2 Samuel 9:11
          So Mephibosheth ate at David's table, like one of the king's sons.

Not many know the story of Mephibosheth. He was the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, David's predecessor and former enemy. So he was the grandson of Saul.

When God disposed of Saul from the throne of Israel (by death), Jonathan his son also died. David soon after became king (check out 2 Samuel 2 for the story of a king between Saul and David almost entirely forgotten about). David remember that earlier in life, he had made a covenant with Jonathan. When David became king, he promised to love, help, and do good to Jonathan and his family. But now that he's king, Jonathan and his household are dead.

There was a servant of Saul's, Ziba, who was still alive. So David asked Ziba to find out if there was anyone left of Jonathan's family. Ziba told the king that there was one son remaining; the rest had been killed. The son of Jonathan was named Mephibosheth.

He was only a young boy (perhaps a baby even) when Saul and Jonathan had died. When his nurse heard what had happened, she grabbed the young boy and started to run away with him to keep him safe. She knew that people would be after the boy to kill him (and she was right).

Tragically though, as she was running away with the baby in her arms, she tripped and fell. The child was damaged for life. Both legs were broken by the fall, and Mephibosheth would be a cripple for the rest of his life.

Now think about this: Mephibosheth was the last remaining survivor of the king. The throne would have past to him, had not God taken it away. Furthermore, he's a cripple. And no cripple should ever be in the great and glorious presence of the king. And above all of that, he was the grandson of David's arch-enemy. Truly, Mephibosheth was the enemy of King David who, by every strand of earthly reasoning, should have been executed.

But! 2 Samuel 9:11. Far from being executed, King David graciously provided for Mephibosheth, set him up with an array of servants, provided for his entire family, and even opened up his kingly table to this crippled enemy. So for the rest of his days, "Mephibosheth ate at David's table, like one of the king's sons." The table was the deepest and most intimate place of fellowship. And the king took this cripple and treated him as his own son.

That text melted my heart. I am Mephibosheth. I am the crippled enemy of God's anointed King, Jesus, who by every strand of earthly reasoning deserves immediate execution. I have no claim to one ounce of goodness from the King. And yet, in an infinite condescension, the King has taken me in and granted me daily intimate fellowship with the King. He has taken me in, not just as an enemy, but rather as an adopted son. I EAT EVERY MEAL AT THE KING'S TABLE!

How could you not serve and love and kiss this King? (Psalm 2) There is no grace like the grace of King Jesus, opening his eternal table to all his enemies who would repent and believe on Him for righteousness.