Reluctant Heir When we accept the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ as payment for our insurmountable debt of sin that we simply cannot pay for ourselves, we are given the right to be called sons and daughters of God. Heirs and heiresses, if you will. But how many out there have this wonderful inheritance at their fingertips and dont walk in it because they dont feel worthy? In and of ourselves, we are not. But when we are washed in that cleansing Blood, then we are. We are washed clean. Sure we need to come back for the daily bath but we are clean, blameless, our once scarlet sin is white as snow (Isaiah 1:18 paraphrased) But how many of us simply do not realize this and walk around as though we are still dirty? In 2 Samuel 8 the Lord had given David several victories over the Moabites, the Edomites, the Philistines, and the Arameans. So I am sure he was riding high on these victories, but gave God the glory, for it is all His anyway. In 2 Samuel 9 David remembers a vow he made to his best friend Jonathan, that he would always show kindness to the members of the family of Saul, even though Saul had tried mercilessly to kill him. 1 Samuel 20:13-14 But should it please my father to do you harm, the LORD do so to Jonathan and more also if I do not disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. May the LORD be with you, as he has been with my father. If I am still alive, will you not show me the lovingkindness of the LORD, that I may not die? You shall not cut off your lovingkindness from my house forever, not even when the LORD cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth. David remembers this vow and asks if there is anyone left in the house of Saul to whom he may show kindness. They send for Ziba, the servant of Saul who mentions the son of Jonathan and the grandson of Saul, Mephibosheth. Interestingly enough, Ziba points out that Mephibosheth is crippled in both feet. How quick we are to point out the flaws of others while ignoring our own. As though that is going to make a difference. Yes in the days of the Old Testament the priests had to be physically unflawed because they represented God, who is absolutely flawless. But we dont have to be perfect to come to the Lords Table. If that were the case that Table would be awfully empty. Mephibosheth was living in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, one of the spies sent out in the book of Numbers to scope out the land of Canaan. Ammiel was one who had died in the wilderness because he agreed with the unfavorable report, as opposed to Joshua and Caleb, who brought back a favorable report. As a result of this, Machir and Mephibosheth lived in a place called Lo-Debar, which means, pastureless. Machir suffered because of his fathers unbelief. As many of us suffer as the result of sin,. be it our own or someone elses. David brought Mephibosheth out of Lo-Debar and as soon as he saw David, Mephibosheth fell prostrate before him. And David spoke his name. And Mephibosheth said to him, Here is your servant. David goes on to tell him not to fear, for he will show kindness to him for the sake of his father Jonathan and will restore to him the land of his grandfather Saul, and that he would eat at the table of David regularly. Mephibosheth had to have been incredulous at this point. I am sure he could not believe what he was hearing because of what Saul had put David through, I am sure he figured David would seek to kill him out of revenge. Again, Mephibosheth prostrates himself before David and asks him What is your servant, that you would regard a dead dog like me? David then called Ziba and gave him his marching orders. 2 Samuel 9:9-13 Then the king called Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. 10 You and your sons and your servants shall cultivate the land for him, and you shall bring in the produce so that your master’s grandson may have food; nevertheless Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall eat at my table regularly.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant so your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as one of the king’s sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth. 13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate at the king’s table regularly. Now he was lame in both feet. This is precisely what God does for us when we humble ourselves before Him and acknowledge our deep, desperate need for Him to save us from our sins. We are those dead dogs until the Lord lifts our heads and restores us to Him. Jesus did the restoring work on the cross, we need to accept that we can do nothing to save ourselves. Sinless Blood was the only acceptable payment for our sin so scarlet. We are beckoned to come to the table and eat but how many hold back unnecessarily? We again see this open invitation in Isaiah 55:1-2 Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance. This Table is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for those who would accept His offer. So why not come down and eat with us? You can even bring a friend. Or two. Or three. At the Lords Table there is always room for one more. ~God loves you and so do I~
Posted on: Fri, 11 Apr 2014 12:02:39 +0000
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