Behold. Our King.
In the days leading up to Christmas, we place ourselves in the seat of those who waited, yearned, and sought the Lord for the promised King. And we marvel anew at the faithfulness and deep love of God in the realization of his promises in Jesus.
This advent, we invite you to join us in the practice of scripture reading, memory, and prayer as we journey through the prophecies of the Messiah and their fulfillment in the birth and life of Jesus.
Pray:
As we enter into a time of reading Scripture, ask, “Lord, would you allow me to slow down and hear your voice today?”
Lord, washed pure by the blood of Jesus and wearing the righteousness of Christ, I stand in awe of your mercy and grace. Would you fill my mind and heart with praise and thanksgiving? Out of a heart of gratefulness, my I live this day to the full, honoring you with every breath. May my eyes be opened to see where you are at work so that I can join you. May my speech be kind and filled with the boldness of your truth. May I be quick to share the goodness of you so that in my obedience I might have the opportunity to bring your hope to someone who is in desperate need of you.
Scripture:
Take your time reading through the passage. Read the passage 2 or 3 times, each time asking the Lord to speak to you as you meditate on His word.
And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” And David said to him, “Do not fear, 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.” And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”
Then the king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master’s grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons. And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants. So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.
2 Samuel 9
A foreshadowing of God’s plan to redeem the world he created. King David’s heart shows the heart of our Heavenly Father. A mission to bring true peace by ordering everything the way it was designed and to show his love in extravagant and abundant ways. In the image of David and Mephibosheth, we can see a reflection of what will come to be our King. King Jesus who in his great love made a way for us to belong with him and sit at his banquet table.
Memorize:
In Psalm 119, the psalmist writes, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, so that I might not sin against you.” In memorizing scripture we place our minds in submission to the Lord. Focusing on God’s word aligns our thoughts with truth and helps us live our lives transformed in the likeness of Christ.
Luke 14:21b
‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’