B
Lo-debar, the place where Mephibosheth lived, is a Hebrew word that means "a place without grass, without pasture"; the world today is a "Lo-debar"—2 Sam. 9:4:
１
Mephibosheth, who ran away from David, was living in a place without grass, without any life supply—v. 4.
２
A sinner far away from God is also living in a place without grass.
C
Mephibosheth did not seek after David, but David sent men to fetch Mephibosheth—vv. 4-5.
D
When David said, "Mephibosheth," there was a compassionate feeling in his heart, and there was a pleasant tone in his voice—vv. 6-7:
１
Underneath this word was a heart that expressed God's heart—1 Sam. 16:7.
２
David's heart was full of kindness and compassion—20:14-15.
Morning Nourishment
1 Sam. 20:14-15 …Do show me the lovingkindness of Jehovah, that I may not die; and never cut off your lovingkindness from my house…Col. 3:12 Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, inward parts of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, long-suffering.
Mary the Magdalene…thought the Lord was a gardener. When she asked the gardener where Jesus was, the Lord did not answer, “I am not the gardener,” or “I did not take His body away,” or “You are a woman; how can you get the body?” The Lord only said, “Mary!” As soon as she heard this very familiar voice, she said, “Rabboni!” We know that when someone calls another by name only, there must be considerable meaning behind it. On that day David saw his enemy’s grandson, and he only said, “Mephibosheth.” This shows that David’s heart was not only without hatred but also full of compassion. (CWWN, vol. 18, p. 283)
Today’s Reading
Mephibosheth did not know David’s heart. When he went to David, his heart might have been beating fast, and he might have been thinking, “Today I am going to see the king of Judah; maybe he will kill me.” When he saw David and heard him call, “Mephibosheth,” he should have known that David had only compassion and no bad intention toward him. But with a heart full of fear, he said, “Your servant is here” [2 Sam. 9:6]. He might have thought, “Formerly I was a king’s grandson; now I humble myself to be a servant. Perhaps by this I will gain David’s favor, and he will not kill me.” I must tell you that no one can please God by relying on himself becoming a servant.Then David testified of God’s heart. He said to Mephibosheth, “Do not be afraid, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of Jonathan your father; and I will restore to you all the land of your father Saul, and you will eat food at my table continually” (v. 7)…. I do not know how many among us realize that God loves us…. If we only knew that God loves us, our lives would be changed greatly. I know the kind of heart that He has…. He loves you and wants you to be saved…. Many people say, “God does not tell me that He loves me.” But please take a look at the cross, and you will know that He has already loved you. You should have received the punishment of the cross, but He made the Lord Jesus suffer it for you because He loves you. What is love? Love is not words. The deepest kind of love cannot be expressed in words. The prodigal son was prepared to say to his father, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants” (Luke 15:18-19). But when he was yet a great way off, his father had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. A father’s heart shortens the distance of sin…. His father did not say, “I love you,” but as soon as he kissed him, the prodigal son knew his father’s heart. He could not say the words, “Make me like one of your hired servants.” He could only say in his heart, “My father loves me.” Please do not misunderstand God’s heart. Please come to the cross. Jesus has already died for you; this should show you what is in God’s heart already. When you see the blood of the Lord Jesus, you will know how much God loves you.
“The king called Ziba, Saul’s attendant, and said to him, All that belongs to Saul and to all his house I give to your master’s son. And you shall work the land for him, you and your sons and your servants; and you shall bring in the produce that your master’s son may have food to eat…. And Mephibosheth, said David, shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons” (2 Sam. 9:9-11). How marvelous that there is not one condition, not one commandment; there are only promises. It does not say how much one should work. Everything was given. This is grace. If we understand God’s heart, we cannot but believe in Him. (CWWN, vol. 18, pp. 283-284, 286)
Further Reading: CWWL, 1953, vol. 2, pp. 101-104