Remembering Amazing Grace

In two of our readings today we were met with dramatic renderings of God's amazing grace.

The first was found in 2 Samuel 9. David has now been established as king. He has great power and is esteemed in the eyes of the people. More importantly he is blessed by his God. But even in this state which might have puffed him up he seeks to show God's kindness to someone.

He asks Ziba if there is anyone in Saul's house to which he might show kindness. Ziba admits that there is a young man name Mephibosheth, who is Jonathan's son, thus Saul's grandson. Mephibosheth is lame due to an accident that occurred earlier in his life.

So here is the picture - the strong powerful king, David, summoning the lame Mephibosheth into his presence, supposedly to show kindness. But was this only a rouse? After all Saul had tormented David for years. Maybe this was time David would avenge himself on his enemies.

But no - that was not his intent. When Mephibosheth comes before him, David extends tremendous grace. He restores to Mephibosheth all the property that belonged to Saul, and then invites Mephibosheth to eat at the king's table.

I love the response of Mephibosheth to David's kindness. He says, "What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?" It appears that Mephibosheth grasped the greatness of the grace that David was extending to him. Sadly, as we will find out in a later chapter, Mephibosheth seems to forget this amazing grace.

Ezekiel 16 also gives a a graphic picture of grace. God describes it like this in verse 6: "And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in you blood, 'Live!' I said to you in your blood, 'Live!' I made you flourish like a plant of the field...." A few verses later the Lord shares how he washed her, anointed her, clothed her, adorned her with fine ornaments, even a ring and a crown. The transformation couldn't have greater - from abandoned and wallowing in blood, to being cared for in the ultimate way.

Sadly, for Israel, she forgot God's grace. As the rest of the chapter details she went "a whoring" in the most foul ways. But even after proclaiming judgment God still in the end speaks His intention to extend grace once again. He says in verse 62 -63, "I will establish my covenant withy you, and you shall kknow that I am the Lord, that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I atone for you for all that you have done, declares the Lord."

Brothers and sisters, take a moment to consider these pictures: the lame man before the king, the abandoned child wallowing in its blood. These describe us in our sins - not deserving in any way - not having something within ourselves that compels the Lord to act. Yet He has acted in His Son, Jesus Christ. For the lame and the one abandoned one, the Lord gave His life so that we might eat at the King of King's table all the days of our life - so that we might be adorned by Him in the finest of clothes.

May we often look back at the grace which drew us to God. May we not, like Israel, forget God's amazing grace. Perhaps that is why the Lord instituted His table, so that frequently we could remember the depths of God's grace, and be continually transformed by it.

Do you know God's amazing grace? Has He brought you to His table? Has He adorned you with His robe of righteousness? Never forget what the Lord has done for you. Marvel every day at the greatness of His grace!