Feb. 15th, 2012
Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And now, O God, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! You speak as thought I were someone very great, O Lord God! What more can I say to you about the way you have honored me? You know what your servant is really like. I Chronicles 17:16-18
In this chapter David is settled in his palace, and calls the prophet Nathan to ask what he should do about the fact that God’s Ark resides in a tent. Here is the King in a palace, but the “presence of God” is residing in a temporary tent – not even the tabernacle – just a plain old tent! Nathan goes and prays and hears from God that David is NOT to build any permanent structure for the presence of God – but rather one of David’s descendants would have that honor. What God offers to David is a legacy, a dynasty – and David seems satisfied with that – actually more than satisfied, as noted in the verses above.
What struck me profoundly this morning was the last phrase of the last verse: You know what your servant is really like. After all David’s recital of God’s blessings, and promises, and honors bestowed on David and his family – it almost reads – or at least it read to me today – you, O God, have given me all this – in spite of the fact that you know what your servant is really like.
I don’t know why, but this gives me some comfort today. Sometimes I think that the reason my church is not growing faster, or in ways I think it should; is because of my personal, internal, spiritual shortcomings. Sometimes I think my sin disqualifies me, and hinders my work, and minimizes God’s blessings on my life and efforts – but this little phrase gives me some hope. God knows me no less well than He knows David, and in spite of the fact that God knows what this servant is REALLY like – God loves and blesses me anyway. At least I hope to claim this promise for myself today.
And what about you? Are you feeling that God has disqualified you from blessing and promises, and honor because of how you feel about yourself? I don’t think so. Are you feeling like your sins and struggles have somehow hindered God’s work in and through you? I don’t think so. Are you feeling like because you’ve blown it so many times – yes – God still loves you, but you must now be a second class citizen/Christian? I don’t think so. Join me as we take some comfort, encouragement, and hope from this honest admission that God knows what ALL God’s servants are really like – and apparently still blesses, honors and uses them! Join me in being thankful!