Move from Lodebar to palace

Introduction

There are situations in life which we find ourselves in which are by no means  fault of our own. But often times these situations are accepted as one’s lot in life yet they are not anyone’s lot. We Christians must know that we are blessed by God coming in and going out. The story of  Mephibosheth serves to encourage us, who for one reason or the other have been hurt, wounded, dropped or crippled physically, spiritually, emotionally, psychologically and otherwise, to move from Lodebar into the palace, that is, walk from where situations have confined you to your God given  destiny.

Define Lodebar and Palace                  
                                                                                            
Many of us can identify ourselves with Mephibosheth because we have been to situations similar to Mephibosheth’s state one way or the other in our lives. Mephibosheth lived in Palace but in a twinkling of an eye his condition changed forcing him to move from Palace to Lodebar. To better understand the story I have to define Lodebar and Palace. Lodebar means average, a place of no pasture, place of nothingness, place where losers live, place of lack, desolate place, a wilderness, a dry desert place. Palace on the other hand means the official residence of sovereignty; it may also mean a place of destiny, place of authority and power.  Some have been through a desert and nothing seems to come out, some have been in hopeless situations health-wise, financially, relationally and otherwise. Some situations have detained or confined us to Lodebar and we have been tempted to forget about the Palace which may mean our place of destiny. Some have even given up on themselves or the promises God gave them as their possession. This is your time to walk out of Lodebar to Palace where you belong.

Dropped and became crippled
   
Many Christians have accepted Lodebar as their state of destiny like Mephibosheth. After the death of King Saul and Jonathan at war on Mount Gilboa,  Mephibosheth’s nurse, in a bid to protect  Mephibosheth’s life carried him and fled from the Palace to Lodebar. However, his nurse dropped him and so the King’s grandson fell and became crippled and paralysed from waist down, II Samuel 4:4. The condition of his life changed through no fault of his own. Findings of my analysis of this story is that although he was paralysed at his feet, this paralysis might have spilled over into his mind as a result Mephibosheth reached a position whereby he could not move forward in life because of the paralysis.  He did not recover from the fall and he allowed the ordeal to shape and form his life. He stayed in fear and degraded himself which added Spiritual paralysis.

The people we have trusted in one way or the other, spouses, in-laws, teachers, colleagues, parents, siblings have said hurtful words to us and/or even denied us some basic necessities of life. And now, we are crippled and a state of lameness has been created in our lives. I remember one time a Form Two pupil said her grandmother refers to her as a dull-headed child because she failed at school.
The names we use to call other people cripple them in most cases. We should do away with these hurtful words and the negative assumptions we hold toward other people.  Such lameness affects our position, our choice of career and relationships, status and our attitude toward life. It also affects our present and it is capable of damaging our future as well.

Paralysed

Mephibosheth grew up and continued to dwell in Lodebar. King Saul’s grandson could not make anything out of his life except dwell in the desert like condition. I believe that this ordeal also paralysed his thinking. He could have questioned the property of his father and grandfather upon healing . He lived like a commoner yet he had royal blood running in his veins. Mephibosheth depended on other people for sustenance. We have ceased to strive to move forward in life or align ourselves with God’s purposes. We have accepted the report of the enemy instead of what the word of God says we are in Christ. Believe the report of the Lord. Do not believe negative words spoken to you. Do not allow the ‘nurse’/person who dropped you to keep you at Lodebar. There are so many situations which have paralysed our lives. But we should not allow such situations to hinder us from moving forward. We should strive to move forward at all cost. The challenges should not paralyse us but make us better and stronger to take greater challenges. We must learn to put the past behind us and then move forward with Christ.

Move Forward

II Samuel 9:8 mentions that Mephibosheth bowed,  and said, what is thy servant, that thou should look upon such a dead dog as I am? He perceived himself as a dead dog even though he was King Saul’s grandson. He dwelt too much on the past and his situation. What we need the most is inner healing from the past so that we can move forward.  The word of God says that Jesus came so that we might have life and have this life to the full. We should claim our complete healing in all the spheres of our lives. Mephibosheth stayed at Lodebar even after the battle was over because he feared for his life. He missed opportunities which he should have utilised or enjoyed.  
The excuses of our past should not hinder us in anyway. It does not matter whether we have been hurt, dumped, dropped, rejected, humiliated, we need to move on with life. Decide to ignore the past and move on.  Defile negative voices we have heard, recite what the word of God says we are in Christ irrespective of what happened to us. When any man is in Christ he is a new creature.

Vengeance belongs to God  

The Book of Genesis 37 tells the story of Joseph who was hated by his siblings and later sold him into slavery. Moreover, Genesis 39, says Joseph was falsely put in prison because he would not be seduced by his master’s wife. We see how he was ‘dropped’ by his siblings, boss, boss wife and also by a fellow prisoner but it was not recorded in the Bible that he was bitter or stopped being righteous or even hated his brothers. When he was Second Rank in authority, Joseph did not put his enemies in prison saying, “Now is my opportunity to revenge”. He knew that vengeance belongs to God. He loved them and accepted them knowing that God was working through the situation the whole time. When certain things happen in your life, do not focus on the one’s who caused you all the pain and disappointment. Instead, focus on the Lord who is able to bring your life to an expected end. Joseph had every reason to be bitter for what his siblings did to him but he forgave them focused on what the future had in store for him and he endured unto the end of his trials.  If Joseph focused on his past he should have not persevered until the fulfillment of his dreams. On your own you can not make it; you need an intervention from above. Please surrender your hurts and pain to God who is able to heal your wounds, pain and your broken heart.

God is willing to show kindness

Even if you have been dropped the Lord still remembers you, II Samuel 9:1 And David asked, “Is there yet anyone that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” The King wanted to show kindness to someone of the house of Saul. Ziba replied, Jonathan has yet a son who is lame in his feet. The everlasting covenant made between Jonathan and David in 1Sam20:14-17 could not be annulled. We also have a covenant with God. This covenant is from everlasting to everlasting. He says he will never leave us nor forsake us. If you feel alone, dejected, slandered or dropped; know this; his covenant with you still stands. A mother can forget her child but the Lord says he will never forget you. Be confident in God’s love than in the state you now find yourself to be in. God is working something good out of your situation.
   
Be the ‘David’ of your Generation

David’s grace to Mephibosheth depicts God’s grace toward us. We were the  ‘Mephibosheth’, we were weak, poor, crippled, hiding, and hopeless before God called us saying, come all who are weary and heavy laden, all who thirst, I will give you drink and will also give you rest.  We were separated from God because of our sins; we did not know his love.  Moreover, we are the David’s of our time /generation. David served his generation for the rest of his life. The grace David shown toward Mephibosheth is a guide for us in serving the generation of our time. We should seek to bless our enemies, help the crippled, weak and poor. Bless even those who do not deserve to be treated with kindness.
Be the David of your generation, show grace, mercy and favour to the Mephibosheth-’the looked down upon people’. Those who left the palace, show them the way back to the Palace their destiny.
Way out of Lodebar to the Palace. Listen and accept Ziba’s message- listen to God’s messengers when they tell you the Good News, John 3 16.  Respond to the call of David who told Ziba to summon Mephibosheth – you into the Palace. Hear the word when it calls you into God’s purity which will enable you to see God, Matthew 5:8. Do not accept your situation, you are freed from it,  Romans 6:5-7, Stop living in fear learn to persevere in order to receive the crown of life, James 1:12.  Do not believe the report of the enemy, but believe the report of the Lord, John 2:22.  Your inheritance will be restored to you. Dignity and property was restored to Mephibosheth. What ever the locusts have eaten will be restored to you if you listen and accept the Word of God.

Conclusion

The Lord will pick you up.  In case you have fallen by the wayside of life.  The potter desires to pick you up and put you back where you belong, he is willing to make you into the vessel he desires you to be, Jeremiah 18:1-6. Therefore, please respond positively to his invitation.  When you are dropped, let God lift you up. Do not hold grudges to those who hurt you. As you dine in his presence your lameness will be covered with the clothes of righteousness.  Whosoever dropped you could not lift you up to the higher realm that God intended for you to live in. So let God lift you up.

For more information you can sms to 617 4345 Khaboe / 608 1756 (Sima) or email to khaboed@gmail.com

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