“Then King David went 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 this far? And yet this was a small thing in Your sight…Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord God, know Your servant. For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them. Therefore You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears…“And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant.”
II Samuel 7:18-22, 28 NKJV
The Prophet Nathan had just given David a powerful, prophetic word about David’s reign, his kingdom, and his name being established for ever. G-d promised that David’s throne would be established forever and that His mercy would never depart from him. That’s quite a word!
David, once a boy who tended sheep, became a man who defeated thousands and ruled over a nation:
“…‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.”
II Samuel 7:8 NKJV
G-d “lāqaḥ” David – G-d snatched David up from among the sheep and chose him much like a man would choose a wife. G-d’s favor rested on David.
In response to the words spoken by the Prophet Nathan, David went in and sat before G-d. The original text says David yāšaḇ before the Lord – he sat down and settled in to abide. It’s the same word used to describe G-d sitting on His throne, someone sitting at a gate or inhabiting something, and a dwelling place. It’s also the same word used in the Song of Solomon 2 describing the shulamite woman coming up under the covering of the beloved.
The picture of David sitting before the Lord paints a beautiful picture in my mind and speaks of deep intimacy. I wonder if David sat because the power of G-d was too strong to remain standing, or if David sat comfortably to talk to G-d friend to friend, man to man. Something about the image of David sitting before G-d captures my heart.
David then posed three questions to G-d: “who am I,” “what is my house,” and “what more can David say to You?” And at the end of his questions came a revelation that the blessings he received had nothing to do with him – it wasn’t his conquests or mighty acts that made G-d act on his behalf and bless him. G-d just chose him. He simply wanted to favor David and so He did:
“For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them”
David was overwhelmed at the goodness of G-d and just began to acknowledge and thank Him.
When our hearts finally grasp the truth that the favor of G-d on our lives depends upon Him and Him alone – not who we are, not on where we’ve come from, and not on what we ourselves have done -or not done, it’s very freeing and powerful.
Father – What more can I say to You Lord? All I know to say is You are great and there is none like You. Your Words are True and Your promises are sure. You are good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen.
Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 17