9th.: Giving Thanks to God
King David shared many thoughts with the prophet Nathan.
One day, David expressed that He (David) lived in a nice house,
but that God (i.e. the ark of the covenant) stayed in a tent. (2nd Sam 7:1-2)
David thought that God should get something better.
Later that night, God told Nathan to remind David:
1) God never asked to have a house made for Himself.
2) God made David great.
3) God will appoint a place for Israel.
4) God will have one of David’s sons build a physical house, i.e. the Temple.
5) God will always be merciful to David’s descendants.
6) God will make David’s house (i.e. David’s ancestral line) great (2nd Sam. 7:5-17).
Upon hearing these reminders, David wanted to talk with God.
“David [went to the Ark of the Lord and] sat before the Lord.” (2nd Sam. 7:18).
David began, “Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house that thou has brought me here?”
David realized that there was nothing inherent in David that was worthy of God’s favors.
We see this with his comment, “For thy word’s sake …, hast thou done all these great things.” (2nd Sam. 7:21a).
God was nice to David so that God would receive the glory.
David then repeated God’s relationship with Israel, and Israel’s place in history.
David closed with wanting God’s promises to be done (2nd Sam. 7:18-29).
Sometimes our prayers simply need to be a rehashing of what God has done - and/or promises to do.