Thoughts for another day

June 20, 2006

Today's verse: 2 Sam. 7:18. Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? (KJV).

When David was firmly installed as king of both Judah and Israel after conquering the Philistines, he sat on the throne and the foremost thought that entered his mind was: what about the ark of God? He wanted to build God a temple.

God had given him rest from all his enemies on every side and David never forgot the wonderful deeds of God in raising him from being just an ordinary shepherd boy to king of Israel. In his relationship with God, he never forgot that God had accomplished all things, while he just went about doing what he felt right. Truly in David’s life Ex. 14:14 – ‘the Lord shall fight for you’ had been realized. And any person in David’s place would be seeped in pride. Perhaps, over a period of time even the most God fearing people get to know pride and wear it as a cloak and think that their accomplishments are of their own abilities. But David was not so and that is why we understand why God says of him, ‘He is a man after my own heart’ (1 Sam. 13:14).

My friend, it is extremely difficult to think of God when prosperity has enveloped your household. It is difficult to have a relationship with God when things are going well because then, who needs God? There are so many things to be done and so much to be accomplished, so God must wait while those other ‘very important’ things are completed, no?

David had a right heart before God and when God gave him many promises through Nathan the prophet, David humbled himself before God and used the above verse as prayer. My friend, I exhort you today to humble yourself before God and falling flat before Him, show your nothingness. After all, Micah says, ‘He hath shown thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?’