2 Samuel 9:2-5 – “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.”  NKJV

Here is a beautiful picture, that I suggest is an example of the ministry of our Lord Jesus for all who are ‘weary and heavy laden’ and lonely and living in lack.  The servant of Saul’s house informed the king that there was a descendant of Jonathan, Saul’s son.  The descendant, Mephibosheth was lame and unable to fully care for himself.  David sought to demonstrate kindness in fulfillment of his promise to Jonathan and his honoring of the fact that Saul had been God’s anointed leader. 

Where Mephibosheth was dwelling is of importance it was Lo Debar or Lodebar which means “a place of no pasture” and indicates ‘loneliness and lack’.  Some historical suggestions are that this city was a forgotten place where those dwelling there were largely the outcasts of society ignored by those outside.  It was a PLACE OF LONELINESS!

David sought out Mephibosheth and that is exactly what our Lord does for us.  He has sought us and seeks us out to restore us and bring us out of our Lo Debar.  I love the words of David to Mephibosheth when he was brought before the king.  David called to him calling him by name and Mephibosheth responded, no doubt with trepidation and trembling for kings in those times usually executed the surviving members of families of prior kingdoms. 

David immediately said, “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; you shall eat bread at my table continually.”  WOW!  Did you hear that?  I am going to show you ‘checed’ or kindness.  That’s what God does for us.  Then he said, I am going to restore to you all the lands of your grandfather.  God is a God of Restoration and will restore all that has been stolen from us.  Then, he said, “…you shall eat bread at my table continually.”  HALLELUJAH!  We have a seat at the Master’s Table CONTINUALLY!

I don’t know what you are now experiencing or have been experiencing.  I don’t know if you are in a state of loneliness and lack but I know the Lord’s Promise and heart for you.  Remember Jesus’ words in Luke 12:32, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  In Matthew 6, Jesus spoke to the disciples and followers and to all of us now assuring us that WE DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY! 

Jesus uses the illustration of flowers and their beauty and the grass of the field that is temporary but clothed in majesty by the creator to remind us that if God takes that kind of interest in grass what will he do for His children.  Then in Matthew 6:33 we come to a most powerful word for God, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”  As the song says, “I don’t worry, I don’t fret, God’s isn’t finished with me yet.” 

You may be in a place of no pasture, feeling a castaway and forgotten by society but God has not forgotten you and will bring you out of nothingness to plenty.  Just lift up your heads and lift up your eyes knowing your redemption is near!

God bless you as you embark on today’s leg of life’s journey.