A Seat at the King’s Table

“Do not be afraid ... you will always eat at my table.” — 2 Samuel 9:7

Many years went by. King Saul and his son Jonathan were both killed in a battle with the Philistines. And at last, just as God had promised, David became king of Israel.

When the news came that Saul and Jonathan had died, there was panic in Saul’s house. Jonathan had a little boy called Mephibosheth, who was five years old. His nurse picked him up and ran to escape. But as she was hurrying, she dropped him, and he fell. After that, both his feet were lame, and he could never walk properly again.

In those days, when a new king took over, he often got rid of the old king’s family, so they couldn’t fight him for the throne. Mephibosheth grew up far away, in a little place called Lo-debar, probably afraid that one day David would come for him.

But David remembered his promise to his best friend Jonathan.

One day David asked, “Is there anyone left from Saul’s family that I can be kind to, for Jonathan’s sake?”

There was an old servant of Saul’s family called Ziba. They brought him to the king. “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family,” asked David, “that I can show God’s kindness to?”

“There is still a son of Jonathan,” said Ziba. “He is lame in both feet.”

“Where is he?” asked the king.

So David sent for Mephibosheth. When Mephibosheth came, he bowed down with his face to the ground. He must have been terrified.

“Mephibosheth!” said David.

“I am your servant,” he answered.

“Don’t be afraid,” said David. “I will be kind to you, for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will give you back all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul. And you will always eat at my table.”

Mephibosheth bowed down again. “Who am I,” he said, “that you should be kind to someone like me? I’m no more use than a dead dog.”

But David meant it. He told Ziba, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul. You and your sons and your servants must farm the land for him. And Mephibosheth will always eat at my table.”

So Mephibosheth went to live in Jerusalem, in the king’s palace. Every day he ate at King David’s table, like one of the king’s own sons.

Mephibosheth hadn’t done anything to deserve the king’s kindness. He couldn’t even walk to the king. The king sent for him, and brought him in, and gave him a place at the table for ever. That is what God’s grace is like.

Read it in your Bible: 2 Samuel 4:4; 9

Dear God, thank you that you are kind to people who don’t deserve it, like David was to Mephibosheth. Thank you that you welcome me to your table. Help me to keep my promises. Amen.