2 Samuel 9:1-13
King
David starts thinking and asking around if there's anybody from Saul's
family left. He wants to seek them them kindness. He's seeking out
someone from the family of the one who spent his whole life trying to
kill David and trying to hunt him down.
One of David's staff informs him that yes, there is one person. His name is Mephibosheth. He's lame in both feet, and he's living a couple towns away. So David sends some folks to go get Meph and bring him to David's house.
This is what David tells Meph: "In honor of your father Jonathan and your grandfather Saul, I'm giving you back all the properties that Saul used to own. Also, from now on you'll be eating at my table. You're meals from now on are on me."
Meph stammers and studders, and asks David, "Why would you do this for me? I'm just a stray dog."
David responds, "Because your father was a great friend of mine, and I want to bless you in memory of him."
In that moment, Meph realizes that David is serious. He can't believe it. He's been living off the good graces of others, and now David's setting him up for life. He's going to have his own place, with his own caretakers, and will have space for himself. Not to mention, he's going to eat at the king's table every single meal.
Here David is, looking for anyone left from the family of Saul. He spent years running away and trying to escape the wrath of Saul, yet now he's still looking for ways to bless his family. Not only that, but he invites his enemy's family to the table.
Last week at the restaurant I work at, we started a new tradition. It's not really new, but new to us. We took Communion together. All the staff present at the time came together at 2:00 to take the bread and wine as a family. It was an open table.
I think Meph represents all of us as we're invited to the table. I'm crippled by the constant knocking of depression, lust, and greed at the door of my heart. I'm crippled by the debilitating addiction to alcohol, and know that I'm one drink away from destruction. Yet, it's one more day of life. One more day of invitation to the table of the King.
Communion is for everyone who is crippled. Some of us are physically disabled, and others of us are set back by self-inflicted wounds that just won't heal. This story of David and Mephibosheth reminds us that the King is always inviting all of us to the table. The King wants to restore us. The King is trying to give us back what we lost along the way.
When Meph was offered this bountiful gift, the first words out of his mouth were about his unworthiness. He was just a stray dog. Who was he that the king should care about him? But David would have nothing of it. He wasn't going to let Meph turn down the offer. David intended on giving it to him.
Isn't this the story of us? Aren't we facing the choice everyday to either join the table or to turn it down because we're just stray dogs?
As we go out today, whatever we do, may we remember that God is inviting all of us to eat at the table. May we acknowledge the ways that we're crippled so that we don't get tunnel vision in seeing the handicaps of others. The table is for everyone, but some are going to feel they don't deserve it, that they're unworthy. However, when we truly acknowledge how crippled we really are, and how much we really need the food at the table, our self-awareness fades away into a heightened awareness of the God who's set us free to come and eat.
Today's Action: At some point today, grab some friends or coworkers and have an open table. Invite everyone to take the bread and the wine, to enjoy the inclusive invitation to the table.
One of David's staff informs him that yes, there is one person. His name is Mephibosheth. He's lame in both feet, and he's living a couple towns away. So David sends some folks to go get Meph and bring him to David's house.
This is what David tells Meph: "In honor of your father Jonathan and your grandfather Saul, I'm giving you back all the properties that Saul used to own. Also, from now on you'll be eating at my table. You're meals from now on are on me."
Meph stammers and studders, and asks David, "Why would you do this for me? I'm just a stray dog."
David responds, "Because your father was a great friend of mine, and I want to bless you in memory of him."
In that moment, Meph realizes that David is serious. He can't believe it. He's been living off the good graces of others, and now David's setting him up for life. He's going to have his own place, with his own caretakers, and will have space for himself. Not to mention, he's going to eat at the king's table every single meal.
Here David is, looking for anyone left from the family of Saul. He spent years running away and trying to escape the wrath of Saul, yet now he's still looking for ways to bless his family. Not only that, but he invites his enemy's family to the table.
Last week at the restaurant I work at, we started a new tradition. It's not really new, but new to us. We took Communion together. All the staff present at the time came together at 2:00 to take the bread and wine as a family. It was an open table.
I think Meph represents all of us as we're invited to the table. I'm crippled by the constant knocking of depression, lust, and greed at the door of my heart. I'm crippled by the debilitating addiction to alcohol, and know that I'm one drink away from destruction. Yet, it's one more day of life. One more day of invitation to the table of the King.
Communion is for everyone who is crippled. Some of us are physically disabled, and others of us are set back by self-inflicted wounds that just won't heal. This story of David and Mephibosheth reminds us that the King is always inviting all of us to the table. The King wants to restore us. The King is trying to give us back what we lost along the way.
When Meph was offered this bountiful gift, the first words out of his mouth were about his unworthiness. He was just a stray dog. Who was he that the king should care about him? But David would have nothing of it. He wasn't going to let Meph turn down the offer. David intended on giving it to him.
Isn't this the story of us? Aren't we facing the choice everyday to either join the table or to turn it down because we're just stray dogs?
As we go out today, whatever we do, may we remember that God is inviting all of us to eat at the table. May we acknowledge the ways that we're crippled so that we don't get tunnel vision in seeing the handicaps of others. The table is for everyone, but some are going to feel they don't deserve it, that they're unworthy. However, when we truly acknowledge how crippled we really are, and how much we really need the food at the table, our self-awareness fades away into a heightened awareness of the God who's set us free to come and eat.
Today's Action: At some point today, grab some friends or coworkers and have an open table. Invite everyone to take the bread and the wine, to enjoy the inclusive invitation to the table.
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