AT THE KING'S TABLE

(Based on 2 Samuel 9:12)

David was quite a character. He danced in the streets. He ran from God. He turned to God. There was the episode with Bathsheba which never should have happened but God sure did love him, warts and all. One thing I really like about David is that he was a good friend. Imagine --

"I so miss Jonathan," David sighed. "The news of his death almost did me in. How did everything go so wrong? It was not supposed to be this way. We should have laughed longer. We should have grown old together."

"Servant," David called. "I want to honor Jonathan. Is there any of his family left? Can you help me?"

Finally it was discovered Jonathan's son was alive. "He is lame in both feet," the servant told David.

Bless David's heart, he never missed a beat. He didn't write this "cripple" off as having no worth. David did the most unexpected thing. He had Mephibosheth brought to him and told him, "Oh how I loved your father! Come. Don't be afraid. I am giving you back the land your grandpa Saul owned. It is yours!"

David continued, "Are you hungry? What a silly question. Of course you are. Wait till you see the feast we have prepared for you."

"What?" David asked with a quizzical look. "Your feet? What do your feet have to do with anything? You are Jonathan's son! And never. Never, I say, call yourself a dead dog again!"

David remembered his friend. Jonathan's son, a cripple, lame in both feet, sat at a king's table and ate.

IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU

Known as a cripple - lame in both feet - and considered a dead dog by society, a young man has his inheritance restored, joined his father's friend at the table and ate "as one of the king's sons."

It could happen to you. You could be asked to eat at the table of the King.

Can you imagine what this must have felt like for Jonathan's son? In David's time a cripple was worthless. Someone of no value. Today, we have given cripple a nice name -- disability. Disability doesn't sound as harsh. And dead dog? Would you call yourself a dead dog? Close your eyes and imagine a worthless, dead dog, cripple coming into the presence of a king.

Did you close your eyes? What did it look like to you?

Can you picture yourself going to eat with the King?

You approach the table on feet that have walked on a path of sin and with hands that did not give bread to the hungry or water to the thirsty. You hang back because you have eyes that refused to see injustice and a tongue which did not defend the weak. You cringe as your ears hear your name because you know your ears did not hear the cries of the needy. You hang your head because you know you reserved your love for only a few. Each step is harder to take because you are carrying the weight of guilt.

I know that was not easy to read. Please do not stop reading though, because a cripple approached the table of David but David saw the son of a friend. Now picture this --

As you arrive at the table, the King sees you - clean and whole. The King sees you forgiven. The King invites you to the table because the King sees a friend of His Son.

Sit down! Enjoy! This King, because of His Son, has a special place at the table for you.

WHO SAID MY NAME?

(Based on 1 Samuel 3:1-19)

Can you see her? Over there. Alone. Tears streaming down her cheeks. Head bowed. Moving her lips with no sound coming out. She barely can stand. She is completely defeated. She is barren. Her prayers are for a child.

Hannah pleaded, "O, Lord. If only I could become pregnant. All I ask for is a child. A child to hold and love. A child to nurse. A boy, Lord. A boy I would give to you."

Finally realizing Hannah is sincere Eli, the priest, told her to go in peace and may the God of Israel grant your prayer.

Fast forward. Samuel was born and Hannah took her son to Eli. (Hannah had been true to her word and, after Eli, she was blessed with three sons and two daughters.)

Samuel grew and Eli trained him well. Then one night, as Eli slept and Samuel was ready to nod off, Samuel heard a voice, "Samuel." I imagine Samuel jumped right up, throwing the covers to the floor and ran straight to Eli saying, "Here I am."

Eli, waking from a bad dream about his rotten sons, was a bit confused and quickly explained to Samuel, "I didn't call you. Go back to bed."

This happened three times! Maybe I shouldn't imagine exactly what Eli said the third time. Oh yes I should. As Eli sat up the third time, the light bulb finally went off.

Eli understood now and said, "Why Samuel it must have been the Lord saying your name. Go back to bed and, when you hear the Lord calling you, tell him you are listening."

Now my imagination kicks in again. Picture Samuel laying there. Waiting. I doubt if he went back to sleep this time. He waited for the Lord to stand beside his bed and talk to him.

This time Samuel knew exactly who called him when he answered, "Here I am."

IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU

Samuel was called four times, but it was not until Eli told him it was the Lord and after he had heard the Lord's voice that he knew who said his name.

It could happen to you. You could be called by the Lord and not know it.

What if you heard your name called in the middle of the night? You're asleep and you hear your name. First you would wonder what is wrong. Is someone sick? Who called me? My spouse? My children? And if you live alone, it would be even scarier. Were you dreaming? Do you go back to sleep?

"But I heard my name," you think as your eyes stay open.

Samuel heard his name. Then the Lord stood beside his bed. And called his name again.

How do you hear the Lord speak? Do you hear him with your ears or with your mind or with your Spirit? If you have never heard the Lord's voice, how will you know it? How will you recognize it?

I firmly believe if the Good Lord wants you to hear him call your name, you will hear it with your ears! He has the ability to be audible. But I believe the Lord speaks to you in so many other ways. And when he speaks - when he calls your name - when he gives you a chance to say, "Here I am." - he may be speaking through a sermon, a friend or through an enemy. He may speak to you through a book. He always speaks to you through his Holy Word, the Bible.

Did you notice the circles in Samuel's story? His mother called to the Lord and then the Lord called to Samuel. Eli heard the mother's prayer and then told Samuel to hear the Lord.

Samuel heard because he had been taught and prepared to hear.

Are you prepared to hear? Will you recognize the Lord's voice? Are you ready to say, "Here I am."?

TIME TO BUILD AN ARK

(based on Genesis 6:5-22)

Now things were not going too great on earth. Wickedness. Evil. All sorts of bad stuff. The picture in my mind went from peaceful, lush and vibrant to dark, smelly and a very happy snake. God was not happy. I think God talked to Gabriel.

"Gabriel what happened? I planned this for good and look at what my children have become," God said with deep sadness.

With a strong voice, God declared, "I WILL GET RID OF IT ALL! EVERY PERSON. EVERY ANIMAL. EVERY BIRD. I HAVE HAD IT."

Then God saw Noah. God saw hope for mankind.

Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord but probably not in the eyes of others?

Mrs. Noah probably said, “You’re going to build what? Two of each animal?”

And I am sure he heard from his neighbors. “Noah, what are you doing? If you keep this up, the property values will go down.”

Ham, Noah’s son, was in for some teasing also. “Ham, your daddy doesn’t have both oars in the water.” And Ham would have come back with, under his breath of course, “Maybe not now, but you wait and see who floats and who doesn’t.”

Then there was the trip to the local hardware. When Noah told the owner what he wanted, the owner would have wondered if he heard the order correctly. “You want how much cypress wood? You need how much pitch? I will have to place an order for the pitch." Rubbing his hands together and, with a wicked grin, he most likely asked, "Will you be paying now or later?”

Noah heard all this as he worked and worked and worked. Noah heard the screams as the water rose.

IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU

Noah was an ordinary man getting through the day. Working, taking care of his family and trying to do the right thing. Then God asked him to do something way out of his comfort zone.

It could happen to you. You might be tempted to shout, "Lord, you want me to do what?"

Has God ever asked you to do something causing you to choose his will over family, friends or neighbors? Sometimes those closest to you do not understand or support decisions to quit smoking or drinking. Sometimes they do not understand your wanting to go to church on Sunday morning.

Have you ever taken a stand and then been laughed at or criticized? Have you ever wished you had not said something, because the pressure to change your belief is so great? Today's society wants us to be politically correct, but is society keeping you from standing up for your faith and values?

Think of the strength of character Noah needed to stand up to the looks. To the questions. To the laughing. Where did he find the courage?

Noah had courage because he trusted God. Do you trust God enough to say yes when he asks you to get out of your comfort zone?

Would you build an ark in your back yard?

EVE VERSUS THE SNAKE

(based upon Genesis 3:1-6)

God is showing Adam and Eve around the garden. He is pointing out flowers and trees. God loved this time with his companions. They were strolling along, until they come to one tree.

"So much I have created for you," God says. "Enjoy it all. Except for this one tree. Think you can walk right on by this tree because to eat from this tree will cause you to die? "

I can picture Adam and Eve shaking their heads and thinking, "It is a no brainer. With all there is to eat, of course we can stay away from one little tree."

Can you imagine the garden? Colorful. Lush. Peaceful. Adam and Eve enjoying the end of the day. Relaxed. Loved by God. Adam and Eve asleep.

Where is the snake? I think that ole snake had followed them, hiding behind trees and under bushes, but listening, plotting and waiting. He was being patient. He taxed his brain to full capacity figuring out how he would work his evil. Still hiding the snake was sizing up Eve.

Adam greeted Eve, "Good morning. What are your plans for today? Shall we name a few plants? And I saw a funny looking animal. Silly thing - big, gray, long nose. For some reason I thought elephant might be a good name."

Eve replied, "Elephant? Why not? This naming is getting a bit difficult. I never imagined God was so creative. Do you think we are even half done?"

"I think I will walk to the waterfalls. Do you want to come along?" Eve asked.

"No," Adam said as he studied a new bug. "We'll have some fruit and nuts when you get back. If you see something that strikes your fancy, pick it, would you?"

And the snake smiled.

IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU

Eve never saw it coming and never had a chance. Eve had no defenses to combat that ole evil, sneaky snake.

It could happen to you. It is hard to keep our defenses up 24/7.

Okay, so the apple on the tree looked good and the ole snake told a good story, but why did Eve fall for it? Why did she not do as God told her? How hard could it have been to resist the fruit of this one tree? It isn’t like she and Adam didn’t have anything to eat. And she should have known better. After all ---

Come to think of it, there was no “after all.” No one before Eve had ever been tempted. She really did not understand the consequences of one little bite, of one little piece of fruit. Eve didn't grow up with parents teaching her right from wrong. Eve didn't have experts on television telling her how to say no and be strong. Eve didn't have an extended family, a church family or even a good female friend to turn to.

Don't you hate those "Eve" choices in your life? Those choices which seem innocent. Those choices where someone is telling you, "Go ahead. Who will ever know?"

You are warned not to use a curling iron in the shower. You are warned to buckle up before you drive. Why don't your choices come with a warning label? After all ---

Come to think of it, there is an "after all" for you. A very big one. It is called the Bible.

What choices do you face? Are you ever like Eve and listen to ole sneaky snake instead of the Word of God? Are the big decisions in life easy, but the little "one bite of the apple won't hurt" decisions hard? What choices do you face?

Unlike Eve, you have a defense system. And remember, that ole snake has no legs to stand on.