2023_07_17 Insight Post- Kim Feld

Our Old Testament reading this week focuses on King David. Through our reading in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles, we see two ends of the spectrum – one of David’s incredible highs and his unfathomable low. Chronologically, what the text records in 1 Chronicles 17 occurred before David’s unimaginable sin that is recorded in 2 Samuel 11-12. (2 Samuel 7 also records God’s covenant with David). I am writing posts for Monday and Friday this week, so let’s begin with looking at what is recorded in 1 Chronicles, and we will examine 2 Samuel 11-12 on Friday.

Things are going exceptionally well for David at this point. He is ruling over a united Israel, the Ark of God has been restored to a place of prominence in Jerusalem, and as a military leader, he is unrivaled. Take a look at 1 Chronicles 14:17 NLT:

“Then the fame of David spread in all the lands; and the Lord brought the fear of him on all the nations.”

David was well aware of how blessed he was and decided that the Ark of the Covenant of God should have a beautiful home, just as David did. He speaks to Nathan, the prophet, who initially gives David the green light to pursue building a house for God. God then speaks to Nathan in a vision and tells him that it won’t be David who builds the house for God; it will be David’s son and that God is building David’s house through an unending kingdom; Israel’s kings will always come from David’s lineage.

David is overwhelmed by God’s goodness to him. He fully recognizes that God alone is responsible for any greatness he has achieved. David’s prayer of gratitude to God is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful in scripture. God loves David and has withheld nothing from him.

At this point in David’s life, he is the epitome of faithfulness. He seeks hard after God and is obedient to all God asks. Yet, God refuses something that David wants to do for God! God’s ‘no’ will make more sense as we continue reading, but there’s a takeaway in these verses that I don’t want us to miss. We get no sense that David is upset that God has told him no. He fully trusts that God knows best. Look at the first words of David’s response:

¹⁶ Then King David came in and sat before the Lord, and said, “Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that You have brought me this far? (1 Chronicles 17:17, NLT)

I have had times when I thought something I wanted to “do for God” was a no-brainer. I was sure God would allow it to happen! But then, it didn’t, and I was left with two choices: bitterness or trust. Scripture tells us that God loves us, delights in us, and sings over us – we are prized above all creation. But He alone is God, and He sees the whole story while we only see a part. “Who am I that You have brought me this far” should be our response whether God’s answer is yes or no. Every moment of our lives provides an opportunity for obedience, faithfulness, and growth. It all begins with recognizing who I am and who I am not.

Kim Feld
Executive Director of Education and Outreach