Lessons on how to take God’s grace (2 Sam 7:18-29)

All of us, I suspect, have known times when God’s grace reached out and touched our hearts in a special way. It could have been when we first understood how Jesus died to save us, or when we experienced an unexpected blessing, a surprising provision financially, emotionally, physically, or the fulfilment of a long-desired hope. In those moments, we feel humbled that God cares for us even though we do not deserve it. This is David’s experience as he contemplates God’s promise to him and his family. However, as time passes by, our perception may become subtly altered, so that we start to claim those blessings as trophies, signs that we are favoured and special. David’s prayer therefore teaches us important lessons on how to take God’s blessings.

Undeserved grace

The king’s response on hearing the Lord’s commitment to him is to leave his luxurious palace and sit ‘before the LORD’ (2 Sam 7:18), probably meaning the humble tent he erected for the ark, a symbolic dwelling for God. It expresses something of the effects of grace that draws us away from ourselves and into God’s presence. David’s words are almost stumbling in awe as he tries to express his wonder over God’s love. He knows his own insignificance; he is a nobody, yet the Lord raised him into great honour. His thoughts echo Hannah’s Song in the early part of the Book of Samuel, which describes the great reversal: the proud and mighty brought low and the humble lifted up (1 Sam 2:4-8). David fully understands that God’s deeds have nothing to do with human merit. The Lord acts on His own initiative, according to His ‘heart’ (2 Sam 7:21), which is the centre of a person’s will and thinking in Hebrew understanding. In other words, He acts according to His will and plan. Thus, God’s blessings and generosity reflect His greatness, even uniqueness – there is no one like Him (2 Sam 7:22).

Outward looking gratitude

David’s gratitude is not self-absorbed, but one that looks outward. He recognises that his experience is not unique but shared by all those who belong to the Lord. The great reversal of the lowly and insignificant raised up is not only his story, but also all Israel’s. God redeemed them from Egypt, from serving other peoples and their gods (2 Sam 7:23). Moreover, part of His aim was ‘to make a name for Himself’ (v.23). A name in Hebrew thinking reflects a person’s character, identity and reputation and God reveals Himself to His people (as well as the world at large) through His actions. Those who experience His wonderful acts will know Him more deeply as a result (2 Sam 7:24). It is in this context that David puts his petition before God (2 Sam 7:25), ‘that Your name may be magnified forever’ (2 Sam 7:26). It is not a lack of faith that motivates the king, but a desire that God may be shown to be who He is: trustworthy, faithful and incredibly kind.

How to take God’s grace and blessings

Blessings we receive from God often elicit the initial reaction of awe and wonder and evoke in us a sense of our own smallness. Yet, it is easy to move away from this perspective once the original feelings dissipate, so that after a while we come to think of ourselves as somehow inherently special with a unique experience. In a subtle way, talking about our blessings may become a form of bragging. Elsewhere, Israel is warned against such an attitude (Deut 7:7-8; 9:4-6) and David’s prayer corrects this tendency here. The gifts we receive from God are undeserved and rooted in God’s gracious character and in His will, not in what we do or who we are. They are not unique but the experience of all those in relationship with Him. May we not take away God’s honour by claiming some of it for ourselves but allow His blessings to draw us closer to Him and to testify to who God is.

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