Eucharistic Meditation, August 8

2 Kings 25:27-30
Kings, as we?ve seen, is not only a book about the unfaithfulness of Israel. It is a book about the faithfulness of God. In particular, it is a book about the faithfulness of God to the house of David, a faithfulness demonstrated over and over again in the course of the book. When the house of David is threatened by Athaliah, the Lord preserves Joash; when Jerusalem is threatened by the Assyrians, fresh from their victory at Samaria, He delivers Jerusalem; and when the Davidic king goes into exile, the Lord?s hand reaches even there, to restore the fortunes of David?s Son.

The specifics of Jehoiachin?s exaltation are worth noting. He had been in prison, but Evil-Merodach released him. He had been treated harshly, but the king of Babylon speaks kindly to him. He has been low, but Evil-Merodach exalts him about the other kings in Babylon, making him a king of kings. He has been clothed like a prisoner, but he is given royal robes. And above all, he is given a place at the kings table, to eat meals with the Babylonian king for the rest of his life, a regular allowance form the king of Babylon. Those portions, and his place at that table, was a pledge of future restoration, a pledge that David?s line would be brought from the prison of exile to eat from the land flowing with milk and honey.

The meal we share makes the same pledge to us, but now as an accomplished fact. What was a future hope for Jehoiachin is now accomplished. David?s Son has been exalted from prison; He has put off the garb of a slave and has been exalted above all kings and authorities; He has sat down at a table in His kingdom. And He shares that table with us. We are sitting at this table because of God?s faithfulness to David?s house; you are sitting at this table as members of David?s household, as brothers and sisters of the ultimate, true Son of David, Jesus Christ.

And this table is a pledge and sign that God will continue to show His faithfulness to you. How can you know that God will raise you up from the death that threatens you? Because He has brought you from prison, given you new clothes, exalted you with Christ in heavenly places above all authorities and powers, and given you a seat at this table.