WEEKLY
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An
international Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday December 29, 2019
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DAVID’S PRAYER
(In prayer we praise GOD for HIS grace and
presence)
(1 Chronicles 17:16-27)
As I said in week 3 of
this quarter, this chapter (1 Chronicles 17) stands as one of the most pivotal
chapters in biblical history. It is here in these passages that GOD’s Covenant
commitment promises to King David are announced and have the same
history-shaping force as HIS ancient Covenant commitment with Abraham. In fact,
as I said earlier, this “Davidic Covenant” can even be viewed as “a
continuation” of the “Abrahamic Covenant”.
After
Nathan had delivered GOD’s message to David, commanding him “not to move
forward with his idea to build a Temple for HIM in Jerusalem”, David went into
the tabernacle (tent) and sat before GOD and prayed his, now well-known, “Prayer
of Thanksgiving” that is featured here in 1 Chronicles 17, verses 16-27. Here
David shows utter amazement at the evidence of GOD’s love for him, and he
blesses GOD, and thanks HIM for HIS goodness. He then asks GOD to use HIS power
to do what HE had promised in HIS Covenant offer to him.
This event, following so closely behind the
event of David’s moving of the Ark to Jerusalem and setting up daily worship,
emphasizes the close relationship between “worship” and “blessings”. Those, who
serve GOD wholeheartedly, can expect HIM to, not only bless them, but also, to
send CHRIST JESUS into their lives with “the eternal blessings” of HIS
perpetual presence.
Doing “GOD’s Will”, on a daily basis, and
building “a spiritual temple of worship” (personal relationship of friendship
with GOD) “within our own bodies”, is far more important than building “a
physical temple” to worship in. Our worship of GOD must be housed within us and
exhibited through our daily behavior, and not necessarily inside of some imposing
mortgaged-strapped edifice. David’s attitude toward prayer stands as an
excellent example of how we should respond to GOD in worship on a regular
basis.
This prayer displays to us, two distinct
qualities, which we must be able to earnestly exhibit in order to receive
“GOD’s favor”. First of all, like David, we must be humble, despite our
successes in life, acknowledging that we ourselves deserve nothing that GOD has
ever given us (v.16).
Humbling ourselves in prayer is a required
feature if we are to be taken seriously by GOD. To go before GOD with a
prideful attitude, or with an attitude of deservedness because of how great we
feel we are, is blasphemous, and goes well beyond foolishness.
And secondly, we must display complete earnest
reverence for GOD, and yet, despite being humble, we must also have complete confidence
in GOD that HE will deliver that which HE has promised us, good or bad (Vs.20-27).
Our faith must be such that it exudes confidence
that we believe to a point of knowing that GOD will always delivers those
prayer requests that line up within the righteousness of HIS Word and HIS Will.
An eternal GOD only deals in eternal
blessings. It is a characteristic HE possesses that will not, and cannot, ever
change. It actually pleases GOD to no end, to bless us and our family so that
our lineage will never end in disaster. And remember, GOD already knows our
specific, detailed, personal needs, even before we ask. Amen.
A
Sunday school lesson by,
Larry
D. Alexander
larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com
LARRY D. ALEXANDER-
Official Website
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