Ingratitude

It is quiet interesting to note - be it a sin offering or a guilt offering or a grain offering or a peace offering, a portion of it belongs to the priests.

Unlike the other children of Israel, the Levites were solely dedicated to serving the Lord and this was their only source 

Josh:13:14. When the promised land was allotted to the different tribes, the tribe of Levi was not allocated any land.

The children of Levi were the only ones who obeyed Moses in taking up the sword and slaying 3000 disobedient people who worshipped the golden calf.

There is complete surrender and dedication of their lives.

There is complete obedience.

What a privilege it would be to be part of God's table?

Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul. He was crippled in both feet. When David became king he called Ziba the servant of Saul and said he wanted to show God's kindness to Saul's family. And Mephibosheth is brought to the king's palace and the king promises to Mephibosheth that Ziba and his sons would till the land for him and his sons and that he would always eat from the king's table.

Kindness and Magnanimity offered 

The story doesn't end there.

Later we see Ziba with a huge load of bread, raisins and summer fruit offering to David. The king asks of Mephibosheth. Ziba replied that he stayed in Jerusalem saying " Today I will get back the kingdom of my grandfather Saul"

Such a sad end to the story.?

Kindness and mercy granted unmerited is returned with rebellion and thanklessness and ingratitude.?

Later we see in 2Samuel:19 that Ziba was treacherous in dealing with Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth was all the more loyal and grateful to what David has done!

V:24 He had not taken care of his feet or trimmed his moustache or washed his clothes from the day the king left.

V:28 what right do I have to make any more appeals to the king

V:30 shows his only priority was that the king has come back safe.

We as royal priesthood are invited to be part takers of his presence and glory!

How do we take it?

We can either be a Ziba who being a servant had twenty servants and began dealing self centred or be a Mephibosheth whose only priority is the King who dealt mercifully toward him.