David's Prayer
King David was a mighty warrior and a powerful ruler, well loved by his subjects.The Bible refers to him as a man after God's own heart
(I Sam. 13:14), even though we read of his failings: his adultery, his scheming, his murder of an innocent and honorable man for his own
selfish reason. This was a man after God's own heart? Yet David always acknowledged the majesty, the holiness, and the unquestionable
Sovereignty of God. He knew that God alone was the source of everything good in life. David humbly bowed before the greatness of God,
who reigns over all His creation in wisdom, power, and majesty. Look at his last prayer before turning over his kingdom to his son Solomon:
Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation:
and David said, "Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father,
for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power,
and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the
heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD,
and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour
come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is
power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to
give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee,
and praise thy glorious name." (I Chronicles 29:10-13)
Notice how David worshiped God. First, it wasn't a quiet, secret thing: he blessed the Lord before the entire congregation. Notice that he referred
to God as their Father, emphasizing the close personal relationship God has with His people. He acknowledges God's majesty, His greatness and glory.
He publicly proclaimed that it was God who reigns over all. He recognized God as the giver of strength, honor, and riches. He knew He didn't achieve anything
apart from God's help. And He praised and thanked God. That praising and thanking God is important. We have to realize that every good thing in our life is a gift from our Heavenly Father. James
put it like this:
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and
comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no
variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:17)
David's prayer was overflowing with gratitude and delight in the Lord for all the blessing God had given.
He realized the importance of praise and thankfulness, but do we? Or are we sometimes guilty of taking God's providence for granted?
I read somewhere once "What if God only gave us tomorrow what we thanked Him for today?"
Now, let's be careful not to fall into wrong theology here: we don't receive God's blessing by our works. We don’t earn things by thanking Him.
But it IS a humbling reminder that we often take our blessings for granted, and fail to be grateful for all His providence each and every day.
David also realized this humbling truth: he knew that everything he was offering to God came from God's own hand in the first place. We should never think, as so many do, "well, I've worked hard
and have done very well for myself." Or, "I've tried to live a good life and do good to others, therefore I deserve all these things I have." There are all kinds of things we think we have earned
by our own works or that we deserve somehow. But there is a name for this type of thinking: PRIDE. David, as great a king as he was, knew
that all their riches were from God, not because they deserved them, but because God chose to bless them!
But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer
so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own
have we given thee. For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners,
as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and
there is none abiding. O LORD our God, all this store that we have
prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine
hand, and is all thine own. (I Chronicles 29:14-16)
David also knew that no amount of giving, no amount of praying, no amount of sacrifice, can be pleasing to God if we are only doing it from a sense of duty, or begrudgingly.
God judges our hearts; He knows our reasons for doing what we do. And He is never satisfied with things offered unwillingy or half-heartedly, or with a wrong motivation.
I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure
in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have
willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy
thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.
(I Chronicles 29:14-16)
David's prayers were also not just for himself, but for God to be remembered and honored in the heart of his son, who was being prepared to take over the role of king, and also in the hearts of the nation as a whole.
They were (and are!) God's chosen people, and David's most earnest prayer was that these people would keep God's commandments and all the instructions He had given them, and that they would glorify
their covenant God by living in faith and obedience.
O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep
this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy
people, and prepare their heart unto thee: And give unto Solomon
my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies,
and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace,
for the which I have made provision. 1 Chronicles 29:17-19)
David had such a deep love for the Lord that he dearly desired to build the Temple for Him. He accumulated tons of wealth and riches to do just that. David
desired to build a temple for the Lord to have a permanent place to dwell among His people. But David's reverence for the Lord was so great that he willingly put that desire aside when
God told him no. Instead, David prayed that his son Solomon
would be the one to build the temple, which he did.
David's prayer serves to remind us to pray that we, and those who come after us, will always have a perfect heart of love and reverence for God, and to do the things He has commanded
us to do. and have enough humility and faith to give up our own plans if that are not in line with God's plans.
This is what made David, in spite of his human shortcomings, a man after God's own heart. Recognizing our own unworthiness, and acknowledging God's love, mercy, goodness, and provision.
This is how David prayed, honoring God, and this is how we should pray and honor God.
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
