Let's Go Back to the Bible

Lessons From the Table (Part 1)

It could be argued that the most important piece of furniture in your home is the table. Many of the most important meetings in government, business and social life have happened around that same piece of furniture. What lessons can we learn from those moments around the table in the Bible?

At David’s table we learn kindness. “David said to him, ‘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’… So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as one of the king’s sons” (2 Sam. 9:7, 11).  Mephibosheth was lame in both feet and the grandson of an ousted king. But to David he was the son of a close friend. David summoned him to bless him and Mephibosheth’s response was, “What is your servant that you would regard a dead dog like me?” (2 Sam. 9:8). David restored to him all the lands of his grandfather Saul and he would eat as a privileged guest at the king’s table. This kindness was never forgotten by Mephibosheth, as he proved to be a strong supporter of David.

At Nehemiah’s table we learn generosity. “Moreover, there were at my table one hundred and fifty Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. Now that which was prepared for each day was one ox and six choice sheep, also birds were prepared for me; and once in ten days all sorts of wine were furnished in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the governor’s food allowance, because the servitude was heavy on this people” (Neh. 5:17-18). It was within his power to demand the governor’s food allowance, however, seeing the demand on the people he chose to give instead of receive. This is the blessing of generosity (Acts 20:35).

At the table of the false prophet we learn obedience. “So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house and drank water. Now it came about, as they were sitting down at the table, that the word of the LORD came to the prophet who had brought him back; and he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have disobeyed the command of the LORD, and have not observed the commandment which the LORD your God commanded you, but have returned and eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which He said to you, ‘Eat no bread and drink no water’; your body shall not come to the grave of your fathers’” (1 Kgs. 13:19-22). The man of God from Judah disobeyed the command of God. Here we learn the importance of obedience, no matter what others say (Eph. 5:6). There are so many lessons that were taught around the table. Take advantage of this strategic place in your home and do the same.