2 Samuel 7:18-29

David’s Prayer

18 Then David the king came in and sat before the Lord, and he said, “Who am I, Lord [g]God, and who are the members of my household, that You have brought me this far? 19 And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, Lord God, for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant regarding the distant future. And this is the [h]custom of mankind, Lord God. 20 Again what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, Lord God! 21 For the sake of Your word, and according to Your heart, You have done all this greatness, to let Your servant know. 22 For this reason You are great, Lord God; for there is no one like You, and there is no God except You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, and to make a name for Himself, and to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, [i]because of Your people whom You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from other nations and their gods? 24 For You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and You, Lord, have become their God. 25 Now then, Lord God, the word that You have spoken about Your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do just as You have spoken, 26 so that Your name may be great forever, by saying, ‘The Lord of armies is God over Israel’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You. 27 For You, Lord of armies, God of Israel, have [j]given a revelation to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house’; therefore Your servant has found [k]courage to pray this prayer to You. 28 Now then, Lord God, You are God, and Your words are truth; and You have [l]promised this good thing to Your servant. 29 And now, may [m]it please You to bless the house of Your servant, so that it may continue forever before You. For You, Lord God, have spoken; and [n]with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

David’s first reaction to the blessing of God, and the promises given in the last section, is to ask “Who am I?” And it is something we may find ourselves asking at times.

In light of all eternity, and all the other people on this Earth, and all of the grandeur of the stars and planets, galaxies beyond galaxies, throughout all of Creation, we ask “Who am I?”

Rightly so, but the amazing thing is that God knows exactly who we are. Treasured, yes. Children of the King, certainly. But he also knows our faults, just as David expresses, “you know your servant…” Still our Savior treasures us, still He calls us home as His children. Always He loves us more than anything else in all of Creation.

Now, at other times, we are tempted to set ourselves up higher than we ought, but David’s prayer is a reminder to us all. For God alone can exalt us above the heights while keeping us humble as we ought to be (paraphrased from C.S. Lewis, though he says it better than I can).

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