ODJ: the blessings of God

November 18, 2015 

READ: 2 Samuel 7:8-29 

How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you! (v.22).

Recently my wife and I embarked on a plan to reach out to people who are different from us—spiritually, ethnically and otherwise. Why take on this challenge? We’ve experienced the grace and blessing of God, and we want to bless Him by loving others who are also made in His image. It’s interesting, however, that even as we’ve strived to bless Him, we’ve been greatly blessed by God through these new relationships!

King David wanted to bless Him too. He noticed that while he lived in the lap of luxury, “the Ark of God [was] was out there in a tent!” (2 Samuel 7:2). But even as he made plans to build a beautiful edifice for God’s new ‘home’ among His people, God sent him the message that He was going to “make a house for [David]—a dynasty of kings!” (v.11).

David learned, as we will too, that you can’t out-bless God!

Even though an impressive temple was eventually built for Him by David’s son Solomon (vv.12-13; 1 Chronicles 22:8-9), the greater, longer-lasting ‘house’ and ‘kingdom’ was established by God through David. Jesus, the perfect, sovereign descendant of David, reigns forever (John 18:37; Revelation 19:16).

When David was blessed by God through the prophet Nathan (2 Samuel 7:4), he was humbled and grateful. “Who am I?” and “What more can I say to you?” he asked of God (vv.18,20). Then he declared God’s greatness, stating, “How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you” (v.22). His worshipful response is one for us to imitate as God pours out His blessing in our lives.

—Tom Felten

365-day-plan: Acts 28:1-14

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Read Ephesians 1:3 and consider the ultimate way we’ve been blessed by God. 
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How have you been blessed by God recently? What are some ways you’re striving to bless Him by your words and actions?