God's Grace

This morning, I read Paul’s words to the Corinthians where he pleads with them ‘not to receive the grace of God in vain’ (2 Cor.6:1). The Corinthian believers appeared not to be enjoying all the benefits of God’s grace. Perhaps they had not fully grasped their position in Christ and His salvation.

This position of grace is beautifully illustrated in the story of David and Mephibosheth, where we see the wondrous outworking of King David’s benevolence towards the helpless descendant of Saul. The story is found in its entirety in 2 Samuel 9 and is well worth a read.

David enquires if there is anyone left from the house of Saul to whom he can show kindness (grace) for Jonathan’s sake. Ziba, the servant, informs him of the lame Mephibosheth and the king sends for him out of Lo Debar.

When Mephibosheth presents himself before the king, he falls on his face and David says to him:

Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather, and you shall eat bread at my table continually.  (2 Samuel 9:7)

The word kindness in the verse is the Hebrew word chesed which means much more than kindness. It includes the ideas of grace, benevolence and compassion as well as favour, mercy and pity. Surely every human has experienced the chesed of God. The Christian recognizes these attributes in the gift of salvation. Like Mephibosheth, we have been brought from Lo Debar (literally ‘nothing town’) into the King’s presence through no merit of our own and seated at His heavenly table. Just as Mephibosheth would eat the king’s delicacies continually, we have a daily invitation to feast on spiritual blessings from God’s own hand. David promises to restore Saul’s land to Mephibosheth; God restores to us all that has been taken from us by the enemy. The devil will rob us of our joy, health, finances, family and our very life, yet God renews, heals and delivers.

Mephibosheth, whose name means ‘from the mouth of shame’, displays deep humility as he receives this news from David. He bows himself again and says, ‘What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?’ It is only through humility that we can approach God and ask for forgiveness and salvation. There is no room for pride in any of our hearts because without God’s grace and favour, we are nothing more than ‘dead dogs’. James writes: But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

Paul’s challenge to the Corinthians remains: may we not have received God’s grace in vain! Let us rejoice that we are seated spiritually among God’s sons and daughters at His table if we have already received His grace! If not, the invitation goes out to you to receive the salvation He offers. You cannot work for your salvation through deeds (remember Mephibosheth was lame) but by faith, as you see the Lord Jesus dying for your sins on the cross, kneel in thankfulness, repent and become a child of God. His grace is marvellous!

We are seated at the King's Table!