Remind God About His Promises
"And now, LORD, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised, so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, "The LORD Almighty, the God over Israel, is Israel's God!' And the house of your servant David will be established before you.
"You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you. You, LORD, are God! You have promised these good things to your servant.
Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, LORD, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever."
I Chronicles 17:23-27
"You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you. You, LORD, are God! You have promised these good things to your servant.
Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, LORD, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever."
I Chronicles 17:23-27
King David wanted to build a temple for God out of gratitude for all that God had done for him. The elevation from an unheralded shepherd boy overlooked by his own father and siblings to the position of King over the entire nation was a bit overwhelming for him. He wanted to make a lasting statement of love to God by simply "immortalizing" his love in brick and mortar -- a memorial for all to see. But God had other plans. God wanted David's son and successor to be the one to build the temple.
Nonetheless, God was so pleased just by the good thought of David that He sent the prophet Nathan to inform David about how pleased God was because of his intentions and how blessed David was going to be because he had found favor in the sight of God.
David was even more overwhelmed. Not only had God been undeservedly good to him, but God was also promising to bless his house and ensure that his name will be enshrined among the greatest of men! David's posterity was never to be wiped out; God's love was never to depart from his successor, and his house was going to be blessed forever!
So, David simply sat quietly before God to thank him and to take it all in. I think it was more of a heartfelt conversation with God rather than an intensive prayer. I am actually reminded of how God would come down in the cool of the day and chat with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden before the fall of humanity.
I am struck by two things in the conversation:
First, David said to God: "Let the promise you have made to your servant be established forever. Do as you have promised…"
Second, "You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you. Very, very interesting! David was simply telling God that the only basis of his appeal was God's own promise to him! But for the promises of God, he would not even have had the courage to approach God! That insight should give us confidence to approach the Throne of Grace!
God is moved when we remind Him of His promises to us in His own word! God watches over His word to perform it. Has God made any personal promises to you? Has He quickened any portion of Scripture and personalized it for you? Then have a heart to heart chat with Him. Remind Him of those promises and confidently expect Him to fulfill them.
Remind God about His promises!
Nonetheless, God was so pleased just by the good thought of David that He sent the prophet Nathan to inform David about how pleased God was because of his intentions and how blessed David was going to be because he had found favor in the sight of God.
David was even more overwhelmed. Not only had God been undeservedly good to him, but God was also promising to bless his house and ensure that his name will be enshrined among the greatest of men! David's posterity was never to be wiped out; God's love was never to depart from his successor, and his house was going to be blessed forever!
So, David simply sat quietly before God to thank him and to take it all in. I think it was more of a heartfelt conversation with God rather than an intensive prayer. I am actually reminded of how God would come down in the cool of the day and chat with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden before the fall of humanity.
I am struck by two things in the conversation:
First, David said to God: "Let the promise you have made to your servant be established forever. Do as you have promised…"
Second, "You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you. Very, very interesting! David was simply telling God that the only basis of his appeal was God's own promise to him! But for the promises of God, he would not even have had the courage to approach God! That insight should give us confidence to approach the Throne of Grace!
God is moved when we remind Him of His promises to us in His own word! God watches over His word to perform it. Has God made any personal promises to you? Has He quickened any portion of Scripture and personalized it for you? Then have a heart to heart chat with Him. Remind Him of those promises and confidently expect Him to fulfill them.
Remind God about His promises!
Prayer: Lord, I thank you that all your promises are "Yes" and "Amen" through Jesus. I am confident that you will fulfill every promise you have made to me because you are True and Faithful. Amen.