Come Up From Lodebar

As a Christian, my ups and downs are “up to testify,” and “down to pray.”  That’s settled.

Text for Today – 2 Samuel 9:3 – And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.

Consider the following scenario.  David is the King of Israel.  In those days, it was the custom of a new king to kill, or have killed, all the possible heirs of the previous king, thus securing his own throne from future uprisings from any such heir.  But David did not do so.  Instead, he showed mercy and kindness.

David and Saul’s son, Jonathan, had been strong and true friends, and when David learned that a son of Jonathan was alive, he called for him.  His name was Mephibosheth.  He was crippled in both feet (having been dropped by a nurse maid when fleeing after Saul’s death), and as a paraplegic was living in Lodebar.  David sent for Mephibosheth to be brought before him.  Mephibosheth came on his face before David, thinking David meant to do him harm.  Instead, David blessed him, restored to him all that had belonged to his grandfather, Saul, and then took care of Mephibosheth out of his own supplies, feeding him at the king’s table like a member of the king’s family.  All Mephibosheth needed to do with his own riches was take care of his own household and servants. 

Here is a beautiful picture of Christ’s restoration for you.  He found you living in sin, unable to come into His presence, cut off from the Father’s blessing, and bound by fear.  He came to you where you were, called you by name to come into His presence, restored you to right relationship, and restored to you all that had been lost through sin. 

But in Christ, there’s more.  He healed you completely, and now you can not only feast at His table, but you have been made an heir of the Father and a joint-heir with Him.  Now you are not only blessed, but have become His child and been empowered as His ambassador.  Now that’s COMING UP from Lodebar.  In fact, that’s COMING UP from low anywhere.

Manna for Today – Psalm 23; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Romans 8:31-39

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