"Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and prayed, 'Who am I, Oh Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?" 2 Samuel 7:18
Have you even been in a place of thus far? Oh the places David has seen in his lifetime. From the grassy meadows, to the splendor of palace life, a drafty cave back to the throne itself, yes King David has arrived at a thus far place in his life. He has experienced every emotion that exists, from confidence to fear, love to hate, and sadness to joy. After all that King David had been through I can certainly understand why he needed to go sit before the LORD and ask, "Who am I?"
He was overwhelmed at the goodness of God and the faithfulness he had experienced. He had been through some of the toughest situations a person could go through yet, because He remained faithful God was allowing David to receive his just reward. I have to think the reward of Kingship and royalty paled in comparison to knowing the goodness and faithfulness of God.
Have you been there? Life has taken twists, turns, and changes at every bend yet somehow for a season you have arrive at a place to receive abundant blessings from the Lord. Your thus far as brought you to a place where the abundant blessings pales in comparison to knowing and experiencing the goodness and faithfulness of God.
No matter what current circumstances we find ourselves in, with our Living God there is always a thus far awaiting us around the next bend. A place of celebration, praise, complete humbleness and gratitude before the Lord. I have discovered the hardships we go through are all worthwhile when (notice I did not say if) we get to our thus far and we can pour out blessings back to the Lord in praise.
He was overwhelmed at the goodness of God and the faithfulness he had experienced. He had been through some of the toughest situations a person could go through yet, because He remained faithful God was allowing David to receive his just reward. I have to think the reward of Kingship and royalty paled in comparison to knowing the goodness and faithfulness of God.
Have you been there? Life has taken twists, turns, and changes at every bend yet somehow for a season you have arrive at a place to receive abundant blessings from the Lord. Your thus far as brought you to a place where the abundant blessings pales in comparison to knowing and experiencing the goodness and faithfulness of God.
No matter what current circumstances we find ourselves in, with our Living God there is always a thus far awaiting us around the next bend. A place of celebration, praise, complete humbleness and gratitude before the Lord. I have discovered the hardships we go through are all worthwhile when (notice I did not say if) we get to our thus far and we can pour out blessings back to the Lord in praise.
11 Comments:
Good Morning!
Wendy, Thank you for the song! "I've tasted and I've seen...I will join next to you..."
Next to our Father, that's right where I want to be, today, and tomorrow!
David has seen many places thus far...and in each one of these places the LORD was with Him, carrying him through each obstacle he faced.
Sometimes God says "no." David was expecting a "yes" answer at the beginning of today's reading, and so was Nathan. After all, David wanted to honor God by constructing a beautfful place of worship. How could God say "no" to this? Nathan was so sure of God's yes that he told David to go ahead and follow his heart. It seemed like a good idea...But, then God stepped in. 7:4 "But that same night the LORD said to Nathan..."
Sometimes God says no to us. It does not mean He does not care about us. He is our all-knowing God and we have to remember he knows what we don't know. He always chooses to do what is best for us.
I LOVE the promise from the LORD to David upon which the future Kingdom of Christ would be founded. 2 Sam 7:16 "Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time , and your throne will be secure forever.
AMEN!
Sending prayers your way,
Lori - AZ
I wrote on this exact same phrase just two weeks ago today only it was Samuel raising his Ebenezer and saying, "Thus far the Lord has helped us", 1 Samuel 7:12
It's our 'thus far's' that will take us home.
I settled in on the entire recounting of David and his desire to build a dwelling for the Ark. It was a good idea, but it wasn't God's idea.
Also thinking about Nathan's first response, then his change in advice after inquiring of the Lord. Just because someone follows hard after the Lord, doesn't mean that all their advice will be God's advice. We can make decisions without God, even though are lives are with Him.
David had the initial vision, but he wasn't the one to carry it to completion. "God can trust a vision or an idea to us that may be ours to pray about and prepare for but never to participate in directly", Beth Moore.
It's hard when we pray about something that seems so right and good, and God say's 'no'. I've had that happen just recently in regards to a prayer request I have had for my son. I couldn't understand why for 5 years now God has continued to close the door to my request. It was a good longing...something every parent I'm sure would pray for their child, yet God wasn't providing. It has only been in the past few months that the Lord has shown me all He has saved my son from experiencing by answering 'no'. It would take too long to write here now, but before the day is over I'm going to write about it on my blog if anyone is interested (www.ponderinginhispresence.blogspot.com).
We can have the right idea, but at the wrong time. God's no's are not always rejection, but re-direction.
Thanking the Lord for my "thus far's" and continuing the journey,
Joy
Wendy and ladies,
Just pouring blessing back to the Lord with you.
Locking arms and standing on His promises along some faithful sisters.
Have a great weekend ladies.
Group hug,
Diane
Good morning! It's Friday, and here in the midwest (east-central Illinois), the weather is absolutely gorgeous, my son and his wife are coming for the weekend to help us celebrate my Dad's 67th birthday, and I'm thrilled to be a part of this Chronological Bible reading group!
I loved the reading this morning! David wanted to build a lovely place to keep the Ark of God, was given permission (by Nathan) to do that, but then God said Whooaa.... Wait a minute! Not so fast, Bub. I've been content thus far to live in a tent moving from place to place with my people - I am always with you. He wants to remain that way - mobile and always with us!
And then, instead of having a fit because he couldn't do what he wanted, David instead sat down before the Lord and prayed - Who am I God, that you have brought me this far? Just a lowly shepherd boy, now a king, with a promise from the Almighty God that my family will be a lasting dynasty! (Paula's paraphrase there!!)
Yet again, David demonstrates unbelievable humility in the midst of adversity (not being allowed to build a 'house' for the Ark of God.)
Oh to be so humble!
Hi ladies! Whew...after all that praising with all our might (I've been jamming to Israel Houghton's song ever since it was introduced here!), now it's time to REST. I settled on those words today. "And I will give you rest". "the Lord had given him rest". When I think about the times I feel truly rested, it is when the rest comes from the Lord. Not lots of good sleep, but that feeling of being at peace with my God. When I know I've spent time with Him and saught him out. As a by-product, my night time sleep is then more restful.
Side note: I rented the movie "David" and watched half of it last night. It goes along great with this reading...the characters we're reading about are all coming to life, and it is following the scriptures very well. I recommend it!
Morgen - MN
Morgen,
Thank you so much for the movie, "David," idea! I have not heard of it, and will look to rent it. Beth Moore has a David study that I'm hoping to do one day!
I think I've shared this before, but thought I'd just mention it again. :)
I have the Bible on C.D.'s-by Zondervan...NIV version. I listen to them sometimes when I'm alone driving in my car. I've enjoyed them even more during our study together. They use different voices for the different characters and you just feel like they are in the car with you! Since we are reading a different version, what I do is just try and do the chapters that we cover together. Like this morning while out doing carpools & after the kids were dropped off...I listened to 2 Sam. 7 & 8. It is a bonus getting it from two different versions and you'd be amazed at how easy it is to listen to a couple of chapters, even when you don't have that far to drive.
It keeps my mind focused on God too!
Love you guys...
Lori - AZ
Lori - the entire title of the movie is: "The Bible Collection: David". It's from 1997. I rented it on Netflix.
Ladies,
I just wanted everyone to know on this blog. My Father in Law passed away to be with our Lord. God has given much strength and peace to our family.Praise You Jesus! My daughter and I traveled to Idaho last week to attend the funeral and burial. We just returned home to Ca late last night. I am a week behind in the readings but want to start today where we are at. I am not in the loop but hope to catch up soon.
Warmly,
Debra Z
No. Ca.
Debra, sorry to hear about your lost, glad you and your daughter made it back safe. May you find solace and comfort in the loving arms of the Lord.
Enjoyed all the comments today! God is faithful is the reoccurring theme in David's life and in our lives. God knows everything there is to know about us and he still chooses to love us unconditionally!
My heart is sadded because I know this weekend we will experience David's sin with Bathsheba. It's almost like I want to jump in history and scream "David don't do it". Yet I know all we go through, makes us who we are in God. I wonder how many times our "great cloud of witnesses" are screaming down to us "Don't do it". I'm humbled, because like David, I can truly say...Who am I, O Sovereign Lord.
Have a great weekend!
Debbie - North Carolina
Debra,
My thoughts and prayers are with you with the loss of your father-in-law. I am glad you and your daughter made it home safe. I also pray that the coming weeks are not times of pain as the immediate help is gone.
Lifting you up to His arms,
Diane
Debra,
I am sorry about the death of your Father-in-Law. I'm praying that God will tenderly hold your hand as you experience the sadness of his loss.
Love,
Lori - AZ
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