FROM LO DEBAR TO JERUSALEM

Then the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?” II Samuel 9:3

REFERENCE
II Samuel 9:1-13

“Lo Debar” was an ancient city east of Jordan. The name means ‘no pasture, no communication, or no word.’ It is a place of negativity, no advancement, and dryness. This had become Mephibosheth’s ‘reality,’ his residence until David sent for him. Mephibosheth was born a prince in the palace, but, through no fault of his, he suffered a great reversal of fortunes. He was forgotten, submerged in filth, dryness, lack, unfruitfulness, lack of communication, and away from the real world. Worst of all, he was lame in both feet and couldn’t help himself even if he wanted to.

However, despite his helpless situation, when it was his time to move up in life, God brought him into David’s focus, who showed him unusual kindness. The kindness shown to Mephibosheth was purely orchestrated by God as revealed in David’s words, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?” Indeed, nothing compares to the unfailing and unlimited goodness of God which comes with His kindness; it is what lifts one from rags to riches, from the ‘gutter-most’ to the uppermost, from pauper to the king’s table, and from Lo Debar to Jerusalem. Jerusalem represented a place of peace, of royalty and of fellowship with God; a place where nothing is missing.

Perhaps you can identify with Mephibosheth; you may presently be in a place where you are living “below the bar” (a pun on ‘Lo Debar’) in specific areas of your life, a place where there is no advancement for you physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, spiritually, etc. You may feel incapacitated and can’t just move from the ugly situations of life. But, not to worry, God is still in the business of turning lives around – making a 180 degree change a possibility.

When you are in Lo Debar, you are ‘below the bar’ of every level God wants you to be. It is not God’s best for you as His Blood bought child. His heart is to see you live and walk in the benefits of your redemptive rights. Therefore, He will get you out of your low estate as He did Mephibosheth, and cause you to emerge into a new address, a new status, and new places where nothing is missing or broken in Jesus’ name.

SCRIPTURE PHOTO

ADDITIONAL STUDY
Psalm 113:5-8, Romans 9:15-16, & Galatians 3:13-14

PRAYER

Lord, bring me into focus where it really matters. Let Your kindness transcend every political, physical, and financial limitation in my life. Bring me to the king’s table, and cause a 180-degree change in my life in Jesus’ name.