Where Do You Sit?

“So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet.” (2 Samuel 9:13)

If the strength and ability of Mephibosheth were a condition for him to be accepted of King David, he would have been the least of candidates. In fact, not only was he lame in both feet but by rights he was the king’s enemy, being of the household of Saul.

How amazing then that we find him seated at King David’s table, partaking of his food and sharing the honor with the other sons of David! How was this possible? 2 Samuel 9:1 gives one reason: David’s purpose to show kindness for Jonathan’s sake. As a result of a covenant between Jonathan and David [1 Samuel 18:3] Mephibosheth would be spared the condemnation meted out to others of Saul’s household. What a beautiful picture of God’s grace and mercy toward sinners in Christ because of that everlasting covenant of grace made between the Father and the Son on behalf of those that God the Father purposed to save.

Many people wrongly picture themselves ‘standing’ before God someday and defending their cause. The Scripture says in Psalm 130:3: “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O LORD, who shall stand?” Like Mephibosheth, lame from a fall, he had no legs on which to stand. However, this did not prohibit the King from fetching him and bringing him to his palace, 2 Samuel 9:5. The same is true with God’s redeeming grace in Christ. The spiritual lameness of His people is no barrier for Him to fetch them by His Spirit of grace and bring them to Himself because of His grace that He purposed toward them in His Son.

Just like Mephibosheth, where do you find the LORD’s redeemed and called-out ones? Sitting with Him at His table. The question is not, ‘Where do you stand?’ on such and such an issue but rather: ‘Where do you sit? Sitting in this context presupposes the inability to stand but resting in the presence of the One Who has done it all. That is where Scripture records the position of the demoniac of the Gadarenes that Christ delivered: “...sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind.” (Mark 5:15) Mary Magdalene whom Christ delivered of seven devils: “...sitting at Jesus feet.” (Luke 10:39) All of the LORD’s redeemed ones are described as being made to “...sit together, in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:6) Why? Because He is there as their Representative, seated and reigning. His work is fully accomplished for them by His righteous life and sacrificial death, Hebrews 1:3.

Many professors boast of their standing before God, presumptuous and proud of their own supposed accomplishments and knowledge. God’s children, however, know themselves to have nothing on which to stand but rejoice in the seat that God the Father has given them in His presence, by His grace, wholly through the work of His Son, Jesus Christ alone!