Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Monday after the Ninth Sunday after Trinity Sunday

Posted on August 18, 2014 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:18-29 (NKJV)

18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: “Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? 19 And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord GOD; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come. Is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD? 20 Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord GOD, know Your servant. 21 For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them. 22 Therefore You are great, O Lord GOD. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name—and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land—before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods? 24 For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, LORD, have become their God. 25 Now, O LORD God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said. 26 So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You. 27 For You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You. 28 And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. 29 Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

Devotion

King David went into the sanctuary on Mount Zion in order to pray and praise the God Who had done so much for him. David had a tremendous sense of humility as he sat in the presence of Almighty God. One cannot have any real sense of who one is without a real sense of who one is before the Eternal God.

In a recent survey, 55% of Americans believe that they are smarter than the average American. This attitude shows a real lack of humility on the part of a large segment of the American populace. Americans also tend to flatter themselves with regard to their morality. But even if one were superior to others in various ways, one is not superior to God in any way. This realization is the first step in understanding who you are in the world.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Ps. 111:10). The next bit of wisdom is to know Who has made one greater than others, if that is the case. God chooses whom He chooses. His favor makes kings. He also chooses whom His people will be. Of all nations, He chose Israel in His good pleasure. He has made Israel His “own people forever,” and so it is true to this day. Israel is still His own people, but we must understand the proper the definition of Israel: only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. David’s house has been established forever in us. So, let us magnify God’s Name among us.

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