Leave Lo Debar!
Dear Friends,
In Second Samuel, Chapter 9, the Lord has given us a beautiful portrait of His grace, mercy and lovingkindness through the touching story of King David and Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan. As we walk through this chapter, we will gain several important truths and spiritual insights. (All emphasis mine.)
2 Samuel 9:1
David asked, "Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's
sake?"
David remembered the covenant he had made with Jonathan twenty years earlier and sought a man named Ziba, who was a servant of King Saul.
The king asked, "Is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God's kindness?" Ziba answered the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet." "Where is he?" the king asked. Ziba answered, "He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar."
Lo Debar was once called “Debir” at the time of Joshua. The city’s name would be changed to Lo Debar, which meant a place of “no pasture,” “no sheepfold,” “no word,” and “no thing.” It was located near the Valley of Achor in Judah. Interestingly, Achor means “trouble.” So, Lo Debar was a city in the midst of a valley called trouble!
“No pasture” signifies no spiritual nourishment. “No word” represents no revelation of God’s Word of Truth. “No sheepfold” denotes no protection from the Evil One. “No thing” or “nothingness” speaks of a city without God – that is, a place of emptiness, hopelessness and desolation.
Spiritually speaking, Lo Debar was “nothing,” in the middle of “nowhere.” This was the noxious environment in which Mephibosheth lived every single day. The spirit over Lo Debar is reflected in Mephibosheth’s description of himself as a “dead dog”.
Why does Lo Debar distort one’s thinking, perceptions and understanding? It is the absence of the Word of God! Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” The term “vision” refers to the Word of God! A perishing Mephibosheth saw himself as a “dead dog,” while King David saw him as a royal prince of Israel!
In 2 Samuel 9:8, after having been taken out of Lo Debar and into the court of David, he dined at the King’s table (which established him as a member of King David’s royal family). Though Mephibosheth was no longer living in Lo Debar, clearly Lo Debar was still living in him! The only remedy for Mephibosheth’s twisted self-perception, despair, and torment would be through the transformation that comes by the renewing of our minds through the Word of the living God! We will not find it in Lo Debar!
Evacuate Lo Debar – flee! Run as fast, and as far as you can! Run to the Lord Jesus Christ – the Good Shepherd! David writes in Psalm 23 that the Lord makes him lie down in green pastures. This symbolizes spiritual nourishment, safety and security through the Word of God.
When we fall into the trap of feeling unworthy, we mustn’t get down on ourselves, but get down on our knees and humbly repent! Remember, the Lord is faithful to forgive His children. Jesus shed His blood on the cross for us – our worthiness is not based on who we are, but who the He is! The Holy Scriptures reveal how God sees us: as His precious children! Do we truly believe this? If so, we must live accordingly in the security of God’s love, with hearts of joy, peace and thanksgiving!
2 Samuel 9:5
So King David had him brought from Lo Debar…
Here, King David foreshadows Jesus, who delivers us from the kingdom of darkness!
2 Samuel 9:6-8
When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him
honor. David said, "Mephibosheth!" "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." Mephibosheth bowed down and said, "What is
your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?"
Predictably, the Devil would have taken the opportunity to shame Mephibosheth in his most vulnerable state of brokenness and anguish: “Look at you! You are lying on the ground, lame and useless, just like a dead dog” You are no longer a prince, but a pauper, you are nothing and possess nothing! You are totally unworthy and unfit!”
When we take the Devil’s lies to heart, they become our reality. Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinks in his heart – so is he.” Do not allow those who have abused and mistreated you to define who you are. You are not a “dead dog!” You are alive in Christ – a beloved and precious child of Almighty God – the King over all creation! You are fearfully and wonderfully made – the apple of His eye – and His “treasured possession.” (Psalm 139:14, Zechariah 2:8, Deuteronomy 14:2)
1 Peter 2:9 states that
[We] are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that [we] may
declare the praises of him who called [us] out of darkness into his wonderful light.
2 Samuel 9:9-11
Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, "I have given your master's grandson
everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and your servants are to farm the
land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master's grandson may be provided for. And
Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table." So, Mephibosheth ate at David's
table like one of the king's sons.
Eating at the king’s table like one of the king’s sons indicated that Mephibosheth was member of the royal family!
2 Samuel 9:12
Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica, and all the members of Ziba's household were servants
of Mephibosheth.
Despite his disabilities, Mephibosheth was able to bear a son and live a productive and fruitful life!
2 Samuel 9:13
And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king's table…
Mephibosheth’s name means “dispeller of shame.” Despite the tragic circumstances in the House of Saul, we see the gracious and faithful hand of the Lord upon Mephibosheth, who would not have to bear the shame of the sins of his grandfather, King Saul! God is faithful!
God bless,
Pastor Paul