FROM LO-DEBAR TO THE KING’S TABLE
God chose David when he was but a shepherd boy and ignored by the rest of his family. His father and brothers didn’t think he had the makings of a warrior, much less a king. But God saw it differently. God chose David, who others discounted, and David never forgot it: “Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever” (Ps. 136:23). If you’ve been snubbed, ridiculed or dishonored, don’t worry. God wants to take you from Lo-Debar to the king’s table. Look at 2 Samuel 9.
David and Saul’s son Jonathan became great friends, so when both Saul and Jonathan died, David wanted to bless their family. He asked, “Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Sam. 9:1).
“David called in Ziba, one of the servants of Saul’s family. David said, ‘So you are Ziba.’ ‘Yes, Your Majesty, I am.’ David asked, ‘Are any of Saul’s family still alive? If there are, I want to be kind to them.’
“Ziba answered, ‘One of Jonathan’s sons is still alive, but he can’t walk.’ ‘Where is he?’ David asked. Ziba replied, ‘He lives in Lo-Debar with Machir the son of Ammiel.’ David sent some servants to bring Jonathan’s son from Lo-Debar. His name was Mephibosheth, and he was the grandson of Saul. He came to David and knelt down. David asked, ‘Are you Mephibosheth?’ ‘Yes, I am, Your Majesty’” (2 Sam. 9:2-6).
There are two hidden secrets in the above passage that will amaze and bless you. The first is the fact that this man lived in Lo-Debar. I looked up the meaning of this word. “Lo” means “no, or without.” The word “debar” comes from two words. One translates as a “pasture, or a flock or fold, as in a sheepfold.” The other is “dabar,” meaning “word, answer, speaking, teaching, and communicating.” Lo-Debar was a pastureless place, a place with no flocks, no answers, no teaching, no communication. Why is this important? You’ll see in a minute.
The second hidden secret in this passage is the meaning of the man’s name, Mephibosheth. This name translates as “exterminating the idol.” This poor man was a child of our God, stuck in a low place, Lo-Debar; a place where he couldn’t operate his God-given specialty. God gave him the distinct ability in his name: to exterminate idols, but he was spiritually imprisoned in a place where there was no one to listen. There was no pasture for the Word of God. It reminded me of when our Lord Jesus went back to his town of Nazareth and “he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matt. 13:58).
God didn’t want this man in a place of spiritual bondage, and He doesn’t want you in one either. God sent David to bring this man up out of Lo-Debar.
“David said, ‘Don’t be afraid. I’ll be kind to you because Jonathan was your father. I’m going to give you back the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul. Besides that, you will always eat with me at my table.’ Mephibosheth knelt down again and said, ‘Why should you care about me? I’m worth no more than a dead dog’” (vv. 7-8).
We see from this passage that Mephibosheth’s self-image was terrible. He was dejected, miserable, downcast. People will always lean towards depression and despondency when they feel they can’t express who they really are.
Through David, God rescued Mephibosheth from bondage to freedom and delight.
“David called in Ziba, Saul’s chief servant, and told him, ‘Since Mephibosheth is Saul’s grandson, I’ve given him back everything that belonged to your master Saul and his family. You and your fifteen sons and twenty servants will work for Mephibosheth. You will farm his land and bring in his crops so that Saul’s family and servants will have food. But Mephibosheth will always eat with me at my table.’
“Ziba replied, ‘Your Majesty, I will do exactly what you tell me to do.’ So Ziba’s family and servants worked for Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth was lame, but he lived in Jerusalem and ate at David’s table, just like one of David’s own sons” (vv.9-13).
There are many other examples in the Bible of God delivering His loved ones from prisons of all kinds, bringing them from low places to high ones. See what the Lord shows you this week.
Love, Carolyn
FREE THROUGH Tuesday
This section is PART 2 and contains chapters 10-23:
10. PAY ATTENTION!
11. SPEAKING FAITH INTO EXISTENCE
12. HISTORY IN THE HEAVENS
13. THE MISSING MANUAL
14. PRAYING AND SINGING IN TONGUES
15. POWER-PACKED BLESSINGS
16. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
17. PREACH YOURSELF HAPPY
18. PAYMENT FOR SIN
19. CALLING THE DOG
20. THE ADVENTURE OF PLANTING SEEDS
21. FIXING EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS
22. NIT-PICKING
23. THE QUEEN OF SHEBA HAS ARRIVED
Reading each chapter will give insight into the spiritual forces behind everyday decisions and explore the key ingredients for empowerment. Answering the questions at the end of each chapter will help you to locate where you are on your spiritual journey and to make action plans for going further and higher.
10. PAY ATTENTION!
11. SPEAKING FAITH INTO EXISTENCE
12. HISTORY IN THE HEAVENS
13. THE MISSING MANUAL
14. PRAYING AND SINGING IN TONGUES
15. POWER-PACKED BLESSINGS
16. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
17. PREACH YOURSELF HAPPY
18. PAYMENT FOR SIN
19. CALLING THE DOG
20. THE ADVENTURE OF PLANTING SEEDS
21. FIXING EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS
22. NIT-PICKING
23. THE QUEEN OF SHEBA HAS ARRIVED
Reading each chapter will give insight into the spiritual forces behind everyday decisions and explore the key ingredients for empowerment. Answering the questions at the end of each chapter will help you to locate where you are on your spiritual journey and to make action plans for going further and higher.
No comments:
Post a Comment