Worship

“The Table” by Jonathan Traylor

Scripture

“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.”

Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.

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.”

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 at my table always.”

And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”

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.” -2 Samuel 9:3,5-9 (ESV)

Understanding God’s Heart Through Scripture

I can imagine David singing this song to Mephibosheth, with all the exuberance and passion of Jonathan Traylor. This young crippled man was simply fearing for his very life all while living in hiding. Perhaps David would never think to ask if there was a descendant of Saul (the next potential heir in Saul’s lineage), and his life would be spared. But the plot thickens, and David seeks him out, calls him out, and gives him a new identity as royalty at the king’s table.

Our Identity in Christ

We stand at the beginning of a new year—2022. And nothing rings more true than this Scripture:

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.” -Romans 8:15-17,19 (ESV)

The world is waiting for us to recognize where we are seated, whose we are, and the table that we are invited to dine at. Can you not hear the love of King Jesus in the voice of David to Mephibosheth? In spite of all of Mephibosheth’s fears and inadequacies, lame feet and fearfulness, David calls him in close. Not only does he get to receive an invitation to the king’s table, but he receives his inheritance of wealth and abundance.

Meeting People in Their Pain

On Christmas Eve, our church gave an invitation for anyone who had lost a loved one in 2021 to come and “remember” and light a candle in that person’s honor. I watched as so many went forward, deeply grieving and remembering. My heart was completely overwhelmed seeing the depth of suffering in so many people all at once. So it is with this crossing over into 2022. Many are hobbling over with what feels like lame feet. Some are in hiding and in fear of their very lives. Some are in deep places of grieving, and others are in the transition of new seasons of life. The world has been shaken, and nothing seems more accurate than the metaphorical picture of Mephibosheth.

God’s Invitation to His Table

And the loving voice of your Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace is calling to his Bride to come and sit at His table and dine with Him as His royal sons and daughters. He knows when our feet just can’t seem to run and fear has overtaken us. But His roar and what He is declaring over His glorious inheritance champions our souls and walks us into victory!

We don’t know what 2022 holds on a global level. But it’s time to sit at the table of the King and receive our inheritance—to share in all his treasures and inherit all that He has for us. It’s time to feast on His goodness and His abundance and prepare for the year ahead. It’s time to receive like Mephibosheth because:

• Your King isn’t waiting for you to get it all in order before you come sit at His table.
• Your King has His eyes on you and is calling your name. He is calling you out of hiding. Shame and fear need to go.
• Your King has a continual feast for your spirit and your soul that you will need for the days ahead. It’s time to be restored in your identity like only He can do.
• His kindness toward you is a covenant that will never be broken, no matter what you believe about yourself or how you perform.
• His love pursues you before you ever knew you needed it.
• Your King has the provision you need right now, and you better bet it’s more than enough for all you need physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally, vocationally, and spiritually.

And the beauty of receiving all this truth and all His treasures, is that you get to be David to your Mephibosheths:

• We get to seek out our enemies and bless them.
• We get to go and find the lame, broken, hidden, poor, and desperate and bless them and bring them the revelation of Jesus.
• We get to abundantly bless others more than they deserve.
• We get to bring the love of Jesus to those least expecting.

This is the story that the Holy Spirit gave to me as we enter 2022 for the sake of a world that is shaken, broken, isolated, and in pain. Go and find your Mephiboseths after you dine at the table of your King. It’s time to get ready to run into this year with the understanding of our identity, authority, and inheritance.

I am partnering with Christina McCracken (a dear friend and mentor to me) to co-lead eight weeks on this very topic (identity, authority, and inheritance). The Bride of Christ must get her roar back in this hour! We must be established in who we were always meant to be! Beginning January 18, we will gather in person and over Zoom every Tuesday evening from 7-8:30 p.m. CST. The details are below.

I bless you to take your place at the table, hear the voice of your risen Savior calling to you, and come to this hour and this year walking in your glorious identity. The Champion of your life is calling, and He’s making all things new!

Close with this song: “Out of Hiding” by Steffany Gretzinger & Amanda Cook

“The beginning and the end of all Christian leadership is to give your life for others.” -Henri J. M. Nouwen, “The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society”

A Few Key Notes

• Thank you to everyone who contributed to Arise’s year-end match to launch chapters in 70 cities! The Lord provided and helped us meet the match! We are grateful for all of you who are on this journey with us.
• Join us January 18 for an eight-week course called “Our Identity: Releasing the Voice of War to Roar.” Christina McCracken and I will co-lead this course to help you understand your identity, authority, and inheritance. We will meet over Zoom every Tuesday from 7-8:30 p.m. Email me at [email protected] to RSVP.
• Join us for a time of prayer from 2:30-3 p.m. on Wednesdays. We will hear from a sister working in one of the hardest to reach places and learn about her ministry. Email Allison Despres at [email protected] for a Zoom link.
• Save the date for an Arise luncheon on February 15! RSVP details are coming soon.
• Join us tomorrow from 2:30-3:30 p.m. over Zoom for a free training for sharing the gospel with people from Arabic backgrounds. Use this link to join the virtual training.