“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?” 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!” 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.” 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.” Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar. 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!” 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.” (2 Samuel 9:1-7 New King James Version)
I just finished writing a 900-word meditation this morning, around midnight. But the Lord let me know, “No. This is not what I want you to send to your readers.” I don’t know about you, but I’m not arguing with God. “No” means “No!” Then he led me one of my favorite Bible stories, the one about King David keeping his promise to Jonathan, the son of Saul, after they had died, and David had become king.
The Lord let me know that somebody is stagnant in hope because of age and the changes that accompany getting older; somebody is in a sad place in life that they prefer not to be; somebody is in a state of mind that is not the greatest place to be mentally; somebody is submerged in disgust because of as disappointing situation; somebody is struggling with an sickness or ailment and is thinking no one cares, somebody is sitting in the seat of scoffers; and somebody needs to be brought to a better place spiritually, physically, or emotionally. Therefore, out of obedience, I stayed up a little bit longer than planned to write a different meditation, devoted the required time to replace what I wrote initially.
I am writing with the main purpose of helping each of the “somebody” persons listed above. And, if it does not help you today, it will in the future. Trust me.
David had made a promise to Jonathan prior to the text above, in I Samuel 20, vowing that when he would become king he would not cut off his lovingkindness from Jonathan’s house forever, not even when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.
Mephibosheth, crippled I both feet, was stuck in Lo-Debar, a place where no one would want to go. In Lo-Debar there were outcasts, outlaws in hiding, out of their mind people, and persons outdone by their circumstances. The king, David, keeps his promise and brings Jonathan’s son to a place of safety, out of Lo-Debar. He brings Jonathan’s son to a place where he would have servants and be served, or let’s just say in general, have a much better place to live, in Jerusalem. You see, the king, David, kept his promise.
Somebody today needs to be brought out of their figurative Lo-Debar! Somebody today needs to be brought to a better place! Somebody today needs to be released from a situation that has rendered them stagnant and in need of a revival! Somebody today needs to be brought from back from feeling separated from the throne, back to where they are in close proximity to the king, King Jesus! Well, I have some good news for you.. for “somebody” today! Just as David kept his promise, King Jesus will keep His promises to you. What are some of His promises?
In this life, Jesus promised, “All that the Father gives Me shall come to me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” Jesus, the King of Kings, promised, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” He promised stability in the storms of life, “Everyone who comes to Me, and hears My words, and acts upon them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood arose, the torment burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.” He promised, “Come unto Me all who are weary and heavy laden. and I will give you rest.” Jesus promised, the Father would provide for all our needs, food, clothing, and shelter, if we would just seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. The King promised, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” When He was about to die on the cross for our sins, the King, Jesus, He promised to send us a Helper, a Comforter, yes, the Holy Spirit.
As it relates to when this life is over, when we have finished traveling through this barren land, the King promised those who believe in Him, even if they die, they shall live. He promised, speaking of King Jesus still, that He would prepare a place for us in the Father’s house so where He is we can be also.
I have written enough this morning but be assured that just like King David kept his promises, King Jesus will keep His promises to you! If you are in a Lo-Debar situation, decide to go to Jesus and depend on Him to deliver you, bring you out of your Lo-Debar, a place you should not want to be. Guess what! He will help you! After all the King Promised, and He will take care of you continually, just as David did for Jonathan’s son! Be blessed!
So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.” (2 Samuel 9:13 New King James Version)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King