INTRO
As a fugitive, David had made a covenant with Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:12-17) and had (agreed) promised to show kindness to the descendants of Jonathan forever.
About 15 or 20 years have gone by and David remembers the promise he had made so many years before when he was fleeing from King Saul.
Main Focus: The goodness of God is beyond our understanding!
1) A PROMISE KEPT BROUGHT BLESSING – vv. 6-7
Notice that David sent for him—he did not wait until M. came to him.
Rom. 5:6, 8 vividly paint the picture of our own existence: “For when . . . Christ died for us.”
vv. 2, 3, 4 “the king said” but vv. 6 & 7 to M “David said.” It’s as if the author wants to make sure that the readers understand the dimension of relationship.
M. was lame—a picture of our own spiritual inability. His only answer was to fall on his face and worship!
- The answer is not found in the remedies of the world.
- Your answer will not be found in drugs or drink or wine or women or song.
- The solution to your lameness will never be found in the empty, powerless traditions of dead religion. Your answer is found in a person—the man, Christ Jesus!
The One who cries out to you from Jer. 33:3 “Call unto me and I . . .”
- You are the recipient of eternal life!
- You know the blessing of sins forgiven!
- You have been released from the torment of the devil’s bondage!
Your King calls to you in your lameness & pours out His kindness to you!
2) A PROMISE KEPT BROUGHT PRIVILEGE – v. 11b
It is a privilege indeed to be invited to feast at the King’s table.
We cannot come to God by our own merit or deeds, our own works or worthiness.
Some struggle with the sense of guilt and shame over past sins and feel so unworthy.
- But are you any less worthy than Judas when Jesus washed his feet?
- Are you less worthy than Saul of tarsus when Christ met him on the road to Damascus?
- Less worthy than a dying thief whom the Lord cleansed as they both hung dying on a cross?
- David sang: “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Ps. 34:8).
- Joel announced: “Let the weak say, I am strong” (3:10).
- And Amos simply exhorted the people: “Seek the Lord and you shall live” (5:6).
A P K brought privilege!
3) A PROMISE KEPT BROUGHT SUSTENANCE – v. 13
We are reminded at the end of this chapter of M. condition, just as we were in v. 3.
“sustenance’ = “maintenance of life”
M. was dependent upon the kindness of the king for his daily needs.
Jesus told us in John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches, (…) without me you can do nothing.”
Like M., we are dependent on our King to sustain us through the trials and furnaces of life. Jesus is the only source for the needs of your spiritual life.
Jesus also said: “Because I live, you shall live also” (Jn. 14:19). His promise sustains us!
4) A PROMISE KEPT BROUGHT MERCY – 21:6-7
Oh! The depths of Calvary love, which reaches out in mercy, not judgment, not revenge, not even justice, but mercy!
Judgment would have killed M. Had it been revenge, David would have killed him because of what Saul had done.
But. A P K brought mercy! Amid judgment, God always remembers mercy!
God’s anger and wrath against sin should have fallen from heaven and consumed the human race. Instead, it fell on the sacrifice—Jesus!
2 Cor. 5:21 “But God has made Him, who knew no sin . . .”
- Jonathan Daniel Moore is charged with sin.
- The verdict is in—guilty!
- The penalty is death. (Rom. 6:23)
- Date of execution—2,000 years ago on a hill far away where stood that old rugged cross!
