ARCC Sermons

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May 17th

The Bible reading today reveals the sad, the bad, and the ugly of men. But sovereignly above all of that, God is seen at work to fulfill His divine purposes....2 Samuel 16-18.

Ahithophel, long-time family friend, and counselor of David chose to desert David and stay in Jerusalem with David’s rebellious son Absolom. Word got back to David that Ahithophel counseled Absolom to give him 12,000 men and he would leave immediately to engage David and kill him.

For David fans, that turn of events by David’s trusted counselor was a shock I’m sure. For David himself, that had to hurt...that was BAD.

Speaking of David fans, Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s crippled son, whom David took under his roof after Jonathan’s death, was certainly in David’s camp when it came to the Absolom rebellion. This is where the Ugly comes into the story.

Days after King David made his strategic retreat from Jerusalem to the east bank of the Jordan river, Mephibosheth’s servant, Ziba, showed up at David’s encampment with food and drink for the king.

David asked Ziba, “Where is your master?” speaking of the crippled Mephibosheth. Ziba proceeded to weave a tale of lies about Mephibosheth’s plan to use the rebellion to separate himself from David for good...with a scheme to place himself on David’s throne.

It will be a few chapters later when David will reenter Jerusalem victoriously. At that time, he will get the truth. Ziba betrayed his master. Instead of making preparations to help Mephibosheth join David’s band of brothers, as he was instructed, he took advantage of his disabled charge, took the animals and the stores of food, and left Mephibosheth to die under the sword of Absolom.

Ziba was looking for a reward from the king at the expense of the life and reputation of the king’s young friend. And to add to that grievance, Ziba’s lies would have most certainly taken what was left of David’s heart. Now that wasn’t pretty...it was the Ugly in the story.

And now the SAD. When David’s mighty men went out to fight Absolom and his army, David made it clear to his men that they were not to kill his son. However, David’s commander, Joab, killed Absolom with 3 javelins hitting their mark in the young warrior’s heart. But to make sure that the king’s enemy was dead, Joab commanded his 10 armor bearers to strike his body as it hung in a tree.

When David learned that his son died in battle, he returned to his chambers over the gates of Mahanaim. There he wept bitterly...”O Absolom my Absolom, that I could have died in your place...my son, my son.” So SAD.

But where David could not die in his son’s place to save him...our Jesus did die in our place on the cross and was raised from the dead to save us who believe Him. That’s the AWESOME of our story!

Have a great day.

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May 16th

Psalms 3-4, 12-13, 28, 55. Songs of David written during times of increasing troubles. Psalm 3 has been a favorite of mine for a long time. So I will major on these verses in the podcast today.

50 years ago I read where Dawson Trottman, Founder of the Navigators and good friend of Billy Graham, spent time regularly in reading and meditating on the Psalms of the Bible...especially when he was going through difficult times. So I decided to follow his example.

Now to the text...“O Lord...how they have increased who trouble me...or...Lord, my troubles have multiplied recently.”

We’ve all been there. We’ve all felt like the guy who said, “...and the hits just keep on coming...” Speaking of bad news, mounting pressures, and overwhelming stressors. Wave after wave of trouble.

Well, that was David’s disposition when he learned that his son was a traitor to his rule in Israel. When he learned that longtime friends had betrayed him with lies and calls for rebellion against him. When previously faithful war and work associates forsook him and joined the ranks of those rebelling. That was enough to cause David to turn to God for help.

And he called using God’s saving name...LORD...Adonai...I AM...sound familiar? When Moses was before God at the burning bush...God told him to tell the Israelites that Yahweh sent him...or I Am....sent me...God... who is everything you need.

When David prayed LORD he was thinking: the One who delivered Israel from their bondage and troubles back then can and will deliver me now. Let us also quickly turn our hearts toward the One whose name means salvation...especially when our troubled souls are weighed down.

David’s situation was so bad that people all over Israel were saying that David was beyond God’s help. Not that God couldn't help David but rather...God was not willing to help such a sinner as David.

They looked at David’s past sin and figured, “This is what David deserves.” That reminds me of a man named Shemmi, a loyalist to Saul, who hated David. As David retreated from Jerusalem, Shemmi shouted curses toward David, saying that he deserved to die. When one of David’s mighty men asked if he could kill the cursing dog, David said, “No...God has a reason for it.”

Let us listen to Spurgeon's thoughts on David’s heart at this troublesome time...“If all the trials that come from heaven, and all the temptations that come from hell, and all the crosses that arise from the earth could be mixed and pressed together, they would not make a trial as terrible as being led to believe that there is no help for us in God.”

This was where David’s head was. But let us listen to where his “heart faith” was...“But You O Lord, are a “shield” about me,...You O Lord are my “glory”, and the ” lifter of my head.” Psalm‬ ‭3:3‬ ‭

David was the Warrior King. He knew how to wield a sword. But he also knew the value of a shield against his foes. David knew that God was his shield of protection. He “believed that”, even under pressure. May it be so of us friends.

There was nothing glorious or head lifting in David’s circumstances...But there WAS in his GOD!

David’s God heard David and would send what he needed. How did David know that Absolom may have taken over the palace throne of David, but God still held the “high ground” from which would come David ‘s help.

How can we know that David believed that way? “He laid upon the ground...”I will not be afraid of 10,000”....and he slept!”

Even when a disloyal army was being paid to hunt him down and kill him...he slept. Wow!

Before it was written by Paul, David knew the truth of Romans 8:31...”If God is for us, who can be against us?” Thanks, David

And it reminds me of Jesus when he was in the fishing boat with his disciples. A storm came up and his disciples were afraid of perishing in the storm. Jesus lay sleeping in the bow. Thank You, Jesus...you lived it...all the way through the cross. You are our shield, our glory and lifter of our heads come what may! Praise your name!

Have a great day

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May 15th

Our Bible reading today is in 2 Samuel 13-15.

It had been a hard 6 or 7 years for King David since the prophet Nathan said, “You are that man.”

Let me explain...Those words in themselves don't seem like an ominous declaration to receive. Those could be words related to blessings, victories, and even promotions for David. But they weren't!

That declaration from the prophet uncovered a multitude of sins that David had been trying to hide. Those words turned out to be David’s worst nightmare.

Nathan was saying to the king, “You are the wealthy man who stole from the poor. You are the married man who committed adultery with another man’s wife. You are the man who had your loyal friend killed to cover up your other sins. Nathan was saying to the King of Israel, You are the man who deserves to come under the righteous judgment of God.

David was convicted of his sins by the Spirit...unto a repentance out of sincere brokenness...we read his confession in Ps 51.

God gave David His forgiveness...and he was thankful. But the gravity of his sins were brought before his mind and heart by the Spirit...often! Humbling him before a merciful God who withheld what David deserved and provided grace instead.

Wow...sounds a lot like the gospel doesnt...a merciful God withholding the judgment that our sinning deserved and provided grace in Christ for all who would believe Him Awesome...praise Your name!

David’s son would be born to him and Bathsheba with little prospect of living. David would spend days and nights lying on the ground crying out to God. Fasting...praying for God to save the life of his little boy. But his son died.

David and Bathsheba would have other sons. But songs by David late in life, let us know the pain of his loss...

One lesson...Upon hearing of his infant son’s death, David went to the Tent of meeting/Tabernacle and worshipped. When he was asked about this hard experience, he said, “I cannot have my boy back with me...but one day I will go where he is.”

What else could happen to David? His oldest son, Amnon, raped his half-sister, Tamar. And to add insult to injury, Amnon refused to marry Tamar...a further blemish upon the young woman.

Someone is asking, “What did David do about the situation?” Well, he got angry. But he did absolutely nothing to protect the future of Tamar or discipline his morally impure son, Amnon.

Wow...What next? Two years later, David’s other son, Absolom, had his brother Amnon murdered for raping Tamar. David’s heart was broken. Absolom, fearful of his Father’s banishment ran away to Syria.

Two sons lost to David in one day. What more could happen? While Absolom was in Geshur, he hatched a plan to take the throne of his father. Within a year, Absolom and his army of Israeli dissidents pushed David and his family, along with his mighty men and their families out of Jerusalem.

David wrote some songs about the experience of being “turned on” by his son, Absolom.

But God gave David heart as he left his City. Listen to the voices of those servants going with him. “And the king's servants said to the king, "Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides."

And David answered...“You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, since I go I know not where? Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you."

“But Ittai answered the king, "As the Lord lives, and as my lord, the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be."

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭15:15, 20-21‬ ‭

Wow...servants of David...leaving the security of homes and jobs and friends to follow the king...wherever he would go...whether for life or death.

David had his mighty men...or said another way...his whatever guys.

May we be King Jesus’ “Whatever servants” in the days to come.

Have a great day

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May 14th

Our reading today is a spiritual progression in the heart and life of King David. From successful highs to sinful lows. And then from remorse over spiritual failures to mountain slopes of forgiveness and renewed joy. In view of beautiful and refreshing running waters flowing in the valleys of contentment below. And in view of the mountain of God above where His peace rains down upon the humble, glad children come to worship together in love.

Psalms 32,51,86,122.

These Psalms by David are songs of instruction and contemplation. That’s what Maskil means in the title of song 32.

When we read through the 51st psalm, we hear David make a promise to God from the restored heart that the Spirit had given him after a season away from the Lord.

“I will teach transgressors Your ways.” Perhaps these songs, these Maskils, were the fulfillment of David’s promise.

G. Campbell Morgan said about these verses, “...songs of penitence...as well as rejoicing in the wonders of the grace of God. Sin is dealt with...sorrow is comforted...and ignorance is instructed.”

And by the way, Psalm 32 was Saint Augustine’s favorite psalm. He had it inscribed on the wall next to his bed before he died. In order to meditate on it in his last days on earth.

David wrote much about the “blessednesses” (plural) of being “forgiven” by God.

“My transgressions are forgiven...My sin is no longer exposed...my sin is covered. David knew what it was to be a sinner. Caught in the act by God and others. He knew the seriousness of sin and how good it was to be truly forgiven.

Spurgeon said...”Oh, the double joys, the bundles of happiness, and the mountains of delight that fill my “forgiven soul.”

David wrote, “When I kept silent my bones grew old...and Your hand was heavy upon me day and night...David said that the consequences of his unconfessed sin were terrible, physically and spiritually.

David knew and thus instructs, that God’s hand is very helpful when He is lifting us up. But it is awful when He is pressing us down. David had come to understand that God loved him enough to press down hard enough to break his stubborn will and then lift his contrite spirit up to new fellowship with Him.

And that brings us to Psalm 122...from self-deceit and the fatigue that comes from running away from God to the summit of God...the House of God on Mt Zion...in Jerusalem, the City of David...the city of Peace...the Prince of Peace.

I was glad when they said unto me, “Let us go into the House of the Lord...” David was remembering what it was like as a child when his parents would bring he and his brothers to the “City on a hill” for the several festivals a year that the priests would assemble the Israelites to. Groups of people journeyed together to Jerusalem to worship individually, but most importantly together.

David wrote about how glad he was to participate in those worshipful days inside the gates of peace. Signifying the “peace of God” for troubled souls, and peace with friends and neighbors in the covenant family of Jacob.

But David was also glad to be invited to go with his community. Spurgeon said,”...good children are pleased to go home and glad to hear their brothers and sisters there...”

David, just forgiven....just lifted up out of the mire of his sin...no more deceit necessary...no more running and hiding from God and others...he takes a deep breath of relief...and then he hears...”Let us go”...yes...you David...come to the mountain of peace with us...remember it’s where God comes to meet us at the Mercy Seat...

Thank You, Jesus...Holy Spirit...Father...the picture is not lost on us...You, not Jerusalem, are our forgiveness, our peace and our love and our joy...

Praise Your Name!

Have a Great day

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May 13th

The Bible reading today is in 2 Samuel 11,12 and 1 Chronicles 20.

The reading today is sad and very searching to me. One of the good guys was taken down.

Would he get back up? Yes...eventually. Would he be used of God in the same measure that he was used before the fall? That’s something that only God can really answer.

But some of his songs late in life seem to give insight into the personal pain that he, David, felt, deep in his soul, for his sins and the severe consequences thereof.

Did David feel the burdens lifted with the forgiveness given by the God of mercy and grace? Yes...eventually. Even for taking the wife of one of his friends in arms? Eventually...Yes. And even using his office as king to have that friend placed in such a position in battle that he would most assuredly be killed?

Did David ever feel forgiven for committing that terrible sin against his loyal friend? Eventually...Yes.

Was God disappointed in David? Absolutely. Did the Holy Spirit break David’s heart over his sin? Yes indeed!

How do I know? Well, Let’s listen to David’s prayer in Ps 51...and then answer that question...

Psalm 51

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭51

A sad record. A sad reading. The hurt and pain would touch many...even me. I'm reminded of my own sin against God and others, including family and friends.

Thank You, Jesus, for Your forgiveness of all of my sin. And thank You for restoring unto me the joy of Your salvation.

Have a great day

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May 12th

The Bible reading today is in the Songs again...Psalm 65-67 and 69 and 70.

I have chosen Ps 69 for the podcast today. It’s one of the two most Old Testament passages quoted in the New Testament.

David had many an occasion to sing this prayer that he wrote. “Save me O God...I'm drowning...”

How many times have we felt like we were drowning? How many times have we thought that we were about to be overwhelmed by something bad that we could not change? And all we could say was what David said...”Save me O God!”

Remember with me when the Son of David heard that desperate request from a drowning disciple...“Peter said, “Is that You, Lord...if it is You, command me to come to you on the water...Jesus said Come...and Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water...but when he saw the wind he got scared and began to sink and cried out, “Lord save me!” And he did.”

Jesus, on the night that he was betrayed into the hands of evil men, took his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemene to pray. Like David, the Son of the promise, Jesus, faced his own “deep water with no footing”...and Jesus said to his disciples, “My soul is very sorrowful, even unto death (kind of sorrow)...”

David said that he was completely worn out from his crying and his praying.

Wow...that’s intense!

Reminds us of Luke’s gospel record where Christ’s Gethsemene experience is defined a bit more graphicly. “Being in agony, Jesus prayed more earnestly and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground.”

Now that is even more intense.

Jesus could have said the very words of David...”Father, I am weary in body and soul...my throat is parched with my groaning, ...my eyes grow dim with my tears...waiting upon my God.”

And the Messianic tone continues in this song of David...“More in number than the hairs on my head are those who hate me without a cause.”

David was hated by Saul and his entourage. How could that be? David served Saul faithfully and selflessly. Putting his life in danger over and over again for the sake of his king. And still, Saul and his thousands hated him...seemingly without cause. That was hard on young David.

Reformed theologian, Christopher Morgan, wrote the following about undeserved hatred: “Undeserved reproach is a most crushing grief for a sensitive soul.” Yes, that sure lines up with David and Jesus.

It’s hard for us to believe that such a Godly man as David would be so hated. It seems to be human nature...which is even more evident in the hatred without a cause directed toward Jesus...David’s greater Son.

Jesus specifically referred to our reading today when he spoke to his disciples the night before his crucifixion.

“This happened that the word might be fulfilled...They hated me without a cause!” John 15.

Some will say that the Scribes and Pharisees had plenty of cause to hate Jesus. But the fact is there was no cause in Christ...for their hatred. It was the self-righteousness that came from within them...from their own evil hearts... that hated Jesus...all the while that He was loving them with truth and grace.

And one more Messianic point in the text...“Though I have stolen nothing, I am made to restore it...”

This was certainly “Injustice toward David”. Truth was laid aside and judgments were based on lies...yes, injustice increased David’s sense of despair.

Though innocent he was treated guilty. Though David had no share in the plots against Saul, he was held accountable for them. David said, “I have stolen nothing”.

The devil tried to take what was not his...heaven’s throne. Adam took what was not his...forbidden fruit. Moses took what was not his...the the life of the Egyptian. David would take what was not his...the married Bathsheba

But Jesus? He would not take what was “rightfully” his...” the divine privileges of the Godhead”....and Died!.

For me and you so we could have “His eternal life”.

Have a great day

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May 11th

Our Bible reading today is in 2 Samuel 10 and 1 Chronicles 19 along with Ps. 20.

All three of these passages relate to King David’s early reign in Israel. The song is David’s recollection of Israel’s prayers for him. And the Samuel and Chronicle records mirror each other’s account of David’s leadership and dealings with the Ammonites.

The reading inspired me in several ways. Prayer for our church and national leaders is God’s will. God will use them for His glory and our God-ordained benefit. Just as He worked through the interceeding Israelites in David’s day.

Thanks for “Godly Israelites” who prayed for their king in desperate times. May we follow suit.

David sent a friendly group of ambassadors, representing him, to the new king of the Ammonites, King Hanum. Anytime I see the words embassy or ambassadors I think of Paul’s message to the church at Corinth. He reminds these fellow believers that they are “ambassadors” for Christ with His message of “reconciliation” to God for the city of Corinth.

We are ambassadors for Christ too dear friends. Jesus has entrusted us with His message of the gospel to our neighborhoods and cities. God help us. David sent condolences for the death of Hanum’s father. He was sending mercy and grace to Hanum and the Ammonites.

Did you notice how David used a common occurrence in life as an opportunity to reach out in loving kindness and tender mercies, even to an enemy? Friends, that’s the Gospel of Christ...to us...and for us moving forward in our spiritual lives in Christ.

Jesus reached out to us, even when we were His enemies, in the midst of our everyday living offering grace snd mercy. The cross to reconcile us to God for eternal salvation. At our conversion and for our growing up into Christ. Praise His Name!

The Ammonites had been Israel’s enemies for 400 plus years. Beginning with their refusal to aid in Israel’s journey from Egypt to Canaan. And after they joined the Moabites against Joshua’s army, it became obvious that the Ammonites would never be friendly neighbors to Israel.

But David was willing to put the past bitterness behind him and build a bridge of understanding and common decency between the two nations. Thus he sent an embassy of goodwill to Hanum. But Hanum was influenced by wicked counsel to reject David’s offer as nothing less than a scheme to spy out their own stronghold for future battles.

By the way, when we pray for our leaders, that God would give them wisdom and discernment for decision making, also pray for those who counsel them...that their counsel would be in harmony with God’s purposes.

Back to the text...Hanum and the Ammonites treated David’s ambassadors shamefully, cutting their beards and their robes before sending them home.

In ancient times, a man’s beard was his most valued adornment. It said that he was apart of a community and not a despised, shaven slave.

Friends, do you remember how the Apostle Paul identified himself to the Ephesian church? Let us listen...”we are not men-pleasers...but slaves to Christ, doing the will of God from our hearts...”

He called himself, and all others who followed Jesus, a slave. A slave of Jesus Christ. No longer living as though he were the master of his own fate, but living in humble gratitude to the one who died and rose again to save him from the penalty of his sins. And save him for a home in heaven one day...and save him for significant and fruitful work alongside the loving, powerful and eternal Master Jesus! Praise His Name!

David sent kindness. Ammonites sent shameful rejection and disrespect.

David protected the dignity of his ambassadors. And made slaves of the Ammonites and their compatriots.

Jesus...mercy, and grace

You and I, we receive God’s salvation and discipleship...doing God’s will from our hearts!

Have a great day

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May 10th

Our Bible reading today is in Psalm 50,53,60,75.

Asaph was one of David’s chief musicians and songwriters as well as a singer. According to the chronicler, Asaph was one of three Levites that David put in charge of the singing in the house of God. Yes, congregational singing goes back a long way.

Inspired by the Spirit, Asaph wrote a song about God “coming” to the earth on a day in the future...for judgment!

Paul said to the Roman believers: “God has endured with patience the vessels of wrath...one day He’s coming with destruction.”

Asaph says God is coming...like at the flood?...like at the red sea?...like at Mt Sinai?...no...it will be far more awesome and far more terrible. He is coming...to “judge” the world...” like a devouring fire and a mighty hurricane going before Him.”

The Apostle Paul had the same belief...Ephesians 5:6 “The wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience...upon the sons of the devil.”

BUT....before that happens God is going to judge “His own” at the “judgment seat of Christ”. Not regarding their eternal destiny...but where believers’ works and motives will be judged for the sake of rewards.

Many centuries later the Apostle Peter explained it this way: 1 Peter 4:17 “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God...”

Asaph starts with a trilogy of God’s Names El...”God The Mighty One”, Elohim...”God sufficient in Himself..” Yaweh...”the Lord saves! God very God not number one among many gods...But God alone!

“This One, whose throne is in the heavens will come (to Jerusalem) to judge the world...” “and the judgment will begin with His own...” “God calls to the “heaven above”and to the “earth beneath” all, righteous and unrighteous...will be there to witness the judgment upon the children of God.

And before judgment begins God says to His humbled redeemed...“I am God “your” God“...my faithful ones...who made a covenant with me by a sacrifice...”

In other words, God was “Gospeling” His people. The good news of their position in the Lord...regardless of God’s judgment.

Believing Israelites reading this psalm would remember the covenant of the “blood path” that God made with Abraham and all of his descendants of faith...an everlasting covenant of faith...from God to them.

Today we remember a covenant made by a sacrifice on a cross...that paid our sin debt and purchased us a home in heaven. To hear Almighty God say to our hearts that He is our God is an awesome thing. But one day, all that scoffed at our testimony of faith...will hear God Almighty, Lord Jesus, say out loud, that we belong to Him...Now “that” will be over the top of Awesome!

So what does the prophesy in song say to the Israelites then and the people of faith now?

God to Israel: Your burnt offerings are not the problem. I commanded that those sacrifices be made. They were to remind you that I'm the one who takes away sin. I'm who you worship...im who you trust for forgiveness and eternal life. Now you are counting on the ritual to save you. You go through the motions, but instead of your worship coming from your heart appreciation of Me, now you pat yourself on the back because you performed the ritual just right. You're dotting all the I's and crossing all the T's, but your heart is far from me. It’s always been about Me and your heart.

God to us today: ditto...trust in me...love me...desire me...from your heart. Because you are mine.

Wow...God will use that time with His own...reproving and rewarding...to make the Gospel clear to those who are about to be judged to the lake of fire for eternity.

Rejoice friends...and keep witnessing to family and friends of the good news of Jesus...one day they will thank you.

Have a great day

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May 9th

Our Bible reading today is in 2 Samuel 8,9 and 1 Chronicles 18.

In 2 Samuel 9, we read the account of King David’s relationship with Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth. David was settling in as the new king in Israel. In 2 Samuel 7, David asked, “What can I do for God?” He proposed to build Him a Temple. In today’s passage, David asks another question...a question we should be asking...”What can I do for others?”

David’s question showed gratefulness for God’s great kindness and mercy upon his own life. It also showed God’s love and grace toward His own. Meeting the needs of another without expecting anything in return.

David made a covenant with Jonathan years before. They promised care for one another and one another’s family come what may. Well, word got to David that his friend died in battle fighting alongside his father, King Saul. The king and his sons were honored by David. This sounds crazy to most. But we know David’s integrity up to this point. Even after years of torment at the hands of a demonized Saul and his self serving household, David still kept his word to honor the king and honor his covenant with Saul’s son.

Wow, that was good, it sounds a lot like Jesus.

One day David asked if there was anyone left of the house of Saul that he could show kindness to for the sake of Jonathan. A servant of Saul, named Ziba, told David that Jonathan had a son who survived the purge by Ishbosheth. He had been hidden away by friends for his safety.

So David sent for Mephibosheth. David gave Mephibosheth all the land that his father and grandfather had before their deaths. Since Mephibosheth was lame in both feet, David gave him servants to work the land. And on top of all of that, David gave Mephibosheth a place at the king’s table every day for the rest of his life. And that was the beginning of a Gospel relationship.

Let me explain. We are Mephibosheth...we were hiding and unable to save ourselves...when the king came for us. Thank You Holy Spirit.

David showed great grace and kindness to Mephibosheth, foreshadowing the grace and loving-kindness that God showed us and shows us still. Thanks, Father.

The king’s kindness to Mephibosheth was based on a covenant of respect. God’s grace toward us was based on a covenant of blood. Thank You, Jesus.

Mephibosheth was treated as the king’s son. In Christ, we are treated as God’s children.

Way to go David. And like you know, David...Jesus is still better!

A good news story for sure...

Have a great day