Dinner with the King

Paul Tautges

Reviewed by: Cheyenne Farr

Dinner with the King: How King David’s Invitation Shows Us God’s Love, by Paul Tautges. P&R, 2024. Hardcover, 32 pages, $19.99. Reviewed by OP member Cheyenne Farr.

This children’s picture book, written by a pastor and father of ten children, asks: “What if a king invited you to his palace?” Color illustrations illuminate the exciting possibilities and skillfully introduce the child to Mephibosheth’s story in 2 Samuel 9. The child hears a brief history of King Saul and Prince Jonathan, Mephibosheth’s grandfather and father. This backstory creates tension as King David summons Mephibosheth. Why does King David invite Mephibosheth to the palace? The stunning answer—to be part of King David’s family.

Mephibosheth needed grace from a king, and so do we, Tautges explains, but not from an earthly king. Because of our disobedience, we need grace from Jesus, “the King of the whole world.” Illustrations of children acting poorly help show how we are sinners, sinners who deserve to be punished, yet who have received grace. The book ends with a beautiful reminder of Christ dying on the cross in our place and our hope: One day we will be with King Jesus, eating at his table in his heavenly palace. The climactic illustration shows adults and children around the table with a glowing silhouette, representing King Jesus. In my view, this was tastefully done in ways that uphold the Westminster Standards’ teaching regarding the second commandment.

Although written for ages five to nine, Dinner with the King helps children as young as three see how the story of King David’s grace to Mephibosheth points to our gospel hope in Christ.