Come Out Of Lodebar Series

Mephibosheth would still be in trouble if David kept promises like we keep them today. We have trouble keeping our promises to each other in each others face, but David is faced with the challenge of keeping his promise now that his friend is dead. Most kings in the time of David tried to completely destroy the families of their rivals in order to prevent any of the descendants from trying to regain the throne. David did not do that, he actively sought out descendants of his friend. He was told that Jonathan had a son but the son was alive but lame.

His search landed his servants down in Lodebar, a city east of the Jordan River. A city that was characterized by its barrenness, waste lands and devastation. His search took his servants to Lodebar, the city in the midst of the wilderness. Lodebar the place of no pasture. No greenery. It was desolate in Lodebar. Down in Lodebar, Mephibosheth lost his rank, lost his prestige, lost his respectability, lost his reputation, lost his superiority, lost his self-will. Down in Lodebar, Mephibosheth went from living in the palace to hiding out with a family friend. Mephibosheth went from the prince to servant. Mephibosheth went from powerful to afraid.

Now in Lodebar, the orphan Mephibosheth is found and afraid for his life. David did not want to take his life but save it and by restoring to him all that had been taken from him. Mephibosheth was going to have to trust David. Mephibosheth is summoned to the palace and received because of David’s deep love for his father. I remember when Richard and Ryan first arrived here in Atlanta. When Richard was at school everyday, the lady in the cafeteria would look at him and smile and give him extras. He would come home and say, I don’t know why the lady is so nice to me, I don’t ask her for anything and she even says no to the children who ask. I went up to the school to see who this was and Richard pointed her out to me but I didn’t know her. I went up to her and inquired do you know me. She said no I don’t but I know you are Mother Hinsley’s granddaughter and she never let me and my children go without anything. I just wanted to be nice to someone in her family. You never know where your blessing is coming from that’s why you better be kind to everybody.

When Mephibosheth, now 20 years old whose name means “He scatters shame”, or destroying shame, came face to face with David, he fell flat on the floor in an act of submission. He referred to himself as a dead dog meaning he felt like he had no worth or value. Dogs then were not held in such high regard as they are now. Dogs didn’t have their own houses, clothes, doctors, food and the like. That was when a dog was a dog. Dogs were actually disliked and held in contempt. He was comparing himself to something very low and helpless.

He really didn’t know how things were going to work out. All he knew is that Kings had a way of destroying the remnants of the families. But he humbled himself, fell on his face, reverenced the king, confessed his unworthiness. David quickly put Mephibosheth at ease, offered forgiveness and invited him to dine at the kings table and be cared for the rest of his natural life. He was accepted and adopted into the royal family. David took him anyway to the throne and gave back everything that had been taken.