My Morning Meal

Undoubtedly his father had great hopes for him . . . envisioned him to be a great man of God. As was the norm, dad named him in accordance with that aspiration . . . he would be called “Exterminator of Idols” or “Dispeller of Shame.” His name was built around a verb . . . he would be a man of action . . . a godly man of action. Just as his father had bravely withstood the Philistines and repelled their aggression and their gods, so too, the boy would stand fast and stand firm for the things of God . . . a mighty warrior . . . a “dispeller of shame.”

But how things change. That day was absolute chaos. The boy’s father and his grandfather had gone up to battle against the Philistines and both were killed on the battlefield. The army of Israel was falling like flies before the enemy . . . the enemy was advancing . . . it was time for the people to flee. The boy, now five years old, was taken up by his nurse and she ran for their lives. But as she ran, she tripped. The boy flew out of her arms . . . crashing to the earth . . . breaking both his ankles. There was no treating the broken joints . . . no setting them back in place so that they would heal properly . . . the damage was done . . . it would be permanent . . . the boy destined for action was now a cripple . . . lame in both feet. Once the grandson of a mighty king of Israel . . . once the hope of his father’s legacy . . . now an orphan . . . a descendant of the “ex-line of kings” . . . unable to walk . . . unable to care for himself much less be a “dispeller of shame.” In fact, his was life lived in shame. The boy’s name? Mephibosheth. (2Sam. 4:4)

Years later the boy is now a young man. A crippled young man. Enter into the young man’s life . . . a king. A king determined to show kindness to the man . . . the kindness of God (2Sam. 9:3). Not that the the man deserved it . . . not that he could repay anyone for any kindness shown him . . . but it was kindness to be shown for the sake of another (2Sam. 9:1). The young man wasn’t aware that he had a benefactor . . . he wasn’t out seeking him . . . instead, the king sent for the young man (2Sam 9:5). When he arrived, he did what men should do before a king, he bowed and prostrated himself (2Sam. 9:6) . . . fear and trembling as he bowed before this king whom his grandfather had hated and had sought to kill . . . this king whom his father had loved with a love which was “wonderful, surpassing the love of women” (2Sam. 1:26) . . . this king who had the power to destroy this last descendant of Saul and thus, might contest the throne.

“Do not fear, says the king, “for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” (2Samuel 9:7 ESV)

Oh, what marvelous grace! God’s kindness shown through the king . . . kindness not shown because of worthiness but for the sake of another. The land restored . . . great wealth given to one unable to earn even a day’s wage. But beyond the wealth, a place at the king’s table. Four times that fact is mentioned in the account. The man lame in both feet would have that shame covered as those feet were placed by another under the king’s table. He would sit at the place of honor . . . he would eat at the table “like one of the king’s sons” (2Sam. 9:11). Not just once . . . not only when he found favor in the king’s sight . . . but this was to be his place continually . . . always . . . the deal was done . . . the sovereign decree of the king final. What restoration . . . what exaltation . . . what amazing grace!

And, each time I come across this amazing story of amazing grace, I can’t help but see in that man with the deformed ankles, this man sitting in this chair. I can’t help but identify with this one who was once of an enemy lineage which opposed the King. I can’t help but envision myself facedown before a mighty King only to hear, “Do not fear . . . I am going to show you God’s kindness . . . not because You deserve it . . . but for the sake of another . . . One who purchased your freedom. I will bless you with spiritual wealth beyond your understanding . . . every blessing in the heavenlies will be deposited to your account. But beyond that, I have reserved a place for you at My table. As a son and heir you have full rights to dine at the table. Your defects will be covered . . . your lame feet hidden . . . as far as the east is from the west it will be remembered no more . . . in My sight . . .and in My presence . . . you are whole . . . and you are wholly accepted.” I can’t help but marvel afresh that I have a seat at the table!

Oh, praise be to the King!!!

It’s one of those questions that causes you to pause. Although the details and circumstance are different, the question resonates deep within . . . you can enter into the mind and heart of the asker and along him inquire of God as to the reason. Just a three word question . . . just 6 letters . . . but one deep meditative query . . . . “Who am I?”

Reading in 2Samuel . . David has been anointed king over a reunited Israel . . . he has taken Jerusalem and established it as the capital of Israel and more importantly as Zion, the city of God . . . the ark has been moved to the city . . . and David, recognizing God’s favor in this “post-Saul” season of life, desires in his heart to build a more permanent structure for the ark of God. After all, David’s dwelling is in a house of cedar, the ark is in a tent of animal skins . . . shouldn’t something be done for such a great God? David desires to build God a house . . . but . . . God says, “Hold on a sec . . .

“And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. . . . I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom . . . I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever . . . And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.” (2Samuel 7:11b-16 ESV)

“Build me a house?” God says, “Not right now . . . instead, I’m going to build you a house . . . an everlasting heritage . . . an eternal throne . . . a forever established reign.” Talk about your “exceeding expectations.” Talk about your “above and beyond.” Talk about your “whodda’ thunk?” And what do you do when you realize that God’s river of blessing is more like flood . . . that His grace is not just amazing but abundant . . . that His love is not just shed abroad in our hearts but envelopes us completely? What do you do? What can you do? . . . but ask a three word, six letter question . . .

“Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, ‘Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?'” (2Samuel 7:18 ESV)

When David hears the word of the Lord . . . as he fully comprehends the implications of the promises of God . . . he sits down. It’s not about getting busy to make God something in appreciation . . . it’s about resting . . . and reflecting . . . and then responding . . . “Who am I, O Sovereign God?”

I love to read the promises of God . . . I love to claim the promises of God . . . but God forbid that I should presume upon the promises of God or feel any sense of entitlement. Instead, the promises of God, should from time to time be a catalyst for me to humble myself in awe and wonder and wonder afresh, “Why me, Lord?” To be reminded that who I am is not who I was . . . but that He chose to love who I was . . . and determined to transform me into who I am . . . and purposes to complete the work He begun and make me into who I will be in the fullness of that day when I am with Him.

Who am I? I am a sinner saved by grace . . . I once was lost but now am found . . . I am purchased from the slave market of sin . . . I am a holder of a heavenly passport indicating my citizenship in heaven . . . I am an adoptee, brought freely and fully into all the rights of sonship and made a joint heir with the Son of God . . . whoever I am, it is because of what He has done. It is because He has chosen to love me regardless of who I was.

Oh, to take a few moments now and then and marvel at the promises of God . . . to remember that “all the promises of God in [Christ] are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God” (2Cor. 1:20) . . . and to humble myself before the God of promises and in loving, appreciative worship, lift my voice to heaven and say, “Who am I, O Lord God . . . that you have brought me thus far?” Oh, to Him be all praise and glory . . . amen?

It’s so easy to think it’s mine. So easy to forget that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights” (James 1:17). Easy to forget that it’s all a gift . . . and somehow start thinking I earned it and so I deserve it. My reading this morning in 1Samuel’s got me tracking on this line of thought. Kind of buried amidst a complicated story of deception involving David and the lords of the Philistines (1Sam. 27, 29, 30), God sets up a scenario where, in a place you might least expect to find it, grace jumps off the page. And, as I think about, it all comes down to the fact that grace is not about being fair.

So, here’s the “Pete’s Notes” summary of the plot line. Fearing Saul, David heads to the land of the Philistines and manages to convince at least one of the reigning kings there that he and his rag tag group of 600 men, along with their wives and children, are refugees. They seek a kind of “political asylum” as they convince Achish, king of Gath, that not only is Saul done with David, but that David and his entourage are done with Saul and the Israelites. David cleverly maintains a rouse that convinces Achish of David’s loyalty . . . so much so, in fact, that when all the kings of the Philistines rally together to go to war against Israel, David is invited (probably more of a “strong suggestion”) by Achish to join the Philistine army. But the rest of the Philistine kings don’t trust David and dismiss him and his army and send them back to their home, Ziklag.

David and Co. return only to find that while they were away, their town had been visited by marauding Amalekites who raided the city, razed the city, and took all their women, children, and livestock for their own. After inquiring of the Lord, David and his men head out to rescue their families and recover their possessions. So all 600 men head out but, along the way, 200 men simply run out of gas. They are exhausted . . . unable to keep after the Amalekites. And so David leaves them behind at the brook Besor (1Sam. 30:9). And, as a weary army at 66% fighting capacity, David and the remaining men overtake the Amalekites . . . wipe them out . . . rescue their families . . . return their livestock . . . AND . . . end up with all the Amalekites flocks and herds as plunder. Now here’s where it gets interesting.

When David and his men return to the 200 left behind and it becomes evident that David is about to not only return family and possessions to the 200, but also share with them the spoils of their victory, there arises some “wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David” who object to the 200 sharing in the spoils. There reasoning? They didn’t go . . . they didn’t fight . . . the don’t deserve any of the plunder (1Sam. 30:22). Ok, I get the logic of the argument. They way my kids might have put it when they were younger is, “How come she gets some. She didn’t help. That’s not fair!!”

But you know what? Praise God, that it’s not about what’s fair! Amen? Check out David’s response:

But David said, “No, my brothers! Don’t be selfish with what the LORD has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us. Who will listen when you talk like this? We share and share alike — those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.” (1Samuel 30:23-24 NLT)

Bam! Grace rears it’s glorious head! True, says David, they didn’t go into battle . . . they did run out of gas . . . but “brothers” . . . and we are family . . . what we’re bringing back is what the Lord has given us. No way we should have won that battle . . . but God is good . . . the battle was the Lord . . . and we share in the spoils. How can we be selfish with the goodness of God . . . how can we not show favor on others given the favor shown us.

I love it! We’re family. What we have is only because of what God has given. And grace received should result in grace being given. And that’s not fair! Hallelujah!

There are at least 3 or 4 sermons wrapped up in 1Samuel 25 . . . there’s the sermon of the stupid man . . . there’s the sermon of the cranky king-to-be who goes over the top ’cause he’s hungry . . . and, there’s the love story sermon where cranky king-to-be determines to wipe-out stupid man, girl intervenes for stupid man, king-to-be meets girl, girl calms down king-to-be, stupid man dies, king-to-be proposes to girl, girls say yes, king-to-be marries girl — you know, one of those everyday, happy ending, love stories . . . “a story as old as time, Ulysses.” There are lessons to be learned in each of these story lines. But there’s at least one other story here, that for some reason, absolutely grabs me this morning . . . the sermon of the beautiful lady.

If I were to quiz a group of Bible familiar people on who the great women of the Bible were, I’m guessing the responses might be Mary or Ruth or Esther or the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31. Maybe some would recall Deborah the “judgette.” But would anyone blurt out “Abigail?” I don’t think I would have . . . at least not before this morning. There is something about the quality of character of this woman that just jumps off the page this morning . . . an inner beauty rooted in wisdom and humility.

Abigail, the wife of Nabal (aka the “stupid man”), is woman who was “discerning and beautiful” (1Sam. 25:3 ESV). So, she’s a looker . . . but in the Holy Spirit’s summary of Abigail, that she is described as beautiful is listed second . . . her preeminent quality is that she was discerning or, of “good understanding” as the NKJV says. Both the NASB and NIV say she was “intelligent” but to read that and conclude that she was just really smart would be coming up short. The idea in the original language seems to be that of insight, or good sense, or wisdom . . . Abigail was a woman of good understanding, of discernment. She knew what her husband was like . . . she knew how to take action to avert disaster by David’s hand (aka the “cranky king-to-be”). And take action she did.

Not only was she insightful . . . she was compassionate, and bold, and resourceful. Technically, she had nothing to worry about . . . David’s “over the top” determination was to kill Nabal and all his male servants (1Sam. 25:22 . . . see how being really hungry can make a guy really cranky . . . and a bit crazy?). So Abigail, being of the “Venus” variety, didn’t have to worry about her own skin. But you sense that this woman of God wasn’t wired to think just about herself. When one of Nabal’s young men gets wind of what David’s plotting he runs to who? . . . he runs to Abigail. She hears . . . she fears . . . she springs into action. She loads up the donkeys with food and heads out to persuade David to change course of action. And check out, how she does that!

With humility she falls on her face and bows before David (25:23) . . . and then she says, “On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be!” (25:24) What bravery . . . what humility . . . what true beauty! With face to the ground she pleads with David to see her as the failing point and to allow her to attempt to atone for it. It was her fault, she says, that she was not there when David’s men arrived looking for lunch and thus had to deal with Nabal. So she says, “Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant” (25:28). And though she humbles herself before the one she knows is the “king-to-be” she also boldly reasons with him . . . suggesting that, should he fulfill his desire to avenge himself on Nabal by killing him and his male servants, he would eventually regret it — it would bring grief and inflict on his conscience “the staggering burden of needless bloodshed” (25:31 NIV).

What a woman! Incidental that she had outward beauty . . . but the beauty of her character bursts forth like glorious rays of the sun peeking over the hills at dawn! She is wise . . . she is insightful . . . she is compassionate . . . she is resourceful . . . she is articulate . . . and above all, she is humble. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.” (James 4:10) Isn’t that the essence of true beauty . . . for a male or female . . . authentic humility?

She humbles herself . . . and she is exalted. God is David’s avenger . . . God is the judge of Nabal’s selfish and arrogant behavior . . . when Nabal realizes how close to disaster he came, he has a heart attack and eventually dies (25:37-38). David recognizes God’s protecting hand on him . . . that it was God who used this woman of God to prevent David from doing something really dumb. And the beauty of Abigail attracts David . . . the inner beauty of this classy lady connects with this “man after God’s own heart” . . . and he proposes to her . . . and, in true Abigail fashion, she bows her face to the earth and says, “Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” (25:41)

Wait-a-minute!!! . . . there it is!!! . . . who else do I know who was willing to be a servant and wash the feet of others? That’s why this lady stands out! . . . that’s what attracts my attention to her this morning . . . that’s the source of her beauty . . . that’s the secret . . . Abigail had the heart of Christ . . . her beauty was in the “hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious” (1Peter 3:4). She bore the spirit of the Son of God. Now that’s real beauty! Amen?