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Referencing this year’s school theme, “Called Higher: Leaving Lo-Debar Behind,” I find myself wondering what keeps us in a metaphorical Lo-Debar in our lives. Let me explain.

In 2 Samuel, we read about David and Jonathan’s covenant relationship. As best friends, they promised to care for each other’s families. When his father Jonathan died in battle, Mephibosheth was hidden and eventually landed in Lo-Debar, a word interpreted as: no pasture; no word or communication; nothingness (Logan, 1991).  Perhaps he stayed hidden because of his physical disability. Maybe he was afraid because typically, the new king would kill the descendants of the former king. Maybe he’d settled into life with his wife and family in Lo-Debar, the place he’d been perhaps since he was a young boy, and did not want to face the unknown. 

Regardless of his reasons, Mephibosheth stayed in Lo-Debar for seemingly many years, from childhood until he was old enough to have children of his own. It was not until summoned by King David himself that Mephibosheth left Lo-Debar. 

As I interpret the story, Mephibosheth felt unworthy to be in the company of the king. He said, “What is your servant that you should notice a dead dog like me?” (2 Sam. 9:8, NIV). But David felt otherwise. He remembered his covenant with Jonathan and proclaimed that Mephibosheth should eat at the king’s table for the rest of his life. David gave Mephibosheth the land belonging to his late grandfather, Saul, as well as servants to work the land for him. 

What a difference!  From a place often interpreted as a land of barrenness and nothingness (Lo-Debar) to the king’s table, with productive land and servants to work it. Wow! And this change is what God has in store for those who believe in Him and call upon the name of the Lord. I don’t mean this in a “prosperity gospel” kind of way. I mean it in a spiritual way!

Believers in Christ were once metaphorical “dead dogs” like Mephibosheth. Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ, even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved.”  Christ, the King of Kings, called us out of our nothingness and transformed us from the “dead dog” state to the status of “Child of the King.”  The Bible says, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs…” (Romans 8:16-17, NIV). As children of God, we, like Mephibosheth, can eat at the king’s table forever, despite our limitations and disabilities (we’ll talk about those in the next blog). 

So what’s keeping us in Lo-Debar? Is it fear? Are we too comfortable where we are? Maybe it’s anxiety, depression, addiction, or any number of hindrances. Whatever it is, God is bigger! The King of kings and Lord of lords has power and authority over everything keeping us hidden in a state of nothingness and despair. Will you call upon King Jesus today?  Will you sit at His table? 
 

References
Logan, P. (1991). Lo-Debar. In T. C. Butler (Ed.), Holman Bible dictionary. Holman Bible    
Publishers.
The Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011). Zondervan. (Original work published 1978)