A Life of Humility and Obedience
2 Samuel 7:8-9: "Thus you shall say to my servant David, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.'"
In this text, David had settled into his role as king and had established a great home for himself. As he looked around the grandeur of his home, David realized that while he lived in a comfortable home, the Lord still dwelt among his people in a tent, what was known as the tabernacle. In this realization, David had the great idea to build a home for the Lord, and he shared his plan with the prophet Nathan.
Initially, Nathan thought building the Lord's home was a great idea, then Nathan heard from the Lord. In hearing from the Lord, Nathan shared the above words with King David. Through Nathan, the Lord reminded David that he needed nothing from him, but rather he was the very one who provided all that David had. The Lord took David from the pastures to make him king. The Lord went with David and protected him, especially through the tumultuous years of running from Saul. The Lord established David and made his name great. The Lord blessed the work of David's hands. In his sovereignty, the Lord chose to make David who he was and to establish his earthly kingdom through David.
While David was God's chosen man and even the one whom the Lord called a "man after God's own heart," David was a work of clay, an instrument of the Lord. David was to take no glory for himself. As the king of Israel under the true king, David was to allow the Lord to guide him in all things. If the Lord wanted David to build him a home, the Lord would let David know.
It can be so easy to take the blessings and the responsibilities that the Lord has entrusted to us and to feel pride. The Lord's words to David are words for us, too. All that we are and all that we have comes from the hand of the Lord. We are to use each and every gift for his glory and for the building of his kingdom. To do that, we must be surrendered and dependent vessels in his hands.
Jesus modelled a life of humility and obedience. Jesus is now the true king in the line of David who will reign forever. Are we modeling our lives from that of our incarnate king, or are we striving for our own glory and seeking our own agendas? This fourth week of Advent, may we humble ourselves under the true king, and may we seek to glorify him in all that we are and all that we do. That is our high and holy calling!
Reflection:
Are you prone to pursue your plans without consulting the Lord? Can you take a few minutes today to lay out your plans and purposes before the Lord asking him to redirect you if you have strayed from his plan and purposes for you?
In this text, David had settled into his role as king and had established a great home for himself. As he looked around the grandeur of his home, David realized that while he lived in a comfortable home, the Lord still dwelt among his people in a tent, what was known as the tabernacle. In this realization, David had the great idea to build a home for the Lord, and he shared his plan with the prophet Nathan.
Initially, Nathan thought building the Lord's home was a great idea, then Nathan heard from the Lord. In hearing from the Lord, Nathan shared the above words with King David. Through Nathan, the Lord reminded David that he needed nothing from him, but rather he was the very one who provided all that David had. The Lord took David from the pastures to make him king. The Lord went with David and protected him, especially through the tumultuous years of running from Saul. The Lord established David and made his name great. The Lord blessed the work of David's hands. In his sovereignty, the Lord chose to make David who he was and to establish his earthly kingdom through David.
While David was God's chosen man and even the one whom the Lord called a "man after God's own heart," David was a work of clay, an instrument of the Lord. David was to take no glory for himself. As the king of Israel under the true king, David was to allow the Lord to guide him in all things. If the Lord wanted David to build him a home, the Lord would let David know.
It can be so easy to take the blessings and the responsibilities that the Lord has entrusted to us and to feel pride. The Lord's words to David are words for us, too. All that we are and all that we have comes from the hand of the Lord. We are to use each and every gift for his glory and for the building of his kingdom. To do that, we must be surrendered and dependent vessels in his hands.
Jesus modelled a life of humility and obedience. Jesus is now the true king in the line of David who will reign forever. Are we modeling our lives from that of our incarnate king, or are we striving for our own glory and seeking our own agendas? This fourth week of Advent, may we humble ourselves under the true king, and may we seek to glorify him in all that we are and all that we do. That is our high and holy calling!
Reflection:
Are you prone to pursue your plans without consulting the Lord? Can you take a few minutes today to lay out your plans and purposes before the Lord asking him to redirect you if you have strayed from his plan and purposes for you?
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