Have you ever played the game of musical chairs? Let’s imagine it for a moment. A group of people encircles a line of chairs, and there is always one less chair than there are people. Someone plays music while the group marches around the chairs, and as soon as the music stops everyone rushes to claim their seat. The person left chairless loses. We have to admit that the thought of that game makes us cringe. As we envision marching around those chairs, our hearts beat a little faster remembering how we felt when we lost our seat. Can you relate?
We are so grateful that God doesn’t play musical chairs. In fact, there is a story in the Bible that proves it. It’s the story of Mephibosheth, and it is a picture of His great love for us and how he longs to have us sit at his table. The story is found in chapter nine of the book of 2 Samuel, and it says,
And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” 3 And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” 4 The king said to him, “Where is he?”And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” 5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. 6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” 7 And 
David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat atmy table always.” 8 And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”
9 Then the king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. 10 And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master’s grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall always eat at my table.” 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 will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons. 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.
King David’s interaction with Mephibosheth is surprising for so many reasons. So, let’s walk through them:
King David’s Benevolence was Surprising
It was customary in the days of David for the king of a new dynasty to completely massacre anyone connected with the prior dynasty. But Pastor David Guzik points out that (King) David went against the principles of revenge and self-preservation and asked what he could do for the family of his enemy. The previous King Saul had indeed behaved as David’s enemy. Countless times. Yet, King David opted to show Mephibosheth kindness. Why? Because David had made a promise, and David was a promise keeper.
Scripture doesn’t show a time when King David made a promise directly to God about caring for Saul’s descendants. In 1 Samuel 20:14-15, we will find a covenant that David made with Jonathan. And in 1 Samuel 24:20-22, we will see David’s covenant with Saul that his kindness would not be cut off from their families, even after their deaths. But David understood something powerful about the LORD God Almighty: that He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. And although God had made him king over Israel – God’s chosen people – David knew that anything he did was a reflection of the true King he served and represented. And because he knew that God is a promise keeper – as David had seen in his own life and had learned in the Torah — he chose to represent his King well by being a promise keeper, too.
King David’s Reach was Surprising
When King David inquired about Saul’s family, he had only one stipulation, that they be “anyone” from the house of Saul. David purposed and planned to show kindness to the former, doomed dynasty’s household. It didn’t matter who. It could be anyone. His goal was simply to honor his promise and extend kindness – the very fruit of his King and Creator.
And when David was told about Mephibosheth, he immediately sent for him – not giving a thought to where he was. And where was he? Ziba told King David he was in Lo-Debar, which is translated “No pasture.” When his family’s dynasty was ended and his eyes could only see bleakness, Mephibosheth placed himself in a lonely, isolated place void of life and living. But the new ruler said, “Do not fear,” and welcomed him to the table.
King David’s Grace was Surprising
For a moment, let’s zero in on two conversations David had in this passage. The first was with Ziba, a servant from the house of Saul. When asked if there was anyone left in Saul’s family Ziba immediately responded yes, but then he gave a caveat: he is lame in both feet. Ziba, in that moment, seemed to be disqualifying Mephibosheth from King David’s kindness. What was David’s response? He first asked, where is he? And then he sent for him. Does this interaction remind you of another interaction between a King and his people? It reminds us of Adam and Eve, crippled and ashamed by their rebellion and sin. God’s first action was to ask “where are you?” And then in His kindness, He covered their shame.
King David’s second conversation was with Mephibosheth himself, and it came in two parts. When they first met, Mephibosheth prostrated himself, face down before the king. King David enthusiastically greeted him by name: “Mephibosheth!” But Mephibosheth misread him, because he wasn’t looking into the face of his king. He was looking at his own condition – being crippled – and his position – being the heir of a doomed dynasty. And in an act of self-preservation from a king he misunderstood, Mephibosheth could only utter, “Behold, I am your servant.” Did David hold Mephibosheth’s condition, his position or his fear against him? Not at all. David instead offered relief and restoration. “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.”
Now here is an interesting little detail. When Mephibosheth first saw King David, he went face down before him. But with words of assurance, “don’t be afraid,” David guided him up off the ground – whether by word or by gesture – and declared that he was restored. And Mephibosheth was overwhelmed again, not by fear of the king, but by awe. He bowed deeply once more with utter fascination, saying “What is your servant that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?” And how did David respond to that? He didn’t. He simply moved forward with his plan of restoration. Because he didn’t see Mephibosheth by condition or position. He saw him by his own surprising grace, and he already had made a place for him at the table, not as a guest, but as a son.
King David is Jesus, and we are Mephibosheth
Friends, the story of Saul and his family is so reflective of God and man. God chose Saul to lead His people, but rather than surrender to God’s power and sovereignty, Saul chose his own way. He and his family suffered grave consequences, including the literal fall and disabling of his grandson, Mephibosheth. Likewise, God invited Adam and Eve to dwell with him in the Garden of Eden for all eternity, the only stipulation being that they not eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They chose not to submit to His will, and they ate the fruit of the rebellion, causing the fall of man.
And just as King David brought Mephibosheth from the wilderness of Lo-Debar to his table, treating him as the king’s son, Jesus rescued us from isolation and destruction and invited us to His Father’s Table as his heirs and co-heirs, sons and daughters of the Most High King.
Where are you?
Friends, where are you? Do you recall days of living in Lo-debar, but Jesus gave you a new status and brought you to a new place where you are confidently seated, having said yes to His invitation to join Him at His table?
Or are you feeling isolated in Lo-debar? Did you say yes to His invitation, but you have allowed your position or your condition to hold you captive, away from the table? Have you even heard or read His invitation? Do you know there is a seat for you? Approach the throne of your King! Let God invite you – whether it be to a deeper feast from a seat where you already sit, or to join Him at His table for the very first time. A place had been reserved for you at His Table and you need only say yes! Unlike the musical chairs game, God will not leave you seatless.
— The Sublime Soiree, © September 1, 2023
