Sermon Central
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Leaving Lodebar
Contributed by Darren Felarise on Apr 5, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: Many Christians find themselves in a barren place where they feel as though the are dying spiritually. Then God...
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.
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.
