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.
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