That God would consider us

Have you ever looked up at the stars on a beautiful clear night? 

Ever since I’ve come to Japan, it’s been a rare sight, especially since I moved to my current city of Nishinomiya.  I might see a few stars here and there, but that’s it.

But I remember being up in the mountains in Hawaii and just being in total wonder at it all.  It made me feel so small. 

But it would also make me think about how incredible it is that in a universe so vast, God would care about me.  That God would know my name.  And that God would have a plan for me.

That’s how David felt.  He was sitting on his throne in his newly built palace, and as he did, he had the thought, “Here I am in this beautiful palace, and God only has a tent.” 

And so he made plans to build a beautiful temple for God.

But God stopped him.  Why?  For one thing, God didn’t need a temple.  But for another, if God were to have a temple built, he didn’t want David, a man of blood, to do it.

But if there was any sting in the words of God, it was quickly salved as he said something amazing to David. 

He said, “David you wanted to build a house for me.  But I’m telling you, I will build you a house.  And I will establish your house and kingdom forever before me. (2 Samuel 7:11-16)

This will eventually be fulfilled when Jesus, Son of God by nature, but son of David by human birth, reigns on this earth forever.

What was David’s response?

Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant.

Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign Lord?  You have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men, O Lord God. (2 Samuel 7:18-19; 1 Chronicles 17:16-17).

Who am I?

David realized that he really was a nobody.  And yet God had brought him from humble beginnings to the place he was at now.  Not for his own glory.  But for God’s.

We are dust.  We are one speck in the universe.  And yet, God not only notices us, but he loves us.  Not only does he love us, he has his hand on our lives.

As David would later write,

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.  (Psalm 139:6)

Do you feel unloved.  Unwanted?  Insignificant? 

Chew on this one thought:  God considers me. 

For all that is in the universe, for all that’s going on in this world alone, God considers me.  He knows me.  And he has a plan for me.

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt?

Who am I, that the bright and morning star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wondering heart?

Not because of who I am
But because of what You’ve done

Not because of what I’ve done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind

Still You hear me when I’m calling
Lord You catch me when I’m falling

And You told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours
— John Mark Hall