Restored to the KING’s TABLE!!

At the Gathering Church, we are currently being taught about the restorative powers of our Almighty God. God restored a lot to a lot of people in the Bible. I don’t know that I can come out and clearly say that restoration is a promise, but I can say that there seems to be evidence that restoration is a part of an individual’s or a group’s benefit when that person or group of people have been faithful in long suffering or in returning to obedience from disobedience. Job was restored many times over after God allowed Satan to test him and yet, Job remained faithful. The people of Israel have been restored time and time again in Biblical history when they returned to obedience. God allowed Elisha to restore the Shunnamite woman’s son who had died and told her to flee her lands for a time of famine was approaching. Afterwards, when she returned, God had one of the most wicked Kings to restore her lands and riches to her. But perhaps one of the most beautiful instances of restoration is found in the book of 2nd Samuel in regards to King David and Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth.

Now Saul had hunted David to do away with him for some time but Saul’s son, Jonathan, and David were friends and Jonathan had spoken to Saul on David’s behalf. Not long after that, Saul and Jonathan perished in battle in the valley of Jezreel. In 2nd Samuel 4:4 it is told that the nurse looking after Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, heard the news of Saul and Jonathan’s death and left in great haste. In her hurry the boy fell and became lame in both feet. Later, in 2nd Samuel 9:1 David asks, “Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” In 9:3 Ziba informs David that Jonathan does have a son who is crippled. In verse 9:4 David is told that Mephibosheth lives with a man in Lodebar which is a far away and desolate place. The word “Lodebar”, in fact, means “pastureless”. David sends for Mephibosheth to have him brought to Jerusalem. Arriving, Mephibosheth throws himself before David fearing the worst possible scenario. However, in verse 9: 7, David said, “Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat at my table regularly.”

8Again he (Mephibosheth) prostrated himself and said, “What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me?”

Now the beautiful part comes,

2 Samuel 9:9–13 (NASB95)

9 Then the king called 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 cultivate the land for him, and you shall bring in the produce so that your master’s grandson may have food; nevertheless Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall eat at my table regularly.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

11Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant so your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as one of the king’s sons.

12Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth.

13So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate at the king’s table regularly. Now he was lame in both feet.

How wonderful a story is that??!!

Now I’d like to just give you a few other things to think about. Just as David sought out Mephibosheth to show him God’s kindness, so does God seek us to show us His love and kindness. Mephibosheth did not find David and we did not find God. David found Mephibosheth. God finds us. Mephibosheth was found in a far away place of Lodebar a desert, desolate place. Likewise, when God finds us we are many times found in a place of desolation and despair. David returned Mephibosheth to His rightful home to eat at the king’s table for the rest of his life. Mephibosheth had rights that he did not even know he had. Again, likewise, we are brought into the Body of Christ to claim a rightful place, seated at the KING’s table for a great feast. Just as David restored all of Saul’s lands and riches to Mephibosheth (those things which Satan had stolen from Mephibosheth through his grandfather’s disobedience), I can’t help but believe that God will restore to us what the enemy has stolen when and if we walk according to the steps He has chosen for us in obedience. Certainly, Mephibosheth was restored as he received all that was once Saul’s, servants to work the land, the produce of the land, and he sat at the king’s table for the rest of his life and lived in Jerusalem (not some desolate place) for the rest of his days.

You see, we have been found, and returned to feast at the KING’s TABLE! Not only that but God can restore years lost, finances, and all that is rightfully ours that the devil has stolen. Why would we not want that?

While it is true that we lose things to the enemy because of disobedience, lack of revelation, knowledge, and faith; I can’t help but consider that sometimes we have to lose so that we can be restored to a greater level in such a magnificent manner that we, ourselves, can take no credit for it and God HAS to receive the honor and glory for the restoration. To some degree I can relate to that. I’ve lost much over the fifty plus years I have traveled this earth. I believe that God is in the restoration business. He HAS to be! The Bible is too filled with restoration! His Word is His Will and if it is in His Word and His Will that I, you, us, they, them be restored then it must be so.

I struggle with obedience at times. I suspect we all do. I seek through God’s Word regularly to receive revelation, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of God’s ways for His ways are not our ways. I pray that God would restore His church to a position of power in this world we live in. I pray that God restores me in all ways and in all things that I have lost to the enemy over the years. I have been found in a desolate and barren place. I have been called back to eat at the KING’s table. I HAVE BEEN restored to greater levels than I have previously known and, perhaps, greater levels than I could dream of. As I make this statement and pray this prayer I believe that it is already so in heaven.

God Bless

Lonnie Richardson

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Restored to the KING’s TABLE!!

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