Revisiting The Past: Children’s Stories Today (Part VIII)

Sermon Title: Revisiting the Past: Children’s Stories Today—Honor

Good News Statement: God Honors Us so that We Honor Others

Summary: David chose to invite Mephibosheth to the king’s table and took care of all his needs. Why would he do this and what can we learn from his example?

Preached: Sunday, July 28^th, 2024 at Dogwood Prairie and Seed Chapel UMC, Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSV): 2 Samuel 9:1-13 Today’s scripture reading focuses on the kindness and honor offered by King David to Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, who had a physical disability. King David, rather than dismissing him, welcomed him to his table in the palace. Who are we willing to invite to our table? Let’s read Second Samuel, Chapter Nine, and Versus One thru Thirteen. May the hearing and reading of this scripture add understanding and meaning to your life.

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

9 David asked, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” ² Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and he was summoned to David. The king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “At your service!” ³ The king said, “Is there anyone remaining of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?” Ziba said to the king, “There remains a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” ⁴ The king said to him, “Where is he?” Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” ⁵ Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. ⁶ Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David and fell on his face and did obeisance. David said, “Mephibosheth!” He answered, “I am your servant.” ⁷ David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan; I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you yourself shall eat at my table always.” ⁸ He did obeisance and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon a dead dog such as I?”

⁹ Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. ¹⁰ You and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat, but your master’s grandson Mephibosheth shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. ¹¹ Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant will do.” Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons. ¹² Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants. ¹³ Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he always ate at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.

 

The Word of God, for the People of God; And all God’s People said, “Thanks Be To God.”

 

 

Introduction:

Do you remember the first Bible story you were taught as a child? Were you taught about Adam and Eve? Did you read the accounts of Noah, the Ark, and the Great Flood? Were you in fascination of Daniel in the Lion’s Den? Were you caught up in the love story of Samson and Delilah? Did you ever find yourself wanting a technicolor coat like Joseph? Did you want to march around Jericho or use a sling-shot to take down giants? Did you want to build a basket and float down a river like Moses? Maybe you were curious about a tower that went by the name “Tower of Babel”? Perhaps, it was the story of Jonah and a whale that inspired you to dive into the Word of God? Or was it the story of Jesus feeding five-thousand people on the shores of Galilee with only two little fish and five loaves of bread? If you can’t remember the first Bible story you were taught as a child, maybe you have a favorite Bible Story that has helped you deepen your faith and strengthen your trust in God.

If you are trying to remember some of those famous Bible Stories you may have learned or heard about as a child, let me jog your memory of a few. According to Dr. Oliver Tearle of Loughborough University, here are the top twelve stories of the Bible that many people have been raised on: “Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah’s Ark and the Flood, The Tower of Babel, Moses in a basket, Moses parting the Red Sea, David and Goliath, Samson and Delilah, Daniel in the Lions’ Den, Jonah and the Whale, The Nativity Scene, The Raising of Lazarus, and the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus.” There are many, many, more stories that probably come to mind, but these are the twelve most popular Bible stories that most of us can remember learning as a child. But, what do the stories of back then teach us today? When was the last time you revisited the first stories of your faith?

Over the span of the next few months—June, July, and August—we are going to explore some of these early childhood Bible Stories. As we explore these stories, each of you will be encouraged to think about the first time you heard that story and what that story means to you today. Dr. Tearle notes, in his article titled 12 of the Best Stories from the Bible Everyone Should Know, “The Bible contains many well-known stories, but how much do we know about them? And what are the best Bible stories everyone should know? Many people, even those raised in countries where Sunday school and religious assemblies are a mainstay of many children’s education, may find they’ve misremembered, or got the wrong impression about, some of the iconic tales from the Bible.”

So, what do you remember about some of those “iconic tales” from the Bible; and what about them today can help deepen your faith and strengthen your trust in God as you strive to be the disciple and church Jesus needs you and us to be? We continue the journey by examining the honor of King David…

 

Body:

Many of us have heard of King David before. King David is the one who fought the Philistine Giant, Goliath, with five stones and slingshot. One morning David left his sheep to bring his brothers food at the front lines. While he was there, Goliath came out to taunt the Israelites, and David said, ‘Enough is enough. This man should not make fun of us and our God.’ So David gathered five smooth stones and, without any armor or sword, marched up to Goliath. David put a stone in his slingshot, spun it around and sent that rock right into the giant’s forehead. The giant fell to the ground, dead.

Additionally, King David is the one who committed a grave sin when he eyed Bathsheba bathing on the roof. One time, David saw a pretty woman named Bathsheba and decided he wanted her to be his wife. Bathsheba was already married and David had several wives already. And because David was the king, Bathsheba didn’t have a choice in whether to be David’s wife or not.

But that’s not all. King David is the one who had Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, killed in battle. Uriah was one of David’s own fighting men. He was a brave soldier, fighting at the front lines. David knew that the only way he could have Bathsheba for himself was to get rid of Uriah. So he planned to trick Uriah. David ordered his military commander to pull back from Uriah in the battle so that Uriah would surely die. And he did.

King David was a murderer, an adulterer, a thief, and a liar. But King David was also faithful to God, a believer in God, and someone who was forgiven by God. And from our text today, we see that King David was also someone who valued the concept of honor. Let me remind of the beginning of David’s story…

Kevin DeYoung, the author of The Biggest Story Bible Storybook, shares a fun and interesting perspective of King David. DeYoung shares, “Samuel grieved over the loss of King Saul, so God sent him to Bethlehem in search of the next king. When Samuel met Jesse and his sons, he was sure he could spot the next king. He looked at Eliab, the firstborn, and thought, ‘Wow! This fella is big and strong. I bet he’s the king all right.’ But the Lord said, ‘Stop looking on the outside. The Lord looks at the heart. That’s what matters.’ Then Jesse called the next son, and the next son, and next son. Seven sons in all, and the Lord had not chosen any of them.

“Samuel was confused. ‘Are all your sons here?’, he asked. Jesse said, ‘I have one more, but he’s the youngest and he’s out keeping the sheep.’ When the boy came home, Samuel anointed him as the next king of Israel. The boy’s name was David; and he was the one no one expected. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him so that he might do great things for the Lord.”[1]

DeYoung ends his account of David’s story by stating, “David did horrible things. He also did amazing things. And of all the amazing things he did, the most important is that he repented of his sins. David was great because he knew he was a great sinner who worshipped a greater Savior.”[2]

And from this great Savior, David did something that is not often discussed by many. You see, King David showed honor to someone who should have been dismissed from his palace. King David invites us to not only think about our own sins and forgiveness, but to consider who in our life is receiving honor, who in our life are we noticing the inside more than the outside. There are a few angles from the text by which I want to look at with you today.

 

Movement One: David’s Historic Honor…

First, David’s historic honor. Before we dive into this text, I believe it is important to define honor or at least have some sort of definition of honor in our minds. Honor is a deep-seated sense of integrity, honesty, and ethical conduct. It entails upholding one’s convictions even in the face of adversity or temptation. It is genuine respect of oneself and others. Honor involves recognizing values and principles, which often defines one’s character and actions. Honor involves integrity, honesty, and respect and quite possibly dedication. For example, honor can be associated with the act of selfless service: serving others without expecting anything in return, showcasing self-sacrifice and genuine care. I also read that honor can be associated with “glory, being renowned, dignity, distinction, victory, triumph; a gesture displaying reverence or esteem; a cause of good character.”[3] David bestowed this sense of honor to someone much like him—who didn’t deserve to be in a palace—and it’s something that we should not overlook.

Now, back in the time when David became king, it was typical for the new king to get rid of all potential rivals. They would seek out relatives from the previous regime and take them out before a rebellion could begin. Much like how a new elected president brings with them a new cabinet and source of leadership: none of the previous cabinet remains in office under the newly elected president. King David had every right to do the same thing: remove any rivals from the palace. But he didn’t. David seeks out Mephibosheth, who was a rival of David, and invites him to the king’s table, and sets him up for life. Why would he do this, why give honor, why show respect, why demonstrate genuine care, to the grandson of the man who tried to kill him? Why would King David show honor to someone who was against him?

I believe David remembered the promise he made to Jonathan, the father of Mephibosheth and good friend to David. Back when Saul was king, he hired David as an armor bearer. God had sent an evil spirit to torment Saul after he had disobeyed God and David would play the harp to soothe Saul. But with the many victories David had in battle, Saul became jealous and tried multiple times to take David’s life. After one of those occasions, David fled to find Jonathan to tell him what was happening.

This had to be a difficult position for Jonathan. David was his best friend, but Saul was his father. Like Jonathan, I think it would be a tough pill to swallow to be told that your father is trying to kill your best friend. The two hatch a plan. Saul had invited all the big names, including David, to a special dinner. David would skip out and Jonathan would make his excuse—he was with his family for a sacrifice. Jonathan would gauge his father’s response and report to David. Then they went outside to get away from any ears in the palace that may have been trying to listen to what was happening and this exchange takes place in 1 Samuel 20:12-17:  ^“Jonathan said to David, ‘By the Lord, the God of Israel! When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow or on the third day, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you? But if my father intends to do you harm, the Lord do so to Jonathan and more also, if I do not disclose it to you and send you away, so that you may go in safety….[4]’ Thus Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, ‘May the Lord seek out the enemies of David.’ Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own life.”[5]

Now that David is king, he remembers the promise he made to Jonathan. Of course, there were no witnesses, so no one would have ever known if David had changed his mind. There was no one to hold him accountable, but David was a man of integrity and of honor. Even though David wasn’t perfect, he understood what needed to be done and what it meant to keep his word to those whom he loved. David realized that God never gave up on him, so why should he give up on those who sought his aid and protection.

Therefore, David sought a way to keep his word. If these events were happening today, I think David would have gone on Facebook and used the recommendations feature. I picture him posting the question, “Does anyone know of any relatives that remain from the household of Saul? I’d like to show kindness in honor of Jonathan.” I bet various people would make comments about how they weren’t aware of anyone, then someone would tag Ziba, saying that maybe he would know of someone. So David would then reach out to Ziba, who tells David that there is a son of Jonathan who is still alive, but there’s something you need to know about him. 2 Samuel 4:4 reads, “ Saul’s son Jonathan had a son who was crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul’s defeat and Jonathan’s death came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, and in her haste to flee it happened that he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth” and his legs have been crippled ever since.

Knowing Mephibosheth’s condition, David had a decision to make. He could bring Mephibosheth in and have him killed. No one would blame him, after all, he was related to the former king. He could decide that having someone with special needs at his table could make him look weak to other dignitaries when they come to visit and choose to send Mephibosheth away. But David doesn’t look for the easy way out.[6]

David resolves that he is going to honor Jonathan by providing for Mephibosheth and summons him to the palace. That had to be scary for Mephibosheth, knowing what David could do to him. He comes to the palace and immediately begins to grovel. David tells him to not fear and invites him to take a seat at the table that day, the next day, the next week, month, years, for the rest of his life. In addition, he gives Mephibosheth the land that had belonged to King Saul when he reigned over Israel.

You see, David did something that probably no one else during that time would have done. He kept his promise to Jonathan, he welcomed to his table someone who belonged to the enemy, and he allowed this person to essentially live with him in his palace. David honored Mephibosheth because he respected him, loved him, and understood that if God could see something in Mephibosheth then there was something that God needed him to see. God needed David to witness that honoring the least of these is to honor God. But David doesn’t stop there.

 

Movement Two: David provides resources…

Second, David provides resources. After keeping his promise to Jonathan by giving this honor to Mephibosheth, David provides the resources Mephibosheth will need in order to be successful. He makes the arrangements for Mephibosheth to be at the king’s table, then summons Ziba back in and gives him instruction to take his 15 sons and 20 servants to work the land and bring in the harvest on behalf of Mephibosheth. What a way for David to honor Jonathan, he has taken a crippled young man who has been in hiding and given him a seat at the king’s table. David honored someone who society had neglected for many years. David’s actions sound a lot like someone we know; and that someone is Jesus Christ.

Isn’t it Jesus Christ who heals a demon possessed man who had been out casted by his own people, who was living in the tombs and feasting off the food for the dead? Isn’t it Jesus Christ who helps make a paralytic man walk again? Isn’t it Jesus Christ who cures a bleeding woman who was forced to remain confined in her house? Isn’t it Jesus Christ who selected individuals who society may not have agreed with to follow him? Isn’t it Jesus Christ who commended the widow for giving everything she had to the church while others only gave what they wanted? Isn’t it Jesus Christ who put all others before himself as he stretched out his hands on that cross? Isn’t it Jesus Christ who invites all—sinners and saints, non-believers and believers, unfaithful and faithful ones—to his table? Isn’t it Jesus Christ who saved the female from being stoned, who brought comfort to Mary and Martha after the passing of Lazarus, and who allowed a sinful woman to wash his feet in the presence of his disciples while he ate a sinner’s house? Isn’t it Jesus Christ who saved you and set you free from your sins?

David, in a sense, through the life of this individual, is doing what Jesus did in the New Testament: gave honor and respect to the least among the people. After all, according to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus came “to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10); and a few chapters before this, Luke asserts when quoting Jesus, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed…” (Luke 4:18). The Prophet Isaiah says something similar in his writings but adds “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the LORD has anointed me…to bind up the brokenhearted…” (Isaiah 61:1). David, through his gesture of giving honor and respect to Mephibosheth, has sought out someone who was brokenhearted, who was held captive by society, and who wanted to be set free. This honor changed his life. To be honest with you, honor can certainly go along way for someone who has never felt honored or respected or seen before: it can truly set them free.

Let me put this into perspective for you. There is a group/camp called Mephibosheth Ministries and it serves people with special needs. The staff and volunteers help the direct care of the special needs campers, assisting them with activities, helping with hygiene and medical needs, even making sure they get into bed at night. Then there’s a segment of camp for high school students called Ziba, named after the servant provided by David. They help the Mephibosheth campers with the various activities like worship and small groups and recreation. They help with things like the climbing wall, climbing side-by-side, sometimes even putting their arms around the camper to help them reach their goal. This group focuses more on providing extra support where needed so Mephibosheth campers can successfully participate. Even campers in wheelchairs have the opportunity to be put in a harness and attached to a cable by which is hoisted close to 20 feet in the air, experiencing a level of freedom they wouldn’t get anywhere else. These individuals are given honor: they are seen and welcomed to experience life.

Let me bring this a little closer to home. A few weeks ago, Emily and I were invited to attend a Gaitway to Motion session held in Olney, IL. Gaitway to Motion is a local non-profit organization started in 2015 to help the youth, with disabilities, of Richland and surrounding counties in Illinois. During each session, the individual is welcomed to ride a house, play games, and be lead around the arena by caring and wonderful volunteers. For a few minutes, on a Tuesday, these individuals are set free: they are honored and shown unconditional love and respect. Gaitway to Motion is just one of many organizations around here that exemplifies what David did for Mephibosheth.[7] They give honor to those who deserve to experience a life that sets them free, that allows them to be seen, that allows them to be invited to the table.

The challenge we have before us as a church and as disciples of the one who came to seek and save the lost, is to find ways to extend our table to all those who deserve honor and respect, who have been neglected and left alone, and who may even be considered our enemies. Currently as a church, we provide financial aid to several organizations each year and have donated food to the local food pantry, which is a wonderful act of Christian love; but now I ask you, what else can we be doing? What needs are out there that need our assistance? Who needs to be invited to our table? I’m reminded of quote that goes something like this, “When you have more than you need, build a longer table, not a higher fence.”

 

Movement Three: One Final Thought…

Now, what did Mephibosheth do to deserve the honor David gave him? Aside from being Jonathan’s son, absolutely nothing. And it’s the same for us with God. We haven’t done anything to deserve His grace and honor. But God still extends the invitation and then provides the support we need to do well in this life. Paul tells us, “Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21). God gives us everything we need to successfully carry out the ministry He has for us to do. God, through Jesus Christ, has given us everything we need to honor those in our life and to invite them to the table, where they can experience and embrace the love and mercy of Jesus Christ that lives within our heart each and every day.[8]

Of course, Mephibosheth could have turned David down. He could have decided that he didn’t trust what David was telling him and refused to come to the table and miss out on all the benefits. We have that choice as well. God has given us the gift of honor, but we have to accept it. And once we accept it, then it’s our duty to pass it along to someone else, so that they can feel honored.

In 1854, translator J. M. Neale translated Theodulf’s hymn titled All Glory, Laud, and Honor. Before I share with you the opening verse to that hymn, let me provide for you some biographical information pertaining to J.M. Neale.

According to hymnary.org, “John M. Neale’s life is a study in contrasts: born into an evangelical home, he had sympathies toward Rome; in perpetual ill health, he was incredibly productive; of scholarly tem­perament, he devoted much time to improving social conditions in his area; often ignored or despised by his contemporaries, he is lauded today for his contributions to the church and hymnody. Neale’s gifts came to expression early–he won the Seatonian prize for religious poetry eleven times while a student at Trinity College, Cambridge, England. He was ordained in the Church of England in 1842, but ill health and his strong support of the Oxford Movement kept him from ordinary parish ministry.”

J.M. Neale faced life in terms of uncertainty: in terms of being an outcast; and in terms of being someone who didn’t give up on his dreams. And in those moments, Neale found hope, glory, and honor in the Lord. He found the Lord. Someone who sought to improve social conditions, was often ignored and despised by his contemporaries, and in perpetual ill health, found the Lord. In the process and walk of finding the Lord, Neale came across a poem that encapsulated a sense of honor for the one who saw him. Again, the title of this poem, and later hymn, is All Glory, Laud, and Honor; and the opening verse proclaims the title. It shares, “All glory, laud, and honor to you, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring. You are the King of Israel and David’s royal Son, now in the Lord’s name coming, the King and Blessed One.”

We have all been like Neale at times. We have felt lost. We have stood up for our beliefs. We have been ignored. We have been blamed for something that we hadn’t done. We have felt ill. We have been put down and placed to the side. But in those moments we are still being honored because God sees us and hears us. It’s honor that drives us. It’s honor that sets us free. It’s honor that invites us to see the other “Neales” and “Mephibosheths” in our life. It’s honor that gets us closer to Jesus Christ. It’s honor that can change someone’s life.

 

Conclusion:

In conclusion, I challenge you this week to really think about the honor that God has given you, that Jesus has demonstrated for you, and of which the Holy Spirit encourages you to live out. Who in your life deserves to be honored, recognized, and given respect when no one else has? Who are the “Mephibosheths” in your life who should be invited to your table and to the table of the Jesus Christ? As you think these questions, I leave you with the definitions of honor that I shared at the beginning of this message with hopes that you will use these definitions to give someone honor this week.

Honor is a deep-seated sense of integrity, honesty, and ethical conduct. It entails upholding one’s convictions even in the face of adversity or temptation. It is genuine respect of oneself and others. Honor involves recognizing values and principles, which often defines one’s character and actions. Honor can be associated with the act of selfless service: serving others without expecting anything in return, showcasing self-sacrifice and genuine care. Honor can and should be given to all especially those who are the least among us. Honor and respect exist even in the atmosphere of differences. Be like David; and be like Jesus: show some honor this week to those in your life. Let it be so…

 

Closing Prayer:

Dear God, we thank you for the honor that you have bestowed upon us and we pray that you give us the strength and will to share this honor with those who deserve to be honored. May we strive every day to build a bigger table for all those who need somewhere to feel welcomed. In your name we pray, Amen.

 

Benediction:

This week, I challenge you to show honor—to give respect and to perform a selfless service for someone in your life. Because the honor you give, just might be what that person needs that day to keep smiling. The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, remember His promises as you continue to be a living promise on this earth. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.

 

[1] Kevin DeYoung, The Biggest Story Bible Storybook, 2021. Crossway Publishing: Wheaton, Illinois. pg. 148-155.

[2] Ibid., pg. 155.

[3] https://www.etymonline.com/word/honor

[4] May the Lord be with you, as he has been with my father. If I am still alive, show me the faithful love of the Lord, but if I die, never cut off your faithful love from my house, even if the Lord were to cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth….

[5] Jonathan knew he wasn’t going to inherit the throne, in fact, he was looking at the heir. He still agrees to help David out and makes David then promise to never cut off the steadfast love of God from him or his household.

[6] I’m reminded of the time that God punished David for taking a forbidden census and then giving him instruction to make a sacrifice. When David approached the owner of the site for the sacrifice, the man offered to give it and everything needed for the sacrifice. But David insists that he will pay the full price, saying. “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing” (1 Chronicles 21:24).

[7] https://www.thearcofil.org & https://thearkcm.org/summer-camps/mephibosheth-all-ages-special-needs/mephibosheth.html

[8] If we weren’t given honor, then how could we honor our mother and father as well as those who have helped raise us?