19 Once you spoke in a vision, to your faithful people you said: "I have bestowed strength on a warrior; I have exalted a young man from among the people. 20 I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him. 21 My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him. 22 No enemy will subject him to tribute; no wicked man will oppress him. 23 I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries. 24 My faithful love will be with him, and through my name his horn will be exalted. 25 I will set his hand over the sea, his right hand over the rivers. 26 He will call out to me, 'You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.'

Much of the pride of Israel was (and is) related to the promises made to their great king David. It was David who made the nation great and strong. It was David who received the blessings of God for them as a people and who led them to become a world power. Yet, David was just a pawn in the hand of God. It was God who made the promises to him and who kept these promises. It was God who subdued the enemies. David was a wonderful person who stands for us all as an example of faith. He held a special place in the heart of God because his heart was tuned to God’s own heart. But David realized that his greatness was not his own but was just to bring glory and honor to the God of heaven.

David often offered praise and thanksgiving to God for his promises to him and his children. David often worshipped in thankfulness because God had blessed him and continued to take care of him. Yet in all this, he realized and warned that these blessings were contingent upon him and his posterity continuing to follow the commandments of God. He understood that God can bless and use whomever he desires; even those who are wicked. David understood the grace of God perhaps in a way that even most of us cannot grasp. He knew that he was a shepherd boy who deserved nothing but had received the richness of the windows of heaven in his life.

God has promised us more than we can think or imagine in Christ Jesus and thru the power that lives within us; his Holy Spirit. Our responsibility is to open our hearts to God, follow his commandments and live for him.

O God, I thank you for using me in your service. I pray that you will give me faith to open my heart and let you control my life. Give me your power to live for you and to show others your love, your kindness and comfort. Forgive me when I fail and help me not to continue in my own stubborn and sinful ways but to turn to you. Give me faith to accept your forgiveness and to know the peace that only you can give. Give me your wisdom from above so I will keep a pure heart. I pray in Jesus’ name.