1 Samuel 20:25 And the king sat on his seat, as at other times, even on a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side… "And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty" (1 Samuel 20:25). I shall look at these words in the spirit of accommodation to the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. There, too, will be a feast, a feast provided not by an earthly king, but by Him who is the King of kings. Let us consider some of the reasons which may probably be assigned for these vacant places. 1. But some places are empty. Some are empty, and we may envy the men and women, brothers and sisters in Christ, who once sat there, but will sit there no more. They are gone to claim the inheritance of which the Lord said, "I will give it you." 2. But other places are vacant not through this heavenly translation. And as we ask, "Where are they who usually occupy them?" the answer comes, "They are suffering under the Lord's hand." Yes, many places are empty for this reason, and where this is the reason the vacancy is no reproach. 3. Sometimes David's place is empty because he is engaged in Christian work. 4. Other places, too, are vacant from motives which are entitled to tender consideration, and which also require as tender correction. They fear they are not in a true and befitting mood for the sacrament. They are cold. They know not bow it is, but somehow the spiritual temperature is low. 5. But other places are empty for reasons less worthy. Their blank spaces tell, it may be, of hearts that are dying through habitual sin, or habitual neglect of the very conditions of life. (E. Mailer, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty. |
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