2 SAMUEL 7:18-29 – “Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?  And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD!  Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it.  Therefore you are great, O Lord GOD. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.  And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods?  And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O LORD, became their God.  And now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. For you, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.””

THEME OF THE DAY: SERVANTS OF THE LORD.  In one word describe what it means to be in a relationship with the Lord Jesus?  Here are my inputs; Christian, follower, disciple, sheep, believer, child, brother/sister, priest, co-heir, learner, and I am sure there are more.  At least one more and that found in today’s scripture and theme of the day – servant.

In reading today’s scripture, the term “servant” is referenced by David ten times in twelve verses and gives the possessive adjective “your” to it – “your servant.”  Why would David place so much emphasis on his role before the Lord?  Consider two reasons . . .

First, repetition reminds David often of his relationship with the living God.  Yes, he was a man after God’s own heart but he was also in Master–servant and Creator-creature relationships. We get in all kinds of spiritual trouble when we forget these important relationships with our God.  He leads; we follow. He commands; we obey. His desires rule, not ours.  The Bible begins with in the beginning, God (Genesis 1:1a), not in the beginning, man.  The whole of the biblical story and human history is about God. We are His servants.  He is not ours. Yes, He serves but not as the role of our servant at our beck and call.

Next, David knows the safest and best place to be is God’s servant.  Why?  God is such a wonderful Master.  Go back and read today’s scripture and notice David’s worshipful proclamation of God’s absolute sovereignty over everything and everyone, and His promises to His chosen people.   Such amazing truths give great comfort to God’s servants!

Servants of the Lord. It is one of the most rewarding titles and relationships we have with God, not because we get to serve Him. It is due to us having such a wonderful Master to care for us.

PRAYER: Father, may my life as Your servant be anchored on Your sure promises to provide and care for Your servant.

REFLECTION:  A servant of the Lord leans on the promises of God for the strength to fulfill the duties as God’s servant.