The King's grace. When the King
is gracious, how gracious it is. Turn in your Bibles if you would
to 2 Samuel chapter 9 please. Picture in your mind when you
think of a king's table, a royal table, a royal feast, a royal
meal. I don't know about you, but I
picture about this long table, 30, 40, maybe more, sitting at it. Servants all around. Angels
ministering to those who have been called to sit at the king's
table. And the first thing you get is,
you get this bowl of soup brought to you, and you eat it up before
everybody else does, they bring another one, before you can even
set your spoon down in an empty bowl, a new bowl comes before
you, or the next part of the meal comes before you, and then
the next, and then the next, and there's always leftover.
There's always more than enough. It's the king's table. Everything
belongs to him. It's the king's table. We come
together once a month and have our fellowship dinner. Once a
month we put together a table to sit around and have fellowship
with each other. Do you know we come to the king's
table every time we gather together to worship Him. We come to the feast of our Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who feeds us with His righteousness,
with His works, with His love, with His grace, with His mercy. And it's abundant. There's never
not enough. When you sit and think about
your sins that we've committed this week, this day, this very
hour, and we think, is there enough at the king's table to
wash it away? Is there enough at the king's
table to fill what I've lost in this flesh? Oh folks, there's
more than enough. It's the King. Everything belongs
to Him. And He has given everything to
us, His people. Now what it says, let me read
that over in Romans chapter 8. Let me just read that for you. Good words. Some of you can close
your eyes and quote this perfectly without needing me to read it.
But just in case you can't, I want to read it for you. What shall
we say then to these things? If God be for us, who can be
against us? If the King be for us, who can
be against us? He that spared not His own Son,
The King that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up
for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us
all things? Is there enough? I think about this as I think
about the King's table. The Lord sat on His table on
a hill. Four thousand men. And their
wives and their children sat around the Lord on this hill.
And the Lord called upon his disciples to bring what food
they had. What did they have? They had
a couple of loaves of bread and a couple of fishes. Well, this
isn't going to be enough. This is the king. Everything
belongs to him. And what he doesn't have, he'll
create. And that's exactly what he did.
He created food in those baskets over and over and over again.
There was always enough in the basket for the next man. It didn't get down to where there
was just a little bit left in the basket when he got down to
the end of all those people. No! There were seven baskets
full left over. He's the king! This is the table
that we come to every Sunday. We wander through the world,
the shadow of death, with everything in chaos around us. And I'm happy
about where we're at right now, where we're going with this country.
But folks, this is the world. It's dying in front of our faces. It's dying. Everything dies. Sin has cursed the world that
we walk in. It has cursed the flesh that
we live in. I don't know about you, but I'm
hungry. I'm hungry. I need fed again. Lord, redeem us again. Redeem
us with Your Word. Right after the Scripture, we're
going to come to the table after we have our fellowship meal.
And right after the Scripture that we read in 1 Corinthians
11, We read these words right after
we take up the cup, we find these words. For as often as you eat
this bread and drink this cup, you do show
the Lord's death till he come. This is coming to the Lord's
table. This is coming to the table of
remembrance. I want to talk a bit this morning
about the King's table. The King's table is always a
feast. It's always all the food and drink that you need. That
table we come to every time we gather in His name, every time
we come together to worship, we come to His table. We come
to His table, the table with all that one would need, a table
that overflows with grace, mercy, and love. Here in 2 Samuel, we
are given a picture of how all of Christ's children that he
died for come to this table where the king sits. Are you with me
in 2 Samuel 9? Let's begin reading at verse
1. And David said, now this is just after David had beaten all
of those who were against him. After he had conquered all the
battles that God had brought before him. finally sitting on
his throne in Israel in peace, and he says, is there yet any
that is left of the house of Saul? You know, back in those
days, it was common to just wipe out the whole house. Just take
them all out. In some places today, it's the
same thing. If you fight a battle between Two people who want to
be the king of a country, the one who wins the battle kills
everybody in the family on the other side. They don't want any
heirs left of the other king to come up against them. And
David says, Yet is there any left of the
house of Saul that I may show him kindness? Now check this
out. Look here. Jonathan's sake. Is there anyone that I can be
merciful to? Not because they deserve it,
not because they owe me something, not because they can earn it
in any way, but for Jonathan's sake. Let's go on. And there was at the house of
Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called
him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And
he said, Thy servant is he. And the king said, is there not
yet any of the house of Saul that I may show the kindness
of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king,
Jonathan hath yet a son which is lame on his feet. He's lame. He can't even walk. And the king said unto him, where
is he? And Ziba said unto the king, behold, he is in the house
of Machir, the son of Amel in Lodibar. Then King David sent
and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Amel, of
Lodibar, from Lodibar. And when Meshibosheth, the son
of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was coming to David, he fell
on his face and did reverence. And David said, Meshibosheth,
Meshibosheth, And he answered, Behold thy servant. And David
said unto him, Fear not. The king. You know, I can imagine. He's brought before the king
and the first thing that Mephibosheth would have thought is, I'm going
to go just like the rest of my family. He'd have been in great
fear. Why? Because he deserved it. Great fear because there was
punishment to be a member of the family of Saul. Yet the king said to him, just
like he says to each and every one of his children when he calls
us out of darkness, when he calls us into the marvelous light of
his son, our savior, our redeemer, our propitiation for our sins. And he says, fear not. For I will surely show thee kindness. That's the same word as mercy.
I shall surely show you mercy. For Jonathan, thy father's sake. Not because of anything of you,
Not for anything that you have done, but for Jonathan. For his sake. Did you know that
Jonathan means Jehovah given? Christ was given that man might
live. See the picture here? for your
Father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy
father, and thou shalt eat bread at my table." What did I just
read a moment ago for you from the book of Romans? Remember
what I just read a moment ago? What was it? He that spared not
his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not
with him also freely give us all things. Do you see the picture
of how God saves His people? He doesn't wait around for you
to make a decision. He doesn't wait for you to come
down to the front and say a prayer. He doesn't wait for you to get
into the waters of baptism. He comes to you right where you
are. Right where you are in this world, lost, dead, and trespasses
in sin, and in mercy, And in grace, He calls us unto Himself. He fetches us unto Himself. Notice in verse 7, the mercy
was not for anything that Mephibosheth had done, but for Jonathan's
sake. This mercy, this grace, this
gracious act was in accordance to a pact, a covenant that was
made between David and Jonathan Long ways back. Hear these words
from the Psalms. Psalm 6 verse 4, Return, O Lord,
deliver my soul, O save me for Thy mercy's sake. That's what we cry. I've got
nothing to stand on. If you're holding on to one thing,
oh, I decided to follow Christ in such and such a day, or whatever. If you're holding on to one thing
that has to do with you in salvation, throw it away! Leave it behind! It's unworthy
to even be looked at as something that could add to your salvation. cry out, deliver my soul, O save
me for Thy mercy's sake, not for mine. I've got nothing to
offer Him. And if you're a child of God,
you're saying the same thing in your heart right now. I've
got nothing for you, God. If you're going to save me, it's
going to have to be for Your mercy's sake. Listen to Psalms 25, verse 7. Remember not the sins of my youth,
nor my transgressions according to thy mercy. Remember thou me
for thy goodness sake, O Lord, again. Why remember me? Why seek upon me? For thy goodness
sake. Psalm 25 verse 11, For thy name's
sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great. Can you pray
that prayer for you? Is that a prayer that God has
given you to cry out from your own heart? Do your iniquities
trouble you where you cry out, Lord, save me? Not because of
me, but for thy goodness sake. For Thy name's sake, listen to
Psalms 31 verse 3, for Thou art my rock and my fortress, therefore
for Thy name's sake, lead me and guide me. Again, our cry
again is not for anything that we have done, but for Thy name's
sake. To glorify Your Son, the Lord
Jesus. Are you seeing the picture here?
There's nothing in Mephibosheth to warrant such mercy? Could
you imagine what that would be like? You're in a small hovel
somewhere, maybe even a mansion, but it's nothing like the king's
house. No, the king, he's got many, many rooms. A table fit
for everybody. A table with enough food on it
to cover all for whom have been brought to sit at that table. Remember what it was like the
first time the Lord brought you to hear His gospel? Can you look
back and remember? It was over 26 years ago now
for me. And I can remember it as yesterday. Lord helped me
never to forget that ugly pit that I was walking in for all
those years. That ugly pit that He drew me
out of. What was that ugly pit? Was it a pit of sin? Absolutely. But here's the worst part about
that pit was I was my own God. I was the determination of where
I was going, what I was doing, and now I see Him for who He
is, King of all, Lord of all. You can't see that, folks. That's
a mystery to the world. We can tell the world all about
how sovereign God is about something, and they even believe that he's
sovereign to a certain point until it comes to their souls.
Until it comes to their destination. No, I make a decision when I
want to follow Christ. If God left it up to us, to make
that decision, we'd be just like them, wouldn't we? We would be
just like we were before He called us out of darkness, walking in
darkness. The mercy for the people of God
is for Christ's sake, not for ours. Because Christ humbled
Himself and became flesh, He was manifest in the flesh as
we looked at in our Bible study this morning. Because Christ
humbled Himself and became obedient. That's right. He was obedient
to God the Father. God the Father said, this people
have I given to you, but you must go and save them from their
sins. You must go and pay the price
for their iniquity. And that's exactly what He did.
He was obedient unto the Father. A covenant that was made between
the great three in one. This picture This picture is a picture of
God's people being saved by Christ, and for Christ's sake, and for
Christ's sake alone. This record is a picture of eternal
covenant made between God the Father, God the Son, before the
world was. As I said a moment ago, God the
Father gave God the Son a people, and God the Son was given to
redeem this people by laying down His life, by shedding His
own blood, by being obedient unto the Father, being made sin
for them. Doesn't that boggle your mind? Doesn't that boggle your mind?
God being made sin. That's a mystery that I don't
think any of us are going to understand until we stand before
the Lord Jesus in heaven. I know there's men out there
who try very hard to explain that. But I'm one who just puts
my hands up and says, I don't know how to explain it. But I
know it's so. God Almighty was made sin that
I would be made the righteousness of God in Him. Notice in verse 5 we read, David
sent and he fetched him. Turn over to John chapter 5 if
you would. John chapter 5. In John chapter 5, there's two
verses I'd like you to read. We're looking at this picture
being brought to the king's table. We've seen who the king is. The
king is the Lord Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. And for His
sake, we have been brought to His table. Look what it says
in verse 39 of John chapter 5. Search the Scripture. For in
them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which
testify of me." So we know that the entire Bible is the Word
of God and that it testifies of Him. You search through the
Scriptures. It's like we read over in Luke chapter 24. Let
me turn over there real quick and read it for you. Luke chapter
24. It's like we read there. He says, "...and beginning of
Moses, And all the prophets he, the Lord Jesus, expounded, explained
unto the two men on the road to Emmaus, explained to them
in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. That's what
this is talking about, searching the scriptures. Everything in
this book is about our Savior, the Lord Jesus. Now look at verse
40. And ye will not come unto me
that ye might have life. That's Mephibosheth. He would
not come to David. He could not come to David. You
can put the medicine on the side of the table. You know what?
It does you no good because you can't reach over and grab it.
You need somebody to give you the medicine for you. And that's
our Savior. He sends somebody to fetch us,
to give us the medicine, and He is that medicine. That's our nature. Our nature
is we will not come to Christ, That's one of those things. I
asked this question in Bible study. I was like, have you ever
had a discussion with somebody about something in Scripture
and you're thinking to yourself, why can't they see that? It's
so obvious. It is now. People read these
very same words that you and I read. How come they don't understand
that they cannot come to Christ? How come they don't understand
that it's not their decision that brings them to Christ? It's
purely simple enough to you and I, is it not? We see it clear
as a bell. That's because God the Father
had to reveal it to our hearts. And you will not come to me that
you might have life. You know what that does for a
child of God? It manifests His grace. It manifests
the mercy the very grace and mercy that David was showing
to his fellowship. I'll not kill the whole family
of Saul. Is there one? Is there one yet
that I can be merciful to? Go get him. Go get John Reeves. Bring him and set him down right
over here in the pew. right next to his brother and
sister, and then have me presented to him and the table that is
full of everything that he needs. The king's table. The king's table had to go through
rescue. Just as Christ said, I must needs
go through Samaria, the king's table had to come
to rescue. He went to Samaria. He must needs
go to Samaria to fetch a woman at the well. It was the day of
his power for her. It was the day of his love for
her. The day that she would be fetched under the king's table.
This is the irresistible drawing grace that God sends the Word
of Grace out, and the Holy Spirit fetches His chosen people from
all the corners of the earth. He says, all that the Father
giveth me shall come to me. He calls them out from every
nation, from every tongue, from every tribe, from every generation. All for whom Christ died are
fetched to eat of the living bread from the King's table continually
to feast upon Him." Listen to John 6, verse 51. Our Lord says, I am the living
bread that came from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread,
he will live forever. That's the King's table. And
indeed, the bread which I give, He goes on to say, is my flesh.
and I will give for the life of the world. Now turn over to
the 13th chapter of John, if you would, John chapter 13. What I want us to see here in
John 13 is what kind of king whose table we have come to. We've come to the king's table
of humility. We've come to the king's table
of compassion. We've come to the King's table
of humbleness, one of loving kindness. Look at verse 1, if
you would, of John chapter 13. Now before the feast of the Passover,
when Jesus knew that His hour was come, that he should depart
out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were
in the world, he loved them unto the end, and supper being ended,
the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot Simon's son to betray him, Jesus,
knowing that the Father had given all things into these hands,
and that he has come from God and went to God, he riseth from
the supper, and laid aside his garments, and took a towel, and
girded himself. After that he poureth water into
a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them
with the towel wherewith he was dirty. They had come to the king's
table. Remember, what I want you to
see in these verses, this is the king in his humility. This is the king in his compassion. This is the king in his humbleness. This is the King and His loving
kindness towards us. The King of all kings stripped
Himself and knelt down and washed the feet of them of whom He has
loved. Listen to Philippians. Paul writes
in Philippians 2, verses 5-8, Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ, in Christ Jesus, who being in the form
of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made
himself of no reputation." That's what we just read there, isn't
it? Look at this one, who is the King of Kings, stripping
all of his clothing off. Does that sound like a picture
of God being made sin? What was it that it says about
Adam and Eve in the garden? They were naked. When they had
disobeyed God, when sin had entered into this world, they were naked. Here He is, the King of all kings,
stripping Himself of His own clothing. The very One who humbled Himself
and came down to this earth, stripped. He was made sin. The sin He was made was open
and bare to all. And He washed. He washed His
disciples' feet. Washed them clean. That's what
He did when He went to the cross. He washed us clean with His own
precious blood. He who knew no sin was made sin,
that we would be made the righteousness of God in Him. Let this mind
be in you, that He took upon Him the form of a servant, and
was made in the likeness of men, and being found in a fashion
as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death. even the death of the cross. Look at verse 6. John 13 verse
6, Then cometh he to Simon Peter, and Peter saith unto him, Lord,
dost thou wash my feet? And Jesus answered and said unto
him, What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter. You don't realize Peter. You
don't realize just yet. But I'm going to reveal it to
you how much you're going to need this, and you are going
to know what it's all about. Verse 8, Peter saith unto him,
Thou shalt never wash my feet. And Jesus answered him, If I
wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. We're talking about
coming to the king's table. The humble king. He who deserves
all glory. All majesty, all power, everything! Humbling Himself for us. For His people. Unto us, a Son, a Child was born. Unto us, a Son was given. Verse 9, Peter saith unto Him,
not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. We come to the King's table continually
until the Lord comes to remind us of the love that was shed
upon us by Him who humbled Himself and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the cross. We come to the King's table to
lift up what He has done for His people. As Moses lifted up
the brazen serpent, we lift up our Lord. Is Christ Jesus your
Lord? Is He your King? Then come to
the King's table. He came as a servant. He came
as a sacrifice. He came as my substitute. And we are made clean by His
obedience to His Father's will. What is the Father's will? It's
so clear. that Jesus Christ should lose
none. I was speaking with someone this week who is struggling with sin in
their life. I could have been talking to
myself. Would have made no difference. For I struggle with that as well. And they were struggling with
what to do. Their desire was for this, and
Scripture says this. And I reminded them that whether
they do this or don't, and I'm not encouraging anybody to...
I made this very clear. I'm not encouraging you to sin.
I'm just telling you that if you're in Christ, He has done
it perfectly for you. He has fulfilled it perfectly
for you. Everything we need, folks, go
out, be ye holy, for our God is holy, but we have an advocate
in heaven, as it says in 1 Peter. 1 Peter chapter 2, I believe
it is. We have an advocate in heaven
who is making intercession for us right this moment. We are
made clean not by anything we have done. We have been invited
to the King's table not for anything that is in us, but for our Savior's
sake, for His name's sake, for His goodness' sake, for the Lord
Jesus Christ's sake, we've been invited to sit at the King's
table. Not just for a moment, not just for one meal, but for
eternity. For eternity. We are washed in His blood, washed
clean as snow is white. Our sins are remembered no more. Look over at Hebrews chapter
10 with me if you would, and I'll bring this to a close. Turn
over to Hebrews chapter 10. This is the King's table. This is the table where our King
sits right now. There are those who preach that
the Lord Jesus is going to return to this earth and reign a thousand
years. I'm here to tell you this morning
that our God reigns right now. He's not waiting till he comes
back to this earth. He's sitting on his throne right
now. Look at verse 12, if you would, or verse 9. Look at verse
9, if you would. Then said he, Lo, I come to do
thy will. Remember what we just read about
him. He was obedient unto death. Thy
will, O God, he taketh away the first, that he may establish
the second, by the which will we are sanctified through the
offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Now look at verse 12. But this
man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat
down on the right hand of God. There he is, sitting on his throne.
Verse 13. From henceforth, expecting till
his enemies be made his footstool, for by one offering he... And this is what I reminded,
that dear member of the family, that dear
member of Christ's family, I reminded them that we are perfected forever,
and it was Him, them that are sanctified, set apart. By one
offering, by His one offering, He hath perfected forever them
that are sanctified. Verse 15, Wherefore the Holy
Ghost is also a witness to us, For after that he had said before,
this is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,
saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and into
their minds will I write them. Does the law of God bother you?
If you sin, it should. And their sins and iniquities will
I remember no more. Now where the remission of this
is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren,
boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new
and living way which He hath consecrated for us through the
veil, that is to say His flesh, and having a high priest over
the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith. having our hearts sprinkled from
an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. I thought about this song that
we sing, these words from the psalm, Nothing but the Blood
of Jesus. No other fount I know, nothing
but the blood of Jesus. Folks, the King's table has all
that we need to stand before God, perfected forever by His
one offering. Amen.