Who Am I?

“Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me thus far?” (2 Samuel 7:18)

 Here we see David humbly asking, “Who am I?” David is wondering why the Lord has done such great things for him. What have I done to deserve all these blessings? Nowhere in 2 Samuel 7 does God say that David is deserving of such blessing. Instead, God graciously blesses David. David doesn’t deserve to be the father of a dynasty and a kingdom that will stand forever. As proof, just look at David’s very serious sins in 2 Samuel 11 and elsewhere. Yet despite David’s sins and shortcomings, God does build His house through the family of David, eventually sending the One who is both His Son and David’s son, Christ Jesus.

Who am I that God has blessed me in so many ways, spiritually and physically? Who are you that God has similarly blessed you? God doesn’t say that we are blessed because of who we are, but because of who HE is!

Thank You, Lord God, for your many, gracious blessings. Amen.

To Be Thankful

Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the LORD by Asaph and his brothers. Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him; sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered, O offspring of Israel his servant, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. Remember his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, which he confirmed as a statute to Jacob, as an everlasting covenant to Israel. -1 Chronicles 16:7-17 

I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive. For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them. -Psalm 69:30-34 

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. -Psalm 95:1-7 

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. -Psalm 100:1-5

This Thanksgiving, as you celebrate in whatever way is your custom, may you also take a moment to remember from whom all your blessings come. Give praise and thanks to the Lord God for the sake of His Son Jesus Christ who has redeemed the world to the Father and made us holy in His sight. Give thanks with a grateful heart!

Merciful Father, thank you . . . for everything. Amen.