David, Part 7: A Seat at the King's Table | Bible Stories Retold

David went looking for one of Saul's family, not to hurt him, to feed him. King David brought the Ark of God, the sign of God's presence, up to Jerusalem. There were shouts and trumpets, and David danced before the Lord with all his might. Not like a king, like a man who couldn't hold it in. His wife Michal watched from a window, and she despised him. How glorious the king looked today, dancing around in front of the servant girls. It was before the Lord who chose me. I will celebrate before the Lord, and I will be even more undignified than this. Later, David sat in his palace of cedar, and he thought, I live in a palace, but the Ark of God lives in a tent. I want to build God a house, but God sent Nathan the prophet with a different message. I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people. You won't build me a house. I will build you a house. Your throne will be established forever. David sat before the Lord in wonder. Who am I, he prayed, that you have brought me this far. Then David asked a question, no king asked. Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul? That I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake. A servant named Ziba said, there is still a son of Jonathan. He is lame in his feet. His name was Mephibosheth. When he was five years old, news came that Saul and Jonathan had fallen. His nurse grabbed him and ran, and in her hurry she dropped him. He never walked right again. Now he was a grown man, living in a place called Lo De Bar, a nowhere town, in someone else's house. The king's men came for him. Mephibosheth must have thought, this is it. He came before David and fell on his face. David said, Mephibosheth, here is your servant. Don't be afraid.

I will surely show you kindness, for your father Jonathan's sake. I'll give you back all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you will eat at my table, always. He bowed and said, who is your servant that you would look at a dead dog like me? From then on, Mephibosheth ate at the king's table, like one of the king's sons. He was still lame in both his feet. But at the table, no one could see that. All they could see was a son. Mephibosheth expected punishment. He got a seat at the table. Maybe you see yourself the way he did, a dead dog, somebody who doesn't deserve a thing. That's not how the king sees you, and David knew how to give grace like this. Very soon, he would need grace more than anyone. [Music]