Who Am I, Lord?
Introduction: David spoke to Nathan about his desire to build a temple for the ark of God, but Nathan was directed by the LORD to tell David that he would not be permitted to build it. The LORD said he had taken David from being a shepherd and brought him to the point of being king over Israel. The LORD did say that David’s descendant would build a temple, and his throne would be everlasting. David was overwhelmed by the grace extended to him by the LORD and he offered a prayer of praise and thanksgiving.
NOTE: All Bible passages are taken from the American King James Version.
A — David Began His Prayer to the Lord God
2 Samuel 7 “18 Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that you have brought me till now? 19 And this was yet a small thing in your sight, O Lord GOD; but you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come. 20 And what can David say more to you? for you, Lord GOD, know your servant. 21 For your word’s sake, and according to your own heart, have you done all these great things, to make your servant know them.”
Comments: After David heard the message from the LORD through Nathan, he went apparently to the tent of the ark of God there in Jerusalem, and sat before the LORD to pray. In humility he said he had no special merit in himself, nor did his family, that would give the Lord reason to bring him to the position he now had. And David said all he had already gained as the servant of the Lord was a small thing compared with what the Lord had spoken about his family for a great while to come. David acknowledged that the Lord God knew all about him and he referred to himself as little more than a servant. The wonderful things he had been told were not for him alone, but to confirm the Lord’s word, and to perform what was in the heart of the Lord.
B — Israel Redeemed by the Only True God
2 Samuel 7 “22 Why you are great, O LORD God: for there is none like you, neither is there any God beside you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And what one nation in the earth is like your people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name? 24 For you have confirmed to yourself your people Israel to be a people to you for ever: and you, LORD, are become their God.”
Comments: David praised the LORD for his greatness and that there is none like him because there is no other god — these truths had been taught in Israel for many generations. There is no other nation like Israel which God had redeemed from bondage in Egypt to remove them from the gods of all other nations. David applied the promises he had heard from Nathan about his family to be inclusive for Israel to be the people of God forever. Israel had their founding history recorded in the books of Moses, providing David with such a strong foundation of faith in the LORD. Many centuries after David, the promises of the LORD had not been negated by the failures of his people: “For my own sake, even for my own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory to another.”
C — Let the Truth of Your Word Bless Your Servant Forever
2 Samuel 7 “25 And now, O LORD God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as you have said. 26 And let your name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of your servant David be established before you. 28 And now, O Lord GOD, you are that God, and your words be true, and you have promised this goodness to your servant: 29 Therefore now let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue for ever before you: for you, O Lord GOD, have spoken it: and with your blessing let the house of your servant be blessed for ever.”
Comments: David knew how easily men can fail to serve the LORD, so he began to earnestly petition God to establish his family line forever because the promises of God are faithful. The repetition David used seems to be indicative of just how much he was overwhelmed by the role he has been given in the unfolding plan of God’s mercy and grace. David prayed with heartfelt thankfulness for the blessings from God, but he wanted the LORD to receive all the glory. Many centuries before David lived, Jacob had spoken words of prophecy about the descendants of Judah which included David. The New Testament confirms that Jesus is a descendant of David as the LORD had promised, and the fulfillment of prophecies about the Christ was very puzzling to the experts in the scriptures even when Jesus was before them. We now have more revealed truth than David had if we believe that Jesus is the eternal son of David and Son of God who died to establish life forever for those who are saved.
Reflections in Prayer
Lord, I thank you for the record of this prayer David offered to you after you had revealed to him the special plan for his descendant. Whenever I enter your presence in prayer, Lord, I want to first remember in my heart that you alone have given me by mercy and grace the privilege to commune with you. Through your word you have revealed from the beginning of time your faithfulness to give your grace to those who call upon your name. David surely would have been even more overwhelmed by your promise if he had been able to realize that his descendant would be Lord and King over him. But you have called me to be part of your kingdom in a time with completed scripture to provide a firm foundation of faith for those who believe. I deserve your grace even far less than King David, but I know that your strength is made perfect in the weakness of man, and all glory is yours through those you have chosen for your kingdom. Renew my heart, Lord, so I will genuinely agree with Jacob when I say that I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth which you have shown to me as one of your servants. Amen and amen.
Published 20 June 2015