2 Sam 9:1-13
Now David said, "Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?"
2 And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?"
He said, "At your service!"
3 Then the king said, "Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?"
And Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet."
4 So the king said to him, "Where is he?"
And Ziba said to the king, "Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar."
5 Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.
6 Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, "Mephibosheth?"
And he answered, "Here is your servant!"
7 So David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually."
8 Then he bowed himself, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?"
9 And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, "I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. 10 You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread at my table always." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11 Then Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do."
"As for Mephibosheth," said the king, "he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons." 12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. 13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.
(NKJV)
Most of us would read over this passage of scripture & never receive all that is there to receive from it. Because hidden inside this passage is a powerful message.
Title: ~~~
The obvious is there. David was fulfilling his promise to Jonathan by showing kindness to Mephibosheth. However, most would stop there & never see the fullness of this passage.
2 Sam 9:1-4
Now David said, "Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?"
2 And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?"
He said, "At your service!"
3 Then the king said, "Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?"
And Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet."
4 So the king said to him, "Where is he?"
And Ziba said to the king, "Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo’ Debar." (NKJV)
I) Lo’Debar
The word Lo’Debar comes from two Hebrew words: Lo, which means No, & Debar which means Pasture. When put together, we get the word pastureless giving the implication of a barren land.
He was in a barren land. Many Christians today find themselves in Lo’Debar. A barren place. Are they saved? Yes! But because of choices the may have made, they find themselves in a place that seems barren spiritually. They feel as though they are dying spiritually. But notice vs.5.
2 Sam 9:5
5 Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar. (NKJV)
David took him out of Lo’Debar.
One thing we must realize is that Jesus will never leave us in Lo’Debar. He never intended for any believer to stay there.
John 10:10
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (KJV)
Not only does he take us out of Lo’Debar, but look what else he does.
2 Sam 9:6-11
6 Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, "Mephibosheth?"
And he answered, "Here is your servant!"
7 So David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually."
8 Then he bowed himself, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?"
9 And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, "I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. 10 You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread at my table always." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11 Then Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do." (NKJV)
He brings total restoration!!!
In the book of Lev. 25:9-10 we read about the year of jubilee.
Lev 25:9-10
9 Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.
10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family. (KJV)
There is much to say about, & that has been said about the year of Jubilee. Suffice it to say, “Jesus is our Jubilee!!!”
He brings total restoration!!!
2 Sam 9:11
11 Then Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do."
"As for Mephibosheth," said the king, "he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons." (NKJV)
David allowed him to eat at his table as one of the Kings Sons.
2 Sam 9:13
13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet. (NKJV)
In Lo’Debar he was forgotten, as a dead man, out of sight & out of mind. Now, he’s as a son…
Rom 8:14-17
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (KJV)
There is one more thing that we must look at.
II) Mephibosheth
In the Hebrew it means, “Dispeller (destroyer) of shame.”
All of the shame that Saul had brought was dispelled or destroyed.
All of the shame brought on by sin has been dispelled by the blood of Jesus!!!
(Close)
Heb 12:1-2
12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (KJV)
It’s time to leave Lo’Debar!!!
