Heartfelt Thanks
Opening Prayer
Sovereign Lord, it is You who has promised and You who brings to pass.
Read 2 Samuel 7:18-29
[18] Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? [19] And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant-and this decree, Sovereign LORD, is for a mere human! [20] “What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign LORD. [21] For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant. [22] “How great you are, Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. [23] And who is like your people Israel-the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? [24] You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, LORD, have become their God. [25] “And now, LORD God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, [26] so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The LORD Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight. [27] “LORD Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. [28] Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. [29] Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign LORD, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How does David refer to God and to himself in this passage?David’s immediate reaction to Nathan’s vision from God is to pray a prayer of thanks to God. How do you react to good news? Do you post it on Facebook or Twitter? Do you phone your friends or family? Or do you thank the provider of your success and praise God first?David shows humility before God (18). Despite being the king of Israel, he realizes he is a normal person and praises God for the blessing he has received (22). Imagine being the start of an eternal dynasty. Saul’s dynasty began and ended with him, but David the shepherd boy will have a kingdom for eternity through Jesus, his great descendant. Do we sometimes struggle to believe the promises God makes to us? Do we praise God for the blessings he has given to us? David also recognizes that his dynasty needs God’s ongoing blessing and protection from sin (29). He knows that being blessed by God is about more than simply remaining in leadership and retaining the throne. God had left Saul (1 Sam. 16:1), and although he was still king, without God’s blessing he lacked direction and purpose. David prays that this will never be true of his own royal house.
Apply
Thank God for his blessings, and ask him for an ongoing sense of direction and purpose to your life.
Closing prayer
Lord, build Your house, Your kingdom, in me. Let all I do bring You honor and bless Your heart.
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