“Invited to the Table” – a message on David and Mephibosheth from 2 Samuel 9

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we continued our summer preaching series entitled “The Pursuit of God: The Life of David.” In my message this weekend, I looked at the story of David and Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9. This whole episode is fascinating, with a lot of background to it in David’s covenantal friendship with Jonathan. It also gave me a chance to explore the journey we have been on as a church to develop accessibility ministry. We are very much at the beginnings and learning so much!

You can find the message outline and video below. You can access the entire series here. Join us for weekend worship in-person or remotely via Eastbrook at Home.

---

“David asked, ‘Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’” (2 Samuel 9:1)

Remembered Promises

David seeks to be faithful to his friendship to Jonathan

David seeks to show lovingkindness to Jonathan’s descendants

David rises above the call to vengeance

Searching Pursuit

David decides to search for an opportunity 

David pursues the opportunity to show lovingkindness

David puts a plan into action related to Mephibosheth

Invited to the Table

David welcomes Mephibosheth 

David provides for Mephibosheth

David honors Mephibosheth

Invited to the Table and Inviting to the Table

Seeing the good news in Mephibosheth

Seeing ourselves as Mephibosheth: welcomed, provided for, honored in Christ

Seeing others as Mephibosheth: welcoming, providing, honoring in Christ

---

Dig Deeper

This week dig deeper in one or more of the following ways:

• Memorize 2 Samuel 9:1 or Matthew 5:44.
• This week, engage with the story of 2 Samuel 9 by evaluating your time and your table. Consider these two questions: 1) what does how you spend your time say about who or what is important? and 2) what does who is invited to your table say about who is important to you? 
• Explore some or all of these resources:
• Andrei Rublev, “Trinity Icon”
• Christine D. Pohl, Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition