Host: Hi, everyone! Welcome to another captivating episode of Hospitality Heroes’ Spotlight. In this show, we delve into the lives of ordinary people, just like you and me, in the Bible, who have distinguished themselves through their exceptional hospitality.
Today’s guest doesn’t need much introduction…He is the well-known Shepherd Boy turned King, Psalmist, Giant Slayer, and Man after God’s Heart! Today, we invite him to the show not for his numerous battle victories but for the way he exemplified hospitality. King David, you are welcome to the Inside-Out Hospitality blog.
King David: What an honour to be here
Host: The pleasure is ours. The Bible highlights several instances where you either received or showed hospitality, but the one that stands out most to us is 2 Samuel 9.
Most kings in those days, after getting the throne, would seek to kill everyone from the former King’s lineage to avoid any form of future rivalry or disturbances. But here, we find you looking for someone from the house of Saul to show kindness to. Why would you do that?
David: I would say Gratitude, Loyalty and Integrity. I used to find myself on the run a lot when King Saul used to pursue me. I received a lot of hospitality from people who provided me refuge, food and more (gratitude). One of them was Jonathan, the son of Saul. He will always tell me the plans before; we had a unique bond and made a covenant together. He made me promise to take care of his family in case he died, 1 Samuel 20:14-17 (loyalty). Finally, when I became King, I had to fulfil my promise to him (integrity).
While the possibility that Jonathan’s surving son could one day betray me was still there, I didn’t let that dissuade me because The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my saviour; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety (Psalms 18:2, New Living Translation).
Host: Wow, that is powerful. You didn’t just visit him or send him gifts; you went all out to invite him to your palace. I am sure he was already fearing his doom, knowing death awaited him. But I love how you reassured him with your words, invited him to dine with you and restored his possessions. You even gave him servants (v9-10)!
“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father, Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” (2 Samuel 9:7, New Living Translation).
This makes me think of when I used to view God as this wicked King who just wanted to punish me all the time. It was not until I finally accepted His invitation that I realised God is Kind. He didn’t want me hiding in some corner like Mephibosheth, living an average and fearful life, but invited me to His table to dine with Him always. Jesus’ blood is like the covenant you made with Jonathan. It is now my source of restoration and sonship with the Father. Hallelujah!
(To the audience) Have you accepted God’s invitation?
My next question to you, King David, is how do we apply this to modern times?
David: We have family and friends to whom we are close to. Often, those people may go through tragic incidents. We usually do the right thing, rally people, do a befitting burial, and give a nice envelope. Then, we sleep well at night, knowing we have done our part. It is already a good step, but the truth is, those people need more than an envelope of money or a one-time show of hospitality. What happens to the children or widow of the friend or family you lost?
Some even happen to host them in their houses, but they do so grudgingly, not letting them dine at their tables like sons of the house. We see it as a heavy extra burden, not an opportunity to reassure and restore them, extending God’s kindness to them.
The world is filled with many crippled persons, and I am not just talking about the physical disability! Many are going through ‘a lot,’ as you say nowadays, and we can extend God’s kindness to them through hospitality.
Host: That’s going the extra mile in hospitality. Please give us a few practical ideas about what we can do. You know, the rest of us mere mortals, don’t have palaces!
David: Hahahaha, Revelations 1:6 says we are all King Priests in Christ (winks). A few practical ideas that come to mind can be
- Remember someone who has been forgotten and regularly check up on them, e.g., a widow, orphan, or a classmate who had to repeat a class and is now behind.
- Extend hospitality to someone (or their family) who has been hospitable to you. For example, invite your friends’ children over for a play day.
- Train them to ‘fish’ for themselves, e.g. sending an orphan to school or helping a widow learn a trade that could give her money to sustain her family.
- Send an encouraging word to someone today, telling them how valuable they are
- Preach the gospel (The Good News) to those around you. Sure way to restore someone’s value.
But please, do not limit yourself to these. Many more ideas will flow in when you allow yourself to be a vessel God can use to express his kindness to His people through hospitality.
Host: Thank you so much for these lessons and tips, King David. Any last words?
David: If you stay with someone you are helping at home, know there might always be room for misunderstanding. My story with Mephi, as I call him, was not all rosy. We had a minor incident, and I admit I was too quick to jump to conclusions.
Ziba, the former servant of Saul and now Mephi’s servant, told me Mephi wanted to betray me. I quickly took away all his inheritance and gave it to Ziba (2 Samuel 16: 1-4). However, when I returned, Mephi told me a different story, which got weird (2 Samuel 19:24-30).
It’s always good to hear both sides of a story, as not everyone may be happy with whom you offer hospitality.
Host: About that! Why didn’t you restore the lands to Mephi instead of asking him to divide with Ziba!
David: ‘A be don tire!”. To be honest, I was just recovering from the betrayal and loss of my son Absalom. I didn’t have time for another drama, trying to find out who was right or wrong, so I just decided to have them split it. But again, that was my bad. I should have taken the time to listen even later.
Host: I’m sorry. The hospitality journey isn’t always smooth, but it’s worth it. Thanks for your words of wisdom today, King David. You have given us a lot to chew on. Go ye forth and slay those giants standing in your way to hospitality today!
With that, we have come to the end of ‘Season 1’ of our show. We will be back with more episodes. But we encourage you to read the entire series (links below) as we will have a quiz next week on which of the hosts we have invited so far you resemble.
Did you enjoy this post? Please like, share and leave a comment.
Until next time!
Hospitality Heroes series Season 1
Click the links to read more
- Father Abraham
- The Priest of Midian, Jethro
- Martha: Part 1 and Part 2
- Rahab the ‘Prostitute’
- Oga Boaz
- King David (You are here)
Inside-Out Hospitality 
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