Word of Encouragement (10/18/2023)
Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, "Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD! 20 And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD! (2 Sam. 7:18-20)
David offered this prayer when God established a covenant with him and his household after rejecting his desire to build a temple for Him. Why would God reject an offer like that? God told him, “You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth...” (1 Chron. 22:8). We can understand the reason when we consider the fact that a temple was a sacred edifice. But God did promise that David’s son would be able to build a temple for Him. David was not bitter about this rejection. Rather, he was humbled and honored by God’s offer of a covenant to him. So, David responded with a long prayer (vv. 18-29). We will break it up and reflect on it in installments.
David begins this prayer by marveling at the honor that God bestowed on him: “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far” (v. 18)? He was the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons. As such, he had to carry out many menial tasks. So, even when Samuel visited Jesse’s household to meet his sons, David was just shepherding sheep in the field. Yet, God chose Jesse’s youngest son to be the next king of Israel.
What an unexpected choice this was! The Ancient Middle Eastern culture was steeped in the custom of primogeniture, by which the eldest son received (most of) the family inheritance. David could have never expected such an honor, not to mention his father and seven older brothers! And when Saul anointed him, he was just a young lad.
David’s life after the anointing was far from peachy. After a brief time of glory for killing Goliath and defeating the Philistines on many occasions, he had to be on the run from Saul, who tried to kill him out of jealousy. He was exposed to all kinds of hardship. He had many close encounters with death. But through them all, God was faithful to protect and preserve him. And how, he was made king of Israel and ushered in a time of peace for Israel after defeating the neighboring nations. Oh, when was the last time Israel had enjoyed such a time of peace, prosperity, and dominance?
As he surveyed his journey from tending to his family sheep to ruling over Israel as its king, David could not believe how much God had blessed him. Out of gratitude, he wanted to build the LORD a temple. But the LORD responded with a promise to make him a house, a royal house, which would rule over God’s people throughout all generations! Who was he that God should be so good to him?
Shouldn’t this be our prayer as well? Who are we that God should call us before the foundation of the world to be saved and adopted as His beloved children in Jesus Christ? Were we not sinners, deserving of His wrath? Yet, God as our heavenly Father says to us, “Child, all that is mine is yours!” instead. Let us take some time this morning to bless God for His marvelous grace to unworthy sinners like us.