Context for this week’s devotionals can be found in the story of David and Mephibosheth. You can read the whole account here: 1 Samuel 20, 2 Samuel 4:4, 2 Samuel 9
Imagine this. You are invited to a New Year’s Day dinner with Jesus. After opening the invitation and picking myself up off the floor, I think my first thought would be, how lucky am I that God chose me to be his guest?!
During King David’s rule over Israel, he reigned over the people with kindness. He wanted to please God and that meant putting others first. We know he also vowed to treat Jonathan’s descendants with kindness but remember, Mephibosheth was in hiding. It was unlikely anyone would even know he existed. Until the pursuit.
One day David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul (Jonathan’s descendants) to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1). When learning there was a servant of Jonathan’s household, he summoned that servant to appear before him.
When the servant arrived, he again asked “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul (Jonathan’s descendants) to whom I may show the kindness of God?”. The servant replied, “there is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet” (2 Samuel 9:3). Now remember, disabled people were not looked kindly on. Would David request his presence? Yep!
When Mephibosheth arrived in King David’s presence, he bowed down to honor him and asked, “what is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” (2 Samuel 9:8) Mephibosheth was likely thinking this was the last day he would live.
Instead, David told him “Don’t be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. From that point on David showed favor to Mephibosheth, even offering him a seat at his table – the King’s table! Unheard of, but yet, it was so.
God pursues ALL of us much like David pursued ALL of the descendants of Jonathan. He wants no one left behind. We may be broken, dirty, or unworthy, but yet he chooses us. He wants us to be part of His family. One of His own; seated at His table where we can be healed, cleansed, and considered worthy. All we have to do is accept the invitation.
This New Year’s Day what will your RSVP say?
