Day: November 14, 2023

2 Samuel 7:18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord; and he said: “Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?

This was King David’s response to the promises made to him through Prophet Nathan of a dynasty. He offered this prayer of thanksgiving in the tent shrine he had erected. He was grateful for God’s grace at the moment, he praised God for his past victories in life and made a prayer requesting for the fulfilment of God’s promises in the future. (v12-16).

 He wished to build a temple for God but in response God gave him a promise that David’s son would build it. He asks with immense humility as to who is he and his house that God would have brought him from tending the sheep to be the King of Israel and give a guarantee about his future generation. He didn’t boast about how great he is instead his God got to be even bigger in his eyes. David used to tend the sheep in the wilderness, he wasn’t of royalty, and God put him on the throne of Israel. 

Psalm 8:4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit  him?

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin the astronauts of Apollo 11 went to the moon with a “Good will disc” that had peace messages from 73 countries. A thin silicon disc in a simple cloth, in an aluminium case, the size of a 50 cent piece was left on the Moon’s, Sea of Tranquillity on July 1969. At the top were messages and the rim had written, “From Planet Earth-1969”. The Vatican submitted something that was noteworthy, Psalm 8!!

Yahweh who created heaven and earth, the stars and the moon, the 100 million galaxies, He could care to think of insignificant me? And have His “mind full” of me? How humbled I am and what can I say except a million thanks from the depth of my heart!!!!

When I think of the fact that He redeemed me, made me His child (John 1:12), that I am a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that I may proclaim His excellency, He called me out of darkness into His marvellous light. (1 Peter 2:9), I say, “Who am I?” I belong to God, I have been established, anointed and sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22), I am citizen of heaven (Phil 3:20), forgiven,(Eph1:8) I am blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing (Eph 1:3). I am chosen before the creation of the world (Eph 1:4, 11). I am holy and blameless (Eph 1:4). I am adopted as his child (Eph 1:5). I am given God’s glorious grace lavishly and without restriction (Eph1:5, 8). I am qualified to share in His inheritance (Col 1:12). I have peace, “Who am I and my house that You, Oh Lord, cared to call me out, from darkness to light, from eternal perdition to eternal life”? 

Do you say the same? Go ahead and give the Lord the best prayer of thanksgiving!!

Sol.Lalitha Menon

HEART OF WISDOM

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

Moses took up this wonderful prayer with a longing in his heart to make best use of his time.  Moses had a total life span of one hundred and twenty years; and we can divide it into three parts.

In the first forty years, he was raised in the palace of Egypt, as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; and received the best of education.  In the next forty years, he spent in the land of Midian; married a woman named Zipporah; and was shepherding the herd of Jethro, his father-in-law.  And he spent the last forty years of his life, to liberate the Israelites from the bondage of Egypt and to lead them toward the Promised Land – the land of milk and honey.

The last forty years of his life, were too wonderful and most impactful.  Those forty years were unforgettable in the history of Israel.  Yes, Moses made best use of the time.  That is why when God gave a testimony about Moses and said: “My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house.  I speak with him face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings; and he sees the form of the Lord” (Numbers 12:7-8).

Moses who received such a great testimony from God Himself, prayed: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”.  Today man has excelled in his knowledge that he is able to land even on the moon.  He has done great things and achieved rare feats with the help of computers.  He is able to board aero planes and go around the world, get into space ships and rockets to go around the planets.  He is so developed in science, chemistry and medicine.  But one wisdom that he does not possess, is the wisdom to number his days.

Once a prisoner, who was waiting for the day of his death penalty, said: “Sir, those who are in the world do not have the wisdom to number their days.  But as I know the exact date and time of my death penalty, I am counting my days in sorrow”.

There are two things that always stand before us.  One is our death; and the other is the Day of Lord’s Coming.  And we will never know which of this will happen first.

May be for those who have still not known and accepted Christ Jesus as their Master and Saviour, the wisdom of counting their days will instill fear in them.  But we who belong to the Lord, will not have any fear, as the Lord has given us a heart of wisdom.  Children of God, we shall live in this world, just once.  Will you commit to live that one life, in full submission to the will of God?

Verse for further meditation:

^{“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:16-17).}

Prayer:

Thank You lord for giving us Your wisdom to make the best use of our time so that we may stand without any guilt in front of Your throne of grace. Amen

Sol.Charris Niles