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? 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!” (2 Samuel 7:18-19)
David had every reason to think highly of himself. He was well-loved by the people for killing Goliath and then leading the Israelites in the slaughter of tens of thousands in the Lord’s name. He stood the test of loyalty to Saul, even though Saul was a psychotic man, seeking to destroy David. When he finally ascended to the throne, David sought to build a house for God – a noble task that none had thought of before. He had much to boast about, which is why his words are somewhat alarming.
Who am I, Sovereign Lord,… that you have brought me this far? Apparently no one sat down with David to let him know how great he was. No one filled in the holes of how he had surpassed the many other leaders Israel had had before him. Or perhaps David saw himself as he truly was – a sinner who deserved none of the good gifts that God had given him.
When is the last time you sat still before the Lord and declared your utter helplessness to Him? When have you truly humbled yourself and realized that He is a great God and that nothing you can do will ever be good enough to earn His approval? If you haven’t done those recently, it’s a good idea to take some time now so that you find yourself living in the reality of your unworthiness before God.
These words of David give us an insight into the heart of a man who was after God’s own heart. David realized the gravity of his inadequacy, and sat in awe of God’s goodness to him in spite of that.
Heavenly Father, I am nothing before You. I came from dust, and to dust I will return one day. Even still, You have inclined and heard my pleas for mercy. You sent Christ for me, a lowly sinner. Help me never to think that I have somehow been good enough to earn anything You’ve given me. Let me, instead, live a life of gratitude to You.
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