The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 9:7,
"... you [Mephibosheth] will always eat at my [King David's] table."
This incredible act of graciousness on the part of the king of Israel, David, toward the grandson of the previous king, Saul, displays David's character in keeping his promise to Saul. One day when David had the opportunity to kill Saul, but spared him, as Saul was busy chasing David in his mad attempt to kill him, Saul asked David to give him his word that he would be kind to his family when David replaced him on the throne, 1 Samuel 24:16-22. Following Saul's death, David sought to fulfill his oath to Saul, (as well as for the sake of his remembrance of his friend Jonathan, Saul's son), 2 Samuel 9:1.
This very gracious act on David's part reminds me of another invitation to a dinner table. This table immeasurably greater than the table of King David is the Lord's table at which he invites us all to dine with him! Someone who was at dinner with Jesus in the house of "a prominent Pharisee" made the observation, "Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God." Luke 14:1-24.
Jesus Christ has invited us all through the gospel to join him at his table in the resurrection! All he asks is that we embrace him in faith.
I am also reminded that we do not have to wait until this great banquet, as we can feast on what the Lord has for us here and now. While some may figuratively limp from one "worship service" to the next in their walk with the Lord, there are many who feast every day on the things of the Lord. In a rich bountiful harvest of spiritual delights, the Lord meets us as we enjoy him and all he has for us in the pages of Scripture.
I recall Paul's words in Romans 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." This hope springs from the endurance and encouragement the Scriptures provide us, as Paul mentions a few verses earlier, "Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." Romans 15:4.
This "hope" has a profound effect in our spiritual lives, providing a daily feast, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God's people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God's grace." Colossians 1:3-6.
As David himself said in Psalm 36:8-9, "They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light."
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"... you [Mephibosheth] will always eat at my [King David's] table."
This incredible act of graciousness on the part of the king of Israel, David, toward the grandson of the previous king, Saul, displays David's character in keeping his promise to Saul. One day when David had the opportunity to kill Saul, but spared him, as Saul was busy chasing David in his mad attempt to kill him, Saul asked David to give him his word that he would be kind to his family when David replaced him on the throne, 1 Samuel 24:16-22. Following Saul's death, David sought to fulfill his oath to Saul, (as well as for the sake of his remembrance of his friend Jonathan, Saul's son), 2 Samuel 9:1.
This very gracious act on David's part reminds me of another invitation to a dinner table. This table immeasurably greater than the table of King David is the Lord's table at which he invites us all to dine with him! Someone who was at dinner with Jesus in the house of "a prominent Pharisee" made the observation, "Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God." Luke 14:1-24.
Jesus Christ has invited us all through the gospel to join him at his table in the resurrection! All he asks is that we embrace him in faith.
I am also reminded that we do not have to wait until this great banquet, as we can feast on what the Lord has for us here and now. While some may figuratively limp from one "worship service" to the next in their walk with the Lord, there are many who feast every day on the things of the Lord. In a rich bountiful harvest of spiritual delights, the Lord meets us as we enjoy him and all he has for us in the pages of Scripture.
I recall Paul's words in Romans 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." This hope springs from the endurance and encouragement the Scriptures provide us, as Paul mentions a few verses earlier, "Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." Romans 15:4.
This "hope" has a profound effect in our spiritual lives, providing a daily feast, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God's people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God's grace." Colossians 1:3-6.
As David himself said in Psalm 36:8-9, "They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light."
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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