What a Good God You’ve Been to Me.
David sat before the Lord. He was a young lion of a king. His kingdom was established and, for the moment at least, at peace. He had built a house of cedar for himself and thought perhaps the Lord needed one, too. So David thought it was time to replace the tabernacle with a temple. In his heart, he wanted to do something great for the Lord. The prophet Nathan said, “Do what is in your heart.”
But in the night, God gave Nathan a different message to deliver to David. You can read the story in 2 Samuel 7. In short, it went something like this.
You’re my man, David. I removed you from tending sheep and put you on the throne of Israel. I established your power. I gave you rest from your enemies. Your offspring will be established on your throne. They will build a temple. That is not my plan for you.
David responded with some of the most heartfelt praise in all of the Bible. And regularly my heart turns to David’s response to God’s refusal. How could God’s refusal provoke such praise in a king’s heart? Quite simply, David was learning to trust God’s providence in his life. And the pathway of providence was the pathway he was on. Oh, how he praised God!
Who am I Lord and who are my people that you have poured out such goodness upon us? If that weren’t enough, you have promised all of this glorious future. There is no God like you. You chose me. You chose your people, Israel. What a good God you are!
The quotes are from 2 Samuel and all are from the unofficial “Shinkle Revised Version” but check out that passage.
Have you ever had a “Who am I?” moment? You need a “Who am I” moment. It may lead you to a cross and an empty tomb. When the late Rusty Goodman wrote his song by that title, it certainly did. “Who am I that a King would bleed and die for?” Good question.
Or it may lead to a simple time of sitting before the Lord. Reflect. Repent. Respond. Rejoice. Give thanks. Sit before the Lord.
Tommy Walker wrote the not so well known chorus, “What a Good God You’ve Been to Me.” This Thanksgiving season it is “top of mind” (very popular phrase) in my scrambled brain.
What a good God you’ve been to me.
Your goodness and your grace everyday I see.
What else can I do but give thanks to you?
What a good God you’ve been to me.
What a faithful God you’ve been to me.
You’ve provided far beyond everything I need.
What else can I do but give thanks to you?
What a faithful God you’ve been to me.
What a loving God you’ve been to me.
Shed your blood upon the cross
So that I could be made free.
What a loving God you’ve been to me.
What a good God you’ve been.
What a faithful God you’ve been.
What a loving God you’ve been to me.
What a good God He has been to Monte Shinkle.
