"The Table of Grace"

"The Table of Grace"

     King David beckoned lame Mephibosheth to his table because and only because of the latter's relationship to his father Jonathan.

   "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?" (II Samuel 9:6-8).

   In the sensibilities of his day, Mephibosheth perceived himself to be cursed of God because of his lameness.  David's offer of grace thus shocked the man, whose previous life consisted of shame, hardship, and internal misery.  He expected the lot of a "dead dog."  He received the beneficence of a king, of God's chosen royal, David.  Two relationships accounted for the unexpected bestowal of favor, first, David's relationship with Jonathan, and then, Mephibosheth being the son of Jonathan.

   David loved Jonathan with exceeding devotion and affection.  Of Jonathan's friendship, he proclaimed, "Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women" (II Samuel 1:26).  With his throne established, the King thus sought to honor his deceased friend in the only way possible.  Mephibosheth received blessing because of the bond between David and Jonathan, and because of his familial ties with Jonathan.  Such Old Testament history foreshadows the New Testament coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.  God purposes to show favor to all related to His Son.  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3).  Christ provides the merit and basis of acceptance because of His relationship with the Father of Heaven.  We freely receive such grace by faith when we trust in the Lord Jesus, becoming spiritually related to Him.  Dead dogs thus become favored sons and daughters who  partake of the table of grace.  "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall he not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).

   The Lord Jesus serves as our Jonathan.  Just as his forerunner of old made a way for his son when he died, the Savior's death grants to us our place at the table of grace.  Thus, we may come in times of faithfulness, but only through Christ.  And thus we may come in times of unfaithfulness, so long as we come through Christ.  May nothing cause us to forget our sole basis of welcome, indeed, of eternal acceptance provided through the atonement and intercession on our behalf of our Savior.  Yes, the relationship of the Father and His Son, along with our relationship with His Son, unite to provide our place of grace.  "With Him" God "freely gives us all things."  Our Jonathan makes such favor possible, and we seek always to remember so great a gift purchased by so great a cost.

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

(Romans 5:1-2)

Weekly Memory Verse

    Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

(Romans 5:1-2)