II Samuel 7:18-29 - Gratitude
The Living Word With Chuck Davis
II Samuel 7:18-29 - Gratitude
Welcome to the Living Word with Chuck Davis. 2 Samuel 7, 18 to 29, gratitude. Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, "Who am I, O Lord, and what is my house that you have brought me thus far?" And 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 instruction for mankind, O Lord God, and what more can David say to you for you know your servant, O Lord God? Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you've brought about all this greatness to make your servant know it. Therefore you are great, O Lord God, for there is none like you. And there is no God beside you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And who is like your people Israel? The one nation on earth who God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name, and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people whom you'd redeem for yourself from Egypt, a nation, and its gods. And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God. And now, O Lord God, confirmed forever the word that you've spoken concerning your servant, concerning his house. And do as you have spoken. And your name will be magnified forever, saying, the Lord of hosts is God over Israel. And the house of your servant, David, will be established before you. For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, I will build you a house, therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true. And you have promised this good thing to your servant. Now, therefore, may it please you to bless the house of your servant so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken. And with your blessing, shall the house of your servant be blessed forever. David's response to Nathan's word from the Lord is obedience, but also humility. He's proper, really, deferential to the Lord. He sat before the Lord. And his recounting, O Lord, look at what you have done. You are great. I'm astonished by what you have done. He's making a name for David and for the people, this insignificant people. We hear the echoes of the original calling from Exodus 19. I didn't choose you because you were the most impressive. Those of us who have experienced the favor and bounty of God can declare that with just absolute confidence, that it's been his grace. It's been his favor that has been released. Verse 27, he develops courage to pray directly. So he's acknowledged God in all these blessings, and he accepts them, but appropriates even more. He's not shy. He's aware of who he's before. The sandals are off for David. Five times he declares the Lord, three times the Lord God, two times the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel. And then he has this shift. And now, Lord, there's a boldness to him. He's enjoyed the favor of God, but he wants more. So what of this passage is to acknowledge God's blessing. No doubt see every good thing as coming from his hands, but never get tired of that blessing. So it leads me to my now what? To boldly approach him and appropriate all of his promises and provisions for this life. Let God make a name for you, but don't sit and not take hold of it. Allow the things that he speaks to you to be things that you take a hold of and own, not having a sense of false humility, which says, oh, no, no, God's not doing anything. Acknowledging God doing it, but then making sure that he gets the praise. I love the way David says that, therefore, you are great, O Lord God, there is none like you. There is no God beside you. These words become a contemporary praise song that we have sung many times before. So Lord, we come before you and we acknowledge every good blessing. The fact that we even have the breath of life to enjoy the breath of your spirit, to know your scriptures is blessing beyond blessing. And then there's all the little things that you've done along the way. We acknowledge your name. You are great. We pray this in Jesus' name, amen.