OVERWHELMING GRACE
Opening Prayer
Lord, I recognize my total inadequacy before You but for Jesus.
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.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
“Amazing grace! How sweet the sound / that saved a wretch like me” (John Newton, 1725–1807).
“Who am I, Sovereign Lord and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” (18). David is not having an identity crisis. Rather, his exclamation stems from a sense of wonder at the astounding goodness of the Lord to one so undeserving as he. It is the result of a just self-evaluation, not by the yardstick of human accomplishments as compared with other men, but by the measure of God’s infinite goodness.
“There is no one like you” (22). This confident declaration was the theme of Miriam’s song when Israel crossed the Red Sea on dry land only to observe God sink the vaunted chariots of mighty Pharaoh (Exod. 15). It was also the concluding theme of Moses when he blessed the children of Israel before his death (Deut. 33). And it was to be the premise of Solomon’s prayers at the dedication of the temple (1 Kings 8).
“Who is like your people?” (23). Here is another rhetorical question in this model paean of praise. It derives from what precedes. When God chooses a people for himself, they too are bound to operate at a level that is way above all others—unless something goes drastically wrong!
Amazingly, it all carries over to us today. Exactly like David, we are undeserving—yet this matchless God of grace is our God, too. Paul notes that human beings sometimes give themselves for others who are considered deserving (Rom. 5:6–8). Presidential bodyguards may interpose their bodies between the assassin’s bullet and the big man. It is for guilty sinners, however, that Jesus Christ gave his life. This transfers us to another level on the human plain. We become heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17)—and it is not because we deserve it!
Apply
Sing or read slowly John Newton’s “Amazing Grace” and praise the Lord for each point that applies to you personally.
Closing prayer
Lord, who are we that You should bestow such a degree of undeserved kindness upon us? We praise and love You for it.
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