## The Miracle Around the Table

## II Samuel 9:1-13

This week many of us will gather around a Thanksgiving dinner table. Some will be in homes, others may be in restaurants, but it isn't so much the place or even the menu. It is the gathering that makes Thanksgiving special. For this time of year, perhaps more than any other, the gathering takes place around the table.

The title of the message today is "The Miracle Around The Table". Consider this story this morning.

As an act of kindness, a young man had been invited to spend the traditional dinner at a well-to-do family's home. He'd heard about this wealthy family, but had never had any reason to met them. Although it was to be a thanksgiving meal, he wasn't feeling all that thankful. In fact, he felt quite awkward about attending and had wondered why he had accepted the invitation in the first place. He wouldn't know anyone sitting around the table. How would he make conversation? What about his special needs? Would they understand? His disability would no doubt be a source of some embarrassment. His clothes would obviously not be up to par with those of his host. He rehearsed in his head a hundred times why he should not be going; but he also knew this invitation was one he could not refuse. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

He had dealt with hardship and suffering. As a young child he had learned to be a survivor. Suffering a tragic fall as a baby that left him permanently without the use of either leg, he was cripple. When he was but a boy both his father and grandfather were killed in a conflict in the Middle East. And while his family grieved that loss, they were forced to leave their beautiful home, give up their luxurious lifestyle and live in the ghetto-like home. If it were not for the kindness of a man who took him into his home, this young man may have died as a youngster. Instead he was allowed to live and grow into adulthood. All the while isolated from his heritage, his family and the wealth and reputation that could have been his. Not a day went by that the thought of his handicap did not keep him in a self-made prison of regrets and bitterness.

Then one unsuspecting day, he received a letter that changed everything. It was an invitation to a state dinner. He was to be the guest of the head of his country's government. Why him? Why now? What could possibly be the reason? Would he be sorry he accepted the invitation? The questions flooded his mind as he was chauffeured to the palace residence of the head of state.

Entering the elegant surroundings of the huge dining room, he was a bit embarrassed. Acknowledging his host, he bowed to the ground humbly, then dragged his twisted legs underneath the banquet table's linens. To his amazement, his host called out his name. He listened carefully to hear what the king had to say.

The king spoke directly to him. "Do not be afraid, I want to show you kindness. Your father was my best friend. Because of him, I want to give you back what was yours. You will regain the ownership of your father's and grandfather's land. And you will always be a guest my table."

Tears ran down his face. They were tears of relief and joy. As his eyes met the kings, his face found a smile. Reaching for the cup in front of him, he raised it as an offering of thanks. The regrets, the bitterness, the fear with which he had arrived evaporated in the atmosphere of love and acceptance in which he was now surrounded. Everything was different. Even dinner seemed better than any he had ever tasted.

What a story! This is not the them of the newest book by some best-selling author. It is not a script that came out of Hollywood; this is real! The power and emotion of this true account is from the very pages of our Bible. It speaks of a miracle that took place around the table. [4]

Read: 2 Samuel 9:1-13

- This is the story of GRACE.
- Of royalty reaching down to the down and out
- reaching to those clothed in rags
- It's the story of GRACE…but it is more

In the story of King David and Mephibosheth I see an illustration of the power of the TABLE. It's the story of King Saul's grandson, cast aside because of family and physical handicap, unexpectedly being included at the King's family table. It is also a powerful illustration of God's love to us.

I. This Table Was A Place Of Compassion

(2 SAM 9:1) "AND DAVID SAID, IS THERE YET ANY THAT IS LEFT OF THE HOUSE OF SAUL, THAT I MAY SHOW HIM KINDNESS FOR JONATHAN'S SAKE?"

A. Mephibosheth's imperfections were of no consequence

1. He came to the table fully aware of who he was, what he was, and of all of his limitations and flaws

2. Yet the king chose to focus on Mephibosheth's kinship rather than his weakness

B. As a matter of fact: Mephibosheth was invited and looked upon, not because of anything he had done on his own.

1. Mephibosheth was there because of the King's love for another!

a. Is the application clear enough?

b. We come into the Presence of God the Father on no personal merit

(TITUS 3:5-6) "NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY HE SAVED US, BY THE WASHING OF REGENERATION, AND RENEWING OF THE HOLY GHOST; {6} WHICH HE SHED ON US ABUNDANTLY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR;"

2. We come in spite of our flaws, imperfections, in spite of our sin

3. And the King, God the Father, receives us because of our relationship with Jesus Christ, His Son.

4. It is a table that illustrates God's love and compassion, but it is also a table that illustrates...

II. An Expression of Thanksgiving

(2 SAM 9:6-8) "NOW WHEN MEPHIBOSHETH, THE SON OF JONATHAN, THE SON OF SAUL, WAS COME UNTO DAVID, HE FELL ON HIS FACE, AND DID REVERENCE. AND DAVID SAID, MEPHIBOSHETH. AND HE ANSWERED, BEHOLD THY SERVANT! {7} AND DAVID SAID UNTO HIM, FEAR NOT: FOR I WILL SURELY SHOW THEE KINDNESS FOR JONATHAN THY FATHER'S SAKE, AND WILL RESTORE THEE ALL THE LAND OF SAUL THY FATHER; AND THOU SHALT EAT BREAD AT MY TABLE CONTINUALLY. {8} AND HE BOWED HIMSELF, AND SAID, WHAT IS THY SERVANT, THAT THOU SHOULDEST LOOK UPON SUCH A DEAD DOG AS I AM?"

A. Mephibosheth knew that outside the walls of the palace lay a kingdom of people who did not have it nearly as good as he had it at that moment.

1. Perhaps he thought of his own poor village and what friends he had.

2. They had never tasted of such glorious things, or even seen such a palace, it is doubtful that they had even dreamed of them.

B. It was a time for David to show long overdue gratefulness.

1. Kindness: Showing kindness expresses gratefulness

a. We can be kind without being grateful

b. but it's pretty hard to show grate- fulness without being kind!

2. King David understood clearly that it was because of Mephibosheth's father that he was where he was.

a. Jonathan had guarded David's life … he had protected David as a dear friend

b. David needed to show his gratefulness … to someone!

3. We can express our thanksgiving to God…our gratefulness to Him

4. But there are times when we need to put flesh and bone behind our thankfulness and express it to those around us

a. The one's through whom God blesses you daily.

b. The ones that God uses to provide your physical needs.

c. The ones through whom God uses to encourage and strengthen you.

d. We need to share our thanksgiving…

e. When we become ungrateful and selfish the need for thanksgiving is not met - and we in turn become bitter

C. Mephibosheth's expresses his thanks

(2 SAM 9:8) "AND HE BOWED HIMSELF, AND SAID, WHAT IS THY SERVANT, THAT THOU SHOULDEST LOOK UPON SUCH A DEAD DOG AS I AM?"

1. Now that seems pretty harsh doesn't it?

2. But it is the gratefulness of this crippled- man's heart that comes shining through

a. Not, boy, it's about time I get recognized for who I am

b. Not, You ought to be grateful to me

3. Genuine thankfulness for what he had been given, for the compassion, the care, getting His life for the very first time!

It was a table of compassion...It was a table of thanksgiving

III. But It Was Also A Table Of Identity

(2 SAM 9:7) "AND DAVID SAID UNTO HIM, FEAR NOT: FOR I WILL SURELY SHOW THEE KINDNESS FOR JONATHAN THY FATHER'S SAKE, AND WILL RESTORE THEE ALL THE LAND OF SAUL THY FATHER; AND THOU SHALT EAT BREAD AT MY TABLE CONTINUALLY."

A. When Mephibosheth approached the table that day he saw, for the first time, His "name card".

1. This was where he would sit…every day…for every meal!

2. For the rest of his life he would be expected at the King's table

B. The table provides a family…a place to belong…and that in turn gives us our identity

1. Again I am not sure how much explanation we need here.

(SONG 2:4) "HE BROUGHT ME TO THE BANQUETING HOUSE, AND HIS BANNER OVER ME WAS LOVE."

a. We have become a part of God's family

b. We now have our identity in Christ

c. We now have a life like we never ever dreamed…

2. We have still face some of the same frailties, same disabilities, same ailments

3. But we are seated at His table…enjoying His supply…and in spite of our limitations

4. God loves us, cares for us…and calls us His own!

It must have been a wonderful thanksgiving table

1. Filled with compassion

2. With gratefulness

3. With a sense of belonging/ identity

And that is exactly what our Lord Jesus Christ calls us to this morning

1. An understanding of His compassion

2. To praise Him with a heart filled with gratitude

3. To understand that you don't have to be alone anymore, you can be born again and be a part of the family of God.