This verse, 2 Samuel 9:5, is part of the story where King David is seeking to fulfill a promise he made to his friend Jonathan. Let's break down the meaning:
"Then king David sent..." This indicates that David is actively taking action. He's initiated a search to find someone.
"...and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel..." This is identifying the person David is seeking (Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son) and where he's currently living. Machir, son of Ammiel, is likely a kind man who has taken Mephibosheth into his care.
"...from Lo Debar." Lo Debar was a place. The term Lo Debar means "no pasture." It suggests that Lo Debar was a desolate, undesirable, and perhaps impoverished place. The fact that Mephibosheth, who was of royal lineage, was living in such a place highlights his diminished circumstances due to the death of his father and grandfather.
In essence, the verse signifies:
David, remembering his covenant with Jonathan, sent messengers to find Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son. They discovered him living in the house of a man named Machir in the impoverished and obscure town of Lo Debar.
The significance of this verse is that it sets the stage for David's act of grace and kindness. It shows that:
David is fulfilling his promise despite the passage of time and the change in circumstances.
Mephibosheth is in a vulnerable position, far removed from the royal status he once held. This makes David's eventual act of restoring him to a place of honor and provision all the more impactful.
The location of Lo Debar emphasizes the depth of Mephibosheth's fall from grace and the magnitude of David's gesture in bringing him back into the fold.
This verse, 2 Samuel 9:5, is part of the story where King David is seeking to fulfill a promise he made to his friend Jonathan. Let's break down the meaning:
"Then king David sent..." This indicates that David is actively taking action. He's initiated a search to find someone.
"...and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel..." This is identifying the person David is seeking (Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son) and where he's currently living. Machir, son of Ammiel, is likely a kind man who has taken Mephibosheth into his care.
"...from Lo Debar." Lo Debar was a place. The term Lo Debar means "no pasture." It suggests that Lo Debar was a desolate, undesirable, and perhaps impoverished place. The fact that Mephibosheth, who was of royal lineage, was living in such a place highlights his diminished circumstances due to the death of his father and grandfather.
In essence, the verse signifies:
David, remembering his covenant with Jonathan, sent messengers to find Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son. They discovered him living in the house of a man named Machir in the impoverished and obscure town of Lo Debar.
The significance of this verse is that it sets the stage for David's act of grace and kindness. It shows that:
David is fulfilling his promise despite the passage of time and the change in circumstances.
Mephibosheth is in a vulnerable position, far removed from the royal status he once held. This makes David's eventual act of restoring him to a place of honor and provision all the more impactful.
The location of Lo Debar emphasizes the depth of Mephibosheth's fall from grace and the magnitude of David's gesture in bringing him back into the fold.