His blessings. He has extended mercy and grace strictly based on His actions alone. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
 Heaven will be filled with Mephibosheths. Broken people, undeserving people who slide up to the table of the King and allow their imperfections to be covered by the grace and mercy of the One who invites us to come to Him –  just as we are.
There is an old gospel song that communicates this spiritual truth…
I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, an alien by birth,
But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown.
I’m a child of the King,
A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior,
I’m a child of the King.