"The king asked, 'Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show Godly kindness' (Samuel II 9:3)." Ziba, a servant of the House of Saul, told David of a crippled son of Jonathan, Mephiboshet. King David immediately sent for him.
The summons from King David filled Mephiboshet with dread. His grandfather, Saul, devoted the final years of his life to kill David and keep the kingship in the family. Mephiboshet's father, Jonathan, may have been David's closest friend, but his uncle, Ishboshet, waged war against David. The history between the two families was dark; why was David summoning Mephiboshet?
Mephiboshet appeared before the King, "Fell upon his face and prostrated himself," and said, "Behold! I am your servant."
David responded, "Fear not; I shall return to you the entire estate of Saul, and you shall always eat at my table." David secure in his position spoke to the man who described himself as "a dead dog," and restored him to a place at the royal table.
The summons caused unnecessary angst for Mephiboshet; surely David could have revealed his intentions to treat him generously. Unless, David assumed that word of his quest, "Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show Godly kindness," would quickly spread through the rumor mills, assuring Mephiboshet that David's intentions were benevolent.
The word did not spread. Perhaps no one trusted David's intentions. They could not believe that David desired to show "Godly kindness" to the royal house that had threatened his life and reign for so long. Mephiboshet appeared before David trembling, convinced that he would soon be no better than a dead dog.
The scene reminds me of Rosh Hashanah. We have been reading prophecies of comfort and love for seven weeks. The message from God is benevolent and loving, and yet, we receive the summons to the Day of Judgement in fear. We step towards the King's Throne trembling over what is to come. We haven't heard the message of the Seven Weeks of Consolation, or, perhaps, we didn't trust them. It is difficult for us to believe that God can love us so much, be so concerned for us, that He invites us to stand with Him on Rosh Hashanah, His Day of Coronation. Our invitation to the Day of Judgement is not to tremble before God, but to receive Godly Blessing, to join the King at the Royal Table and share in His goodness.
"You are standing, Nitzavim, today in positions of responsibility, all of you, before God, your Lord (Deuteronomy 29:9)." The people were terrified by the severe warnings in the previous portion; too frightened to hear, or believe, the words of love and comfort at its conclusion. Moses begins his final discourse with a reminder that each stood before God in a position of responsibility. They were still invited to eat at the Royal Table. They were still trusted by God with responsibility to make this a better world. Nitzavim, 'Standing,' always implies a high position of responsibility. "You may have failed in the past, but God still trusts you. He continues to honor you with the challenge to make this world a more accurate reflection of God's benevolence and love.
If I tremble on Rosh Hashanah it is with anticipation of unlimited blessing and infinite potential that is waiting for me at the Royal Table. I heard God's messages of love and comfort over the past seven weeks. I trust them. I may not feel that I deserve such good, but, quite frankly, I don't care, because God has already assured me of the possibilities offered by a loving relationship with the Creator.
I wish for each of you a Rosh Hashanah and year of hearing and trusting the invitation to eat at the Royal Table, feasting on unlimited blessings.
Shabbat Shalom and Shanah Tovah,
Rabbi Simcha L. Weinberg
President
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