Out From Lo-debar. Part One.

“So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet.” 2 Samuel 9:13

This story of forgiveness and restitution amazes me. Mephibosheth was the grandson of King Saul, David’s number one enemy. However, David had made a covenant with Jonathan, the son of Saul that he would always be merciful to Jonathan’s family when he became king, and he did. The word Mephibosheth means, “from the mouth of the God Bashtu” or “from the mouth of shame.” When Saul’s family was fleeing during the war, his nurse was carrying him on her shoulders, and he fell to the ground and became crippled. Later, after Saul’s death, Mephibosheth was in hiding at the house of Machir, in Lo-debar. Lo-debar means “pasture with no grass” or barren land. Mephibosheth was hiding from King David, in someone’s house, crippled and a broken man with a “death sentence” over his head. What a picture of the “mercy of God” in our life. However, some people are still hanging on and living in “Lo-debar.” God never “makes us” do anything. He can “lead us” but He gives us a choice…Sherry

Tomorrow: Part Two continued.