We are gathered here at the royal table of the greater David, the one who has graciously invited us to take this meal together with him. As the Lord Jesus is the one greater than David, so we are like Mephibosheth, descended from an enemy of the king, and with no great power of our own—crippled in our feet. And yet, the kindness of the king is extended to us, and though we were once far away, we have now been brought near through blood of the everlasting covenant.
As Mephibosheth discovered, to his dismay, if there is one thing worse than to be a defeated enemy, it is to be a defeated enemy, graciously forgiven, and then to be accused of treachery in response to that kindness. In his case, the accusation was a false one, but there are two lessons for us to draw from it as we gather at this Table.
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The first is obviously that we should refrain from all sin, for what is sin but treachery against the one who has cleansed and forgiven us? He did all this when He didn’t have to, and we should always remember this. The other is to guard ourselves from situations that could plausibly result in us being accused of such treachery. There will often be a Ziba around somewhere, ready to take advantage.
This is a Table of thanksgiving. This is a Eucharistic meal. It is our responsibility, therefore, to avoid ingratitude, to give thanks to God, and to look like we are offering and giving thanks.