“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
2 Samuel 9:7 (NIV)
Mephibosheth, a little boy born into the royal family of King Saul, became crippled from a fall at five years old. His family was killed in the war and he became a disabled orphan. The wealth and land that was his by inheritance, was taken over by the enemy, leaving him handicapped, orphaned and homeless. A family friend cared for him in their home in a city called Lodebar. It was a place of desolation and the word, Lodebar, literally translates to “nothing”.
Mephibosheth was living in the land of Nothing as a nobody, having gone from prince to pauper, all through a series of events he had no control of. Anyone who has lost family, income, health, home or their sense of self worth can probably relate to the misfortune of this young boy. Little did he know that God saw his suffering and was going to turn things around and bring restoration to his life.
About eight years later, during peacetime, after David became King, he desired to show kindness to any surviving relatives of his deceased friend, Jonathan. He learned that Jonathan had a crippled son, and he sent the search party out to find him. Mephibosheth was found in Lodebar, and brought to the King’s palace. King David restored all that belonged to him by inheritance. He was adopted and lived with King David’s royal family for the rest of his life. His life went from prince, to pauper, and back to royal prince again.
God is our good King, who seeks us out when we are existing in a land of Nothing. He has prepared a place for us in His palace with His family, and calls us His own sons and daughters. He restores our lost fortunes, giving us an inheritance through Christ. He looks beyond our spiritual lameness and gives us spiritual self esteem. He knows what we have lost and asks “How can I reveal My kindness to you? David did it all out of love for his friend, Jonathan. God loves us and shows us mercy through His beloved son, Jesus. No one has to remain in Lodebar, and He has sent out a search party to find anyone who thinks they are nothing or forgotten. He desires to make us part of His royal family and to live in relationship with Him through Jesus. He is a God of grace and restoration who turns lives around for the good.
Whatever condition we are in, God calls us to eternal glory through Christ, promising to restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us.