February 17, 2010

Promptings: Windfalls

2 Samuel 7

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

— 

David was a praying man. He also was a man of constant action: hiding, surviving, fighting, negotiating, conquering, building, marrying, and ruling as king.

Then something happened that arrested him completely. It compelled him to stop and sit down, in awed stillness. The promise David had heard through Nathan the prophet was staggering; it was as if a windfall of blessing had just been poured all over him.

The promise was so grand that David could only ask, in effect, “Is this your usual way of dealing with us, O Lord?” The more he reflected on it, the more David saw that this glorious promise not only spilled over to his descendants for endless generations but also extended to the whole nation of Israel, through whom God had chosen to bless the whole world. Now we know that this promise pointed to Jesus, through whom the nations would be reconciled to God.

The staggering scope of God’s awesome promise stopped David in his tracks and moved him to awe and wonder at the unequaled greatness of God.

David had long been a follower of God, but this opened his eyes to God’s greatness with a wonder he had never known before.

When life is just too good, God is calling us to come into his presence with thanksgiving, wonder, and joy.

Father, when windfalls come my way, help me to see your signature behind them, and to wonder at your goodness in the life you have given me.

About the author — Kenneth D. Koeman

Rev. Ken Koeman is a pastor at Bellevue, Washington, Christian Reformed Church. He has written Today devotions in past years and has also authored numerous articles for The Banner, the magazine of the Christian Reformed Church. Ken and his wife, Kay, live in Bellevue and have two children and five grandchildren.

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