Who am I LORD?”

David was a shepherd; he sought to do his job properly, and he did: he protected the sheep. His father sent him with provisions for his brothers in the army; he knew nothing about the Philistine champion Goliath until he got there. The acts, which made him great, were caused by situations thrust upon him.

His faith in God, developed from his youth, was the foundation on which his thinking and attitudes were built. It was this state of mind that gave him the strength to triumph over God’s enemies – they were not his enemies – they only became so because they were jealous of the successes he gained through his faith and trust in God. Saul is a particular example of this.

In our reading today in 1 Chronicles 17 David is astonished at the promises God makes to him: David says, “O God. You have also spoken of your servant David’s house for a great while to come and have shown me future generations” (verse 17). David had said, in his humility, “Who am I LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?” (verse 16).

Reflect on your own life – are your attitudes of faith, aims and ambitions such that God can use you in some part of his purposes? This is the lesson that jumps out at us from David’s life, up to this point in his history.

Note David’s words in Psalm 18 – which is really a prayer to God. “You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great” (18:35). Meditate on the nature of the one true God who invites us to serve him! His nature was more fully revealed in his Son – our Saviour. Remember how wonderfully gentle Jesus was with his disciples.

We must each ask ourselves “Who am I LORD?” that I should have the prospect of what is promised for those for whom Christ is their Saviour. We read today in Galatians “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise”. This is the Divine perspective, the anticipation of eternity for those who “put on Christ”.

Have you become an heir? Are you living like an heir should?