I asked Patton Franks, one of the best Bible teachers I know of, for permission to share this valuable article with you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have….
“…at the King’s table.” II Samuel 9:13
The loyalty David showed toward King Saul is a challenge and inspiration to everyone who has been in a place of service. He was forced to flee for his life on several occasions yet refused to take revenge on Saul even when those who had come to his rescue insisted the Lord had delivered Saul into his hand.
In this text Saul’s family has been practically wiped out and David is still trying to demonstrate his love and loyalty to King Saul! At David’s inquiry a grandson is located. This grandson becomes one of the greatest demonstrations in the Old Testament of a recipient of the Grace of God. 
His response to David reflects the hopelessness of his situation. He compares himself to a dead dog. (9:8) What is more descriptive of ruin than a dead dog? That is every human’s condition before meeting the King, we are all as dead dogs. Consider what we know about this man.
- Mephibosheth means “dispeller of shame.” (Strong’s 4648) But he was unable to live up to that name! He was living in fear and expressed his feeling of helplessness at the appearance of David by falling down on his face. (II Sam 9:6) The person who feels he has completely lived up to his potential and gloriously fulfilled his destiny is rare indeed! On the other hand, almost everyone can identify with this man who fell on his face so far from the hoped for potential expressed by his name. He had not dispelled shame but fallen into more shame! A part of the human condition since the fall of Adam has been SHAME!
- When he was only five years old he fell and was crippled for life. (4:4) Someone in a position of trust, perhaps in haste, perhaps through neglect, perhaps through no real fault of their own had been unable to adequately protect this child. He had been permanently scarred by that fall, he was victimized. There are people all around us who bare the scars of neglect and abuse from their child hood.
- A King was searching for Mephibosheth (9:1) King Jesus is in search of the victimized, the neglected and abused! Perhaps you need to know that a King is searching for you today!
- Mephibosheth received a promise from the King. “… I will surely show thee kindness … and will restore thee all the land of … thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table…” (6:7) King Jesus gives us His promise of restoration and healing! Everything of value that has been lost to you is found in His Court around His Table!
- As far as the Biblical record is concerned he alone is left of his father’s house. HE WAS ALONE! King Jesus has promised never to forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5) If we are in relationship with him, we will never be alone!
- He was living (existing!) in the House of Machir. (9:4) Machir comes from a word meaning “to sell, literally …as merchandise… into slavery…” (Strong’s #4353, 4376) In Lodebar which means no pasture. (Strong’s #3810) Could there be any better description of a person out of relationship with Christ? He had failed to live up to his name, he had been dropped and victimized as a child, he was a cripple, he was alone, he was in poverty, he was in a place of no pasture, that is STARVING, he was in fear and shame and all the while the King was searching for him to give him great and marvelous promises and restoration!
- He was “Fetched!” That is an old English word and not in common usage. (9:5) (Strong’s #3947) It means, “… to take…accept… draw… receive … seize … win.” Every one who knows Christ can testify his heart was taken, he was accepted, drawn and seized by the Spirit and his loyalty and affection, won by the Prince of Peace!
- That restoration involved not only what he personally had lost, but it what his father had lost and even what his grandfather had lost! (9:9) People are often trapped in cycles and generations of misery! Violence and addictions ravage whole families leaving individuals alone, broken and ruined. King Jesus searches for those very people with the intention of bringing them into His family and providing all their needs at His Table!
- Some have suggested his deformed feet were hidden beneath the King’s Table his inability becoming totally insignificant!
- Cared for as one of the King’s Children! David said to him, “…eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.” (9:11) There is something about being accepted as one of the family that does something special to the human heart, both to the person being accepted and to the one who extends the trust and love. To eat at the King’s table as one of His sons implies a covenant relationship. The food represents life. If I share my food with you as if you are my child, that indicates everything I have is at your disposal. That food sustains me and gives me strength.
- At the King’s Table all the companions are royalty! Having just been in Leesville, La in the Family Worship Center’s Missions Conference I am very aware of having been at the Table with Royalty! Thirty plus Goer from all over the world, Asia, Africa, Central & South America as well as those working in home Missions and those GREAT FOLKS WHO SEND THEM YEAR AFTER YEAR in every way are Royal Companions and Colleagues with whom anyone would be thankful and honored to be associated!
THE KING INVITES YOU TO SHARE HIS LIFE, HE OFFERS TO YOU THAT WHICH SUSTAINS HIM AND GIVES HIM STRENGTH.
I hope this morning finds you at the King’s Table!