I invite you to turn with me tonight to 2 Samuel chapter 9, 2 Samuel chapter 9, the episode of David with Mephibosheth. For those of you who keep notes in your Bibles, you will see that we considered this together eight years ago this month. We do so again partly out of necessity because of the activities of this past week, but as well that whether we remember it or not or consider it for the first time, we pray that the Lord may refresh and bless us with the truth of his word that points very vividly to the glory of Jesus Christ and as well to the glory of his table for you and me. 2 Samuel chapter 9, as we read this chapter together, hear now the word of God. David asked, let me back up just a little bit, I wanted to bring your attention to that At the end of chapter 8, verse 14, for example, at the end of that verse we read, the Lord gave David victory wherever he went. And in the beginning of verse 15, David reigned over all Israel doing what was just and right for all his people. Kind of sets the context for this episode. David asked, Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake? Now there was a servant of Saul's household named Ziba. They called him to appear before David, and the king said to him, Are you Ziba, your servant? he replied. The king asked, Is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God's kindness? Ziba answered the king, There is still a son of Jonathan. He is crippled in both feet. Where is he? the king asked. Ziba answered, He is at the house of Machir, son of Amiel, in Lodabar. So King David had him brought from Lodabar, from the house of Mekir, son of Amiel. When Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, Mephibosheth, your servant, he replied. Don't be afraid, David said to him, for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father, Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table. Mephibosheth bowed down and said, What is your servant that you should notice a dead dog like me? Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, I have given your master's grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops so that your master's grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table. Now Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants. Then Ziba said to the king, Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do. So Mephibosheth ate at David's table like one of the king's sons. Mephibosheth had a young son named Micah. And all the members of Ziba's household were servants of Mephibosheth. And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king's table and he was crippled in both feet. Again tonight, may God add his blessing to the consideration of his word. Well, dear people of God, this is indeed an amazing story. Boys and girls, an amazing story of David's kindness to a man that was insignificant, he was helpless, he was worthless, he was undeserving. And indeed, it's a high point in David's reign. Not because of his power or because of his prestige or because of his riches or because of his military success. It's a high point in David's reign, especially against the backdrop of his history with King Saul, who we know over and over again tried to destroy David. It's a high point because David truly practiced what he preached. He did not return evil for evil, but instead he returned good for evil. He uses his royal power, and boys and girls, he had power. He could have, in a sense, snapped his fingers and his servants would have done whatever he said to do. His soldiers would have gone and carried out whatever task he laid before them. He was a man of power. But David uses his royal power not for revenge, but to restore. And of course, very clearly, he points forward to his greater Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and we have here a beautiful picture of salvation. in Jesus as David shows kindness to Mephibosheth. Kindness motivated by grace. A kindness as a response to God's kindness. A kindness guaranteed forever. First of all, a kindness motivated by grace, seen again in the background. Now, boys and girls, this is a true story. And it's the kind that we might describe as a story of one being brought from rags to riches. And the time, as we pointed out at the very beginning, is most likely the middle of David's reign. In chapter 4 we read that Mephibosheth was five years old when that terrible battle took place which cost his father Jonathan and his grandfather Saul their lives. That's when the nurse fled with him and dropped Mephibosheth and he became crippled in both feet. And now in chapter 9 we read that Mephibosheth himself has a young son. So a number of years have passed. In chapter 8, again, we're told of David's victories. Therefore, he is at the height of his power. And in many ways, a time of peace for David. And it's in that time that we find this situation where David does the unthinkable. First, he gives back to Mephibosheth all of the land that had belonged to his grandfather Saul. No doubt, a small fortune. This king restores everything. to one who had nothing. And second, and even more amazing in a sense, is that David moves Mephibosheth, and I trust with his family, he moves him to Jerusalem, and he becomes like one of the king's own sons. He is given a place at the king's table. And on the one hand, that means, of course, an endless supply of food, but I believe ultimately it points to all of the prosperity and all of the honor that David bestows on Mephibosheth. Kind of like on Thanksgiving Day, we look at our Thanksgiving tables and they are crowned with food. So much food, so much bounty. And as we look at that, that is to remind us not just of that food itself, but to remind us of all of the blessings that God bestows upon us. David was determined to provide for Mephibosheth and his family for the rest of his life through the kindness of the king's table. a kindness motivated by grace seen also in the light of the custom of that day. The custom was not so much for Israel yet. They later on took on this custom because of their wickedness, but the custom, no doubt, among the heathen nations that when a new king came to the throne, the entire family of the former king, if it was a new family, if the new king was from a new family, the entire family of the former king was put to death, especially the sons. in order to stop any potential threat of trying to reclaim the throne or any potential threat of trying to harm the new king. Again, we do read that later on in the history of Israel's wicked kings. Wicked Queen Athaliah, for example, wiped out her own grandsons, except for the one that was hidden from her. But David's was an uncommon kindness. He didn't have to do this. There was no law requiring him to do this for Mephibosheth. He goes against the grain of custom. He seeks out. He goes out looking for one from Saul's family to whom he can show kindness. Kind of a reminder, as we said a couple of weeks ago, that as believers, as a church, we are to be seeker-sensitive. We are to be seeking in the name of the Lord, the lost. David goes out himself, the king. looking for one to whom he can show kindness. And his uncommon kindness is indeed an act of grace because, as we know, Saul was David's archenemy and Mephibosheth deserves death no less than prison. In fact, in chapter 19, Mephibosheth says as much. He says, basically, all of the descendants of Saul deserve death. But you have shown me so much kindness. But David takes the initiative to restore him unprompted by Mephibosheth. And this grace is definitely clear from Mephibosheth's condition. He was lame in both feet. Boys and girls, he could not walk, at least not well. He had nothing to contribute to the king. He had nothing of useful value for the king. He couldn't serve in the king's army. He couldn't do anything to repay the king for all of his kindness. And this grace is recognized as well in Mephibosheth's humble response. Verse 8, we read, Mephibosheth bowed down and said, What is your servant that you should notice a dead dog like me? Notice, Mephibosheth was not like that arrogant Haman. You remember wicked Haman? In the history of Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai, Haman, boys and girls, was second in charge to the king. He had a lot of power. The king trusted him. And that power went to Haman's head. He boasted about it to his wife and to his family and to his friends. In essence, he loved saying, It's all about me. And especially when the king wanted to bestow honor on someone, again, he thought it was about him. He boasted, The king wants to see me. Mephibosheth wasn't like that. Mephibosheth truly was empty of himself, poor in spirit, as we consider this morning. And his humble response includes a demonstration of unworthiness. He bowed down before David. He knew that he was not even worthy to look upon the face of the king. He bowed down, paying David honor. he recognized his worthlessness compared to the loftiness and the majesty and the worthiness of the king. And along with this physical demonstration of unworthiness, he gave a confession of lowliness. He calls himself a dead dog. Now, as much as we may like our pets, our dogs, you see, in that time, a dog was considered to be an unclean animal. Dogs were scavengers. They weren't exactly appreciated. And the term dog used for a man was a term of contempt. It was a term of shame. It pointed to complete humility. And Mephibosheth gives it more emphasis by referring to himself as a dead dog. A dead dog is harmless. It's insignificant. It's not a threat. It's not going to bite you. In other words, Mephibosheth is in essence saying that it was far beneath the dignity of the king to even consider him. As one commentator says, a dead dog cannot bite or hurt. It is an object about which the king ought not trouble himself. In essence, that's what Mephibosheth says. Why are you even bothering with me? I'm no threat to you. I have nothing to offer to you. But here the most powerful man in the world at that time saves the lowest and the weakest of men. And indeed, beloved, clearly that points to the fullness of our salvation in Jesus Christ, of those who were dead in trespasses and sins, who are unworthy and unuseful to God, who has poured out His love in Jesus Christ, who sought us when we didn't even want to be found. And we must confess that sometimes, even the way we still act today, we still act as if we really don't want to be found. But He sought us in Jesus Christ. As Paul says in Romans 5, but God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. It's all God's initiative. And David giving Mephibosheth a place at His table is a picture of the Lord's table. A picture of God's kindness. The table is a picture of God's kindness to us in Jesus Christ. It is visible proof of our restoration and our provision for eternity. Indeed, as we were vividly reminded this morning by nature, we have nothing to contribute to the cause of Christ. Nothing to contribute to the cause of our salvation. The only thing that we can contribute is to harm God's kingdom and His name, to bring shame upon Him in and of ourselves. But, beloved, by coming to the Lord's table in faith by the grace of God, we confess, again, nothing in my hands I bring. Simply to Thy cross I cling. And the grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ reminds us that we need God's charity. We are so needy that we need the charity that only God can provide. And that Lord's table, as we gaze upon it, is a visible sermon of God's charity toward helpless sinners. It is a visible sermon of the completeness of our salvation, of His bountiful provision. And that God in Jesus Christ restores, gives everything to us. All that we need for our salvation. He gives everything to us who had nothing. David's kindness shown to Mephibosheth was motivated by grace, but also in the second place, it is a response to God's kindness to David. David experienced God's grace in so many ways, especially through what we might call a covenant of friendship. Now we know as we think about David's history of the story of David from the time that he was called from the sheep to the time that he took the throne. David went through a multitude of experiences that weren't always easy again with King Saul, to be sure. But all along the way, God was protecting him, God was providing for him, and as well he did so through this covenant of friendship that God established between David and none other than Saul's son, Jonathan. That was part of the path to the throne. And notice David expresses from his own lips the motive for his kindness. For Jonathan's sake. Imagine how thrilled he must have been when he was told there is a son of Jonathan. But even before he knew that, for Jonathan's sake, David and Jonathan, we know, had a loyal love for each other. They made a covenant in which David promised, as we read in 1 Samuel 20, to not ever cut off his kindness from Jonathan's family, not even when the Lord had cut off every one of David's enemies from the face of the earth. That's the promise that Jonathan asked David to make. Now again, that time was here. God had cut off David's enemies. He keeps that promise. And now as he looks into Mephibosheth's face, we can imagine that he sees the reflection of his beloved Jonathan and he keeps that promise. Mephibosheth is spared. He is restored not because he was worthy of David's friendship and kindness. The reason came from outside of himself because of the covenant that David had with Jonathan. even as we are reminded in our preparatory form, aren't we, that we come not confessing to find salvation in ourselves, but we seek it outside of ourselves. You see, the same is true for us. We are not loved because of our own merit or because we are worth saving or because we are so lovable or profitable. There is nothing about us worth saving. We have no salvage value. And indeed, that is hard to hear, isn't it? Because by nature we are prideful. By nature we are arrogant. These things are hard to hear, yet at the very same time, as we are emptied of ourselves by the power of the Holy Spirit, this truth of who we are and what God has done for us in Christ is to fill us with amazement. That He would do that. That He should do that. for such as me. It should fill us with gratitude. He did it for Jesus' sake. Again, as Paul says in Galatians 2.20, he speaks of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. Notice the motive and the deed. The motive love and the deed that sprang from that motive gave Himself are both found in Christ. God's kindness to us points back to Jesus rooted in a time long before we even existed. In Reformed theology, we speak of what is called a covenant of redemption. You don't find that phrase in the Bible, but you find the teaching there. And listen closely to this definition of the covenant of redemption. It is a covenant between God the Father and God the Son in which the Father gives the Son, the Father as the Head and Redeemer of His elect, gives the Son to Jesus Christ willingly and voluntarily takes the place of those given to Him by the Father. The Father has given His elect to His Son and the Son promised to take their place. That's the testimony of Scripture. We see that reflected, I believe, in Hebrews 13, verse 20 that speaks of Jesus Christ and His Father in connection with the blood of the everlasting covenant. Peter speaks of being redeemed by the precious blood of Christ and says, He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world. Our salvation is because of something completely outside of us. Because of God's everlasting covenant and the fulfillment of that covenant by God the Son. In Christ Jesus, the Father in love looks on us and He sees the reflection of His only begotten Son who now lives in us. And think about that, beloved. That means that our salvation is no afterthought. It was not something that God all of a sudden decided would be a good idea. Our salvation is not a plan B because plan A fizzled out or didn't work. God planned it long before you or I even existed. It's amazing to me that God should even bring us forth to be born into this life knowing that we will sin against Him. Yet also knowing that He had sent His Son to pay for your sins and mine. The Lord's Table is a reminder to us that Jesus Christ fulfilled perfectly and completely that covenant of redemption and that he secured for his people a place for you and me at heaven's eternal banquet. And because all of God's promises are yes and amen in Jesus Christ, we have the confidence, we have the assurance that he will bring us into that eternal banquet one day. And that already today, those who believe by the grace of God are heirs, we are sons and daughters of God, those who inherit all of his treasures of forgiveness and righteousness and eternal life. And our call then is that God is now pleased to use His restored people. To use you and me. He equips and strengthens and nourishes us by His Word and sacrament that we might be tools in His hand in response to His kindness. To show His kindness and His love. To be channels through which His love goes out into the world. Tools by which the glory of His grace and kindness in Jesus Christ is communicated to a dead, a lame world. Our call is to show the love of God as freely as He has shown it to us. That others might see the amazing grace of God toward those who had nothing to offer to Him in return. To show others, to tell others that there is hope. Look at me! Look at me and you can know that there's hope for you. And therefore, may He make us useful and effective tools for Him. And may we give our lives of praise and thanksgiving and sacrifice back to Him as His kindness to us, like David's to Mephibosheth, finally is guaranteed forever. In verse 13, it says, And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king's table and he was crippled in both feet. Notice Mephibosheth's place. was at the king's table. And that place at the king's table was a sanctuary under which Mephibosheth's lame feet were hidden as if he was whole. As if he wasn't even crippled. That place at the king's table was a haven where he enjoyed rest and gladness. It was a place of protection where he enjoyed security under the comfort of the king's wings. The Lord's table is a reminder indeed of our unworthiness. Yet, it is a place where our imperfection and sin is hidden in Christ. And it is a picture of our haven of rest and gladness and protection. But along with Mephibosheth's place, notice his portion. Very simply, we can summarize his portion in one word, and that's life. He was given new life. a life that he had never known before. Our wages of sin have been paid out against Jesus Christ and have been replaced by his perfect righteousness. So ours is now the gift of God, eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. And just as Mephibosheth ate regularly and continually without interruption, the Holy Spirit is always with us, Nourishing us, caring for us, guiding us. And our fellowship in glory will be eternal without interruption. But then also we say one word about Mephibosheth's patronage to David, his devotion to David. A few chapters later, we notice that Absalom conspires against his father David. And at that time, Ziba flees with David. And when David says to Ziba, well, where's your master? Ziba makes up a story. He lies and says, well, in essence, well, Mephibosheth, he's taking advantage of your misfortune and he's going to try to reclaim the throne for Saul's family. But later on in chapter 19 again, when David confronts Mephibosheth, he learns that Mephibosheth indeed understood David's grace. Mephibosheth told the truth. Ziba left him behind because he was lame. He understood David's grace. it meant so much to him that he commits himself completely to David. He is willing to let goods and kindred go. Let Ziba have it all, he says. Let us not store up treasures on earth, beloved, where moth and rust consume and destroy. But let us store up treasures in heaven that are eternal, rejoicing here and living from God's kindness as He prepares us to live with Him forever without end. Apart from Jesus Christ, nothing in this life brings true satisfaction. It's only a temporary fix. It will only bring eternal starvation and death. But, God's kindness in Jesus Christ guarantees His eternal protection, His eternal provision, His eternal presence that we can confess boldly plenteous grace with Thee is found. The fullness of salvation and satisfaction, that is the hope of all who turn to Jesus Christ in faith. That's hope for you, hope for me. True contentment is not found in the world's pleasures, but it is found in being filled with nothing less than the fullness of Christ. Beloved, may we, like Paul, count the things of this life as nothing. Instead, rejoicing and knowing that we are found in Christ as righteous. We are a rich people. Rich with the wealth of heaven and all of the blessings earned and given by the host of this table. Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.