July 14, 2015
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

David's Real House

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Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, today I have many choices to make. Help me choose wisely as I seek to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Read 1 Chronicles 17:16-27

[16] Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? [17] And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You, LORD God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men. [18] “What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, [19] LORD. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises. [20] “There is no one like you, LORD, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. [21] And who is like your people Israel-the one nation on earth whose God went out to redeem a people for himself, and to make a name for yourself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? [22] You made your people Israel your very own forever, and you, LORD, have become their God. [23] “And now, LORD, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised, [24] so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The LORD Almighty, the God over Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And the house of your servant David will be established before you. [25] “You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you. [26] You, LORD, are God! You have promised these good things to your servant. [27] Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, LORD, have blessed it, and it 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

Recall a time when your dreams were not fulfilled. Later on, in retrospect, you realized that God was overruling your desires for his purposes and for your good.

Disappointment is part of life. Not everything we hope for comes to fruition. Sometimes it is just the small inconsequential expectations that are not fulfilled and it is easy to move on. Sometimes more significant hopes are dashed and life is changed forever–the serious health diagnosis, the failed examination or career, the unfulfilled desire for a marriage or a child. Even delays can be distressing at the time, but looking back we can often see that God was there with us, redirecting our steps to new possibilities.

David had just received a prophetic message that initially brought some potentially disappointing news: he would not be building God’s house. But any regret was soon forgotten as Nathan went on to reveal far more significant news: God would be building his house. David did not stop to interrogate Nathan, but withdrew to communicate his response directly to God. His prayer exhibits sincere humility and profound gratitude–and didn’t even mention the delayed building project! He spoke first of his personal amazement that someone from so lowly a family should be given such great honor. He knew he was part of a unique nation chosen and rescued by an incomparable God. He was overawed by what he had learned of his future reality: his family line would not only live on to be blessed into perpetuity; it would bring great glory to God forever. Such an affirmation gave David new courage to pray to his God and submit to his purposes.

Maybe we’d prefer that God always let us foresee positive futures alongside our disappointments! Then our patience and faith might not be so severely tested. Whatever our life outcomes, we too, in reality, are God’s chosen people (1 Pet. 2:9-10), called to live each day to God’s glory.

Apply

What does David’s prayer inspire you to pray for?

Closing prayer

Lord, this is the prayer of my heart: “May God, who puts all things together, makes all things whole … put you together, provide you with everything you need to please him … All glory to Jesus forever” (Heb. 13:20-21, The Message).

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