Encouragement

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Dwight Davis LODEBAR NO MORE
2 SAMUEL 9





Forrest Gump made famous the saying “Mama always said, Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get” when he uttered these words in the movie which debuted over a decade ago. If you watched the movie you know that the main character, Forrest Gump had a unique and charming view of life. He encountered both triumph and tragedy, and never seemed to lose the innocence of youth or his faith in mankind or in GOD. While I don’t agree with all the things portrayed in the movie, the overall essence of the movie was refreshing as it showed us how much simpler life could be if we had the faith of a child.

I want to share a story with you today from 2 Samuel 9 about a boy named Mephibosheth. His name is mentioned about fifteen times in the Bible, all of them in the book of 2 Samuel. Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathon and the grandson of Saul, the first King of Israel. In so being, when his life began, he had the world at his fingertips and he had a pretty rosy future in store for him, at least in the eyes of the world. His father, Jonathon was second in line to inherit the throne and Mephibosheth was third. Although the nation of Israel was young, GOD had promised that they would be a great nation and that they would prosper, if they followed his ways and obeyed his commands.. Mephibosheth was set for life. He would never have to want for anything.

When Saul, his grandfather, was chosen as the first king of Israel, he was not very comfortable with his new position. When Samuel, the prophet came to him in private to tell him he was the chosen king, he replied “Am I not a Benjamite, the least of all the tribes of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.” (I Samuel 9:21). In addition, the Bible tells us he hid among the baggage of the people who had gathered for the public announcement that he had been chosen as king.
( I Samuel 10:22) Saul wasn’t sure if he was up to the task.

Unfortunately, his humility would soon come to end, as well as his favor with GOD. Early in his reign, he became proud and arrogant, and he disobeyed the prophet Samuel twice ( I Samuel 13:1-15, and I Samuel 15). GOD told Saul through Samuel that the kingdom would be taken away from him and his family. Samuel then anointed David to succeed Saul as King. Saul spent the rest of his life trying to hold on to the throne and destroy David. Saul’s son, Jonathon recognized GOD’s hand in these dealings and humbled himself and made a covenant with David (I Samuel 20: 12-16) and David promised to show kindness and favor to Jonathon and his family when David became King. Between twenty and thirty years elapsed before the events of which we read at the beginning of this message took place and David took the throne.

Unfortunately, the end of Saul’s life meant the end of Jonathon’s life as well. Both of them died in a battle with the Philistines on Mount Gilboah. When the news of their deaths reached home, Mephibosheth was only five years old. A servant woman, grabbed him up and fled for fear of their lives. She dropped him in her haste to get away and he became a cripple for life. (2 Samuel 4)

As our story unfolds, Mephibosheth had grown up to become a father himself. He was living in a city named Lodebar. The future that once looked so promising and bright when he was young had faded and now he finds himself in a city whose name means “pastureless” or “nothingness”. The real sad part of the story is that he was here out of no fault of his own. He was in hiding because he thought he and his family would be killed by David after he became king, as was the custom of the day when a new king took over a throne.




If Mephibosheth was like me, he probably wondered to himself, “Why?” “What did I do as a five year old boy to make GOD so angry with me?” He probably said his share of “if only’s” as well. . If only my grandfather and father hadn’t died.” “ If only that servant woman had been more careful” etc…… He went from living as an heir to the king to living in the land of Lodebar, a land of

Loneliness
Oppression
Despair
Emptiness
Bitterness
Anguish
Resentment


Isn’t it like this in our lives sometimes? Not everything in life is fair. We expect to suffer the consequences of our own actions but to suffer the consequences of someone else’s actions is just not FAIR. Mephibosheth had no control over what Saul did to anger GOD but yet he was now living in hiding, with lame feet from the age of five. He could not run and play like other kids, he could not run and play with his son. He could not work and provide for his family. He was totally dependent on others. The blessings of life he enjoyed as a youngster were gone. He was in LODEBAR. And now David had found him and was coming to see him. He could not run away. He had to stay and face his fate. He and his family would be killed, or so he thought.

What Mephibosheth didn’t know was that GOD had already made provision for him while he was still a young and innocent boy. His father had made a covenant with David and now he was coming to fulfill the covenant he had made to show “kindness“ to Jonathon and his family.. He was coming to take Mephibosheth and his family out of LODEBAR and take him back to Jerusalem to live forever in the home of the King. He was going to eat at the King‘s table, just like when he was a young boy. The blessings and provisions of being an heir to the throne were being restored to him because of the covenant between his father and King David.. Mephibosheth didn’t have to suffer the consequences of someone else’s actions anymore. He was going to live the life and enjoy the blessings he had so enjoyed as a five year old boy. He was going to be appointed servants take care of he and his family. The bright and rosy future had come to pass and his hope had been renewed.


You might be saying now, “this is truly a wonderful story and I am so glad it has a happy ending. How does this apply to my life?” I am so glad you asked.




When GOD created Adam and Eve, there was perfect fellowship between He and them. It was GOD’s desire for all of mankind to enjoy the blessings and provisions of perfect fellowship and oneness with HIM. Adam and Eve were given dominion over the world GOD had created. One day they disobeyed GOD and sin entered the human race, destroying the peace, harmony and fellowship GOD desired to have with his creation. The enemy was successful in stealing that from mankind. Today, we are born with a sin nature through no fault of our own. We did nothing except to be born. Like in the story of Mephibosheth, it was someone else’s disobedience that caused sin to enter the world, along with the heartaches, pain and suffering that come along with it. Because of this, we find ourselves living in LODEBAR, and if the story ended there we would have no hope. The GOOD NEWS is that the story doesn’t end there.
I Corinthians 15:19- “If in this life only we have hope, we are of all men most miserable”.



GOD made provisions for that perfect fellowship and oneness with HIM to be restored. He has given us a new KING who has conquered sin, death, hell and the grave through his sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. This King‘s name is JESUS. It doesn’t matter what circumstances of life you find yourself in today, JESUS is only a prayer away. There isn’t anyone within the sound of my voice that has gone too far that GOD can’t reach you. You make the first step and GOD will make the rest of them.

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together saith the LORD. Though your sins be like scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”



Ephesians 2:1-2 “ You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in times past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.”


Psalms 139: 23-24 “ Oh LORD, you have searched me and known me. Search me, O GOD and know my heart. See if there be any wicked way in me and lead me into life everlasting.”


All GOD requires is someone with a humble heart that acknowledges their need for HIM. You may be tangled up with addictions of all kinds, you may have suffered hurt at the hands of someone else or been wrongfully accused of something no fault of your own. GOD wants an intimate relationship with you. He doesn’t care about the color of your skin, the size of your bank account, the kind of clothes you wear or where you live. He created you and he knew you before you were formed in your mothers womb (Psalms 139:13-16).

GOD loves each and every one of you as much as HE loves me. I am no different from you. In God’s eyes we are all the same. He has given me the ability to see people as he sees them, not as the world sees them. You have a rightful place at the table of the KING OF KINGS. This KING was born of a virgin, as prophesied by prophets of old. He came to set captives free, open the eyes of the blind, make lame legs walk and deaf ears to hear. He came to heal the broken hearted, and to set at liberty those who are oppressed by the devil. “ I once was lost but now am found, was blind, but now I see,” Amazing Grace has touched me and can also touch you. Are you ready to let GOD heal, you, save you and set you free? Are you tired of living in LODEBAR.? Who will stand with me and say “LODEBAR NO MORE?”


Dwight Davis
Shalam Ministries

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