Lame Loser of Lodebar; A Bible Study of Mephibosheth

2 Samuel 9

1. And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?

2. And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.

3. And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.

4. And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.

This was a time when David had taken the throne of Israel. David, remembering the promise he had made to Jonathan, inquired about the house of Saul looking for someone who he can honor for Jonathan's sake. Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth. We see in the scriptures that Mephibosheth was "lame on his feet", meaning he couldn't walk on his own power. Someone had to carry Mephibosheth everywhere he went.

5. Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.

6. Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!

7. And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.

David sent for Mephibosheth to have him brought to his house. Mephibosheth in honor of being in the presence of the king of Israel showed respect for David according to David's position as king. Just imagine the king has sent for you and you have come to his presence.

David, being a righteous man of God, told Mephibosheth to sit at his table and eat "continually". This means eat at the king's table forever. Not only that but David also gave Mephibosheth all that had belonged to Saul before his death.

I can sit and imagine how badly Mephibosheth would have felt, being from Lodebar (pastureless), and not only that but being a cripple also. Imagine how he may have felt when David's sons came into the dining room to eat and Mephibosheth needed someone to carry him to the table. But then something Mephibosheth sees. When they are all sitting at the table, his infirmities were hidden up under the table. He looked the same as everyone else. There was no difference between them.

The King's table is spread and waiting for us all to come and eat. No matter what you may have wrong with you King Jesus wants us to come and dine. You may be weak spiritually, Jesus wants us to come and eat. Maybe you are sick with cancer or some other terrible disease, Jesus wants you to come and dine.

You may be an alcoholic, a drug addict, or have any number of other addictions in your life. No matter what problems we are facing we are all invited to come sit and eat at the King's table. The table is always spread, food is always fresh. What we ate yesterday isnt doing any of us much good today is it? Lets get some fresh meat in us. Let's sit at the King's table and eat our fill.

Matthew 10: 13. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Psalms 23:5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.