2 Samuel 9:13, "So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet." 

I have never had the privilege or the opportunity to eat at the table of royalty. Mephibosheth found such a place offered continually to him because of the relationship his father, Jonathan, had with King David. David unconditionally offered a place at the King's table or Mephibosheth who "was lame on both of his feet," which would indicate he needed someones assistance to get to the table. His ability to produce much on his own would certainly be limited. There is however, a day when every Christian will eat at the King's table, it is called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19. This is a picture of the unconditional love of our Saviour who forgives us of our sins and then offers us a seat at His table. Revelation 19:7-9, "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.  9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, these are the true sayings of God." The concept of the marriage supper is better understood in light of the wedding customs in the time of Christ.

These wedding customs had three major parts. First, a marriage contract was signed by the parents of the bride and the bridegroom, and the parents of the bride would pay a dowry to the bridegroom or his parents. This began what was called the betrothal period—what we would today call the engagement. This period was the one Joseph and Mary were in when she was found to be with child (Matthew 1:18; Luke 2:5).

The second step in the process usually occurred a year later, when the bridegroom, accompanied by his male friends, went to the house of the bride at midnight, creating a torchlight parade through the streets. The bride would know in advance this was going to take place, and so she would be ready with her maidens, and they would all join the parade and end up at the bridegroom's home. This custom is the basis of the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. The third phase was the marriage supper itself, which might go on for days, as illustrated by the wedding ay Cana in at John 2:1-2.

What John’s vision in Revelation pictures is the wedding feast of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) and His bride (the Church) in its third phase. The implication is that the first two phases have already taken place. The first phase was completed on earth when each individual believer placed his or her faith in Christ as Savior. The dowry paid to the Bridegroom’s Parent (God the Father) would be the blood of Christ shed on the Bride’s behalf. The Church on earth today, then, is “betrothed” to Christ and, like the wise virgins in the parable, all believers should be watching and waiting for the appearance of the Bridegroom (the Second Coming). The second phase symbolizes the Rapture of the Church, when Christ comes to claim His bride and take her to the Father's house. The marriage supper then follows as the third and final step. I look forward to eating at the King's Table!

Your Friend and HIS,
Pastor Abbott

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1.  Have you placed faith in Jesus Christ to save you?  Why is this necessary?

2.  What was the dowry payment made on your behalf to God the Father?  Who made the payment?

3.  What institution is "betrothed" to Christ?  Are you then "betrothed" to Jesus?

4.  Are you looking forward to eating at the King's Table?  Is this just any king or is He a holy and almighty king?