II Samuel 7:27 For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee
Perhaps you know the feeling of being passed over for an opportunity. Maybe you felt like you deserved or had the ability to do something, yet you were just passed right over. I think David knew what that was like. In II Samuel 7, David had a wonderful ambition. He took initiative on something that should have been wonderful, to build the house of the Lord, later called Solomon’s Temple. In fact, Nathan the prophet of God said, “Great idea. The Lord be with you.”
Now, just because something sounds pious, noble, or virtuous does not necessarily mean it is God’s will. What matters is not how virtuous I appear, but what God actually wants. To be sure, this was a good ambition that David had, but God essentially tapped the prophet on the shoulder and said, “No, tell David he is not going to build my house. I am going to build his house.”
What you have here is really a lesson on gratitude. Do we see the words gratitude, thanks, or thanksgiving anywhere in II Samuel 7? We do not. But, does a little baby need to know how to spell mother to know his mother’s face when he sees it? Doesn’t a child know his mother by sight? So, I don’t need to see the words gratitude, thanks, or thanksgiving to realize there is a profound lesson here. The lesson is that there is a difference between assumptions and gratitude. If I assume, “Hey, I deserve this,” that is not the same as realizing that God is the great Cause, Initiator, and Creator and I should respond in gratitude. At the end of the day, gratitude is remembering who does what.
When David had this great idea of building God’s temple, God responded, “The Lord has given you rest. The Lord brought the children of Israel out of Egypt. I took thee from the sheep to make you the ruler of My people. I was with you wherever you went. I have cut off all your enemies. I will appoint a place for My people.” Ultimately, God said, “I will make you a house.” In other words, God is telling David that he doesn’t need him. God loved and guided David, but God is not in debt to any person. No, David was the one in debt. David was not going to build God’s house; God was going to build David a house. This brings us to the point that gratitude is simply remembering who does what. God is God and I am not.
There are a few things that gratitude is not. First, it is not independence. Verses 4-5 say that God told Nathan to go tell David not to build a house for Him. David was quick to respond in obedience. The point is that God was calling the shots, not David. David was not independent of the word that came from the Lord. So, gratitude is not independence. It is not initiative to do what you want to do.
Second, gratitude is not pride. Verse 26 says, “And let thy name be magnified forever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel.” David is saying, “God, it is Your name that is to be magnified and enlarged, not mine.” Now, this was not the reason David wanted to build the temple in the first place, but gratitude is remembering who does what. God is the one who gives guidance and is worthy to be magnified.
Third, gratitude is not entitlement. It is interesting that in verse 1 the Bible refers to David as “the king.” Up to this point usually the Bible says, “David says,” “David went,” “David did,” or even “David the king,” but here it just says “the king.” There is an assumption that you know that it is talking about David. It was his very identity, yet when God gave His guidance on this matter, David went before God and said, “Who am I, O LORD God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?” David responded in obedience to God whom he realized was the great Giver. God had given the kingdom and the victory. He is the great Giver and all we can do is give thanks because gratitude is remembering who does what.
At the end of the day grateful people get more done. Solomon would one day build this magnificent temple, but it was because David did what God had given him to do. The silver, gold, and other elements of the temple came from David. David’s battles prepared for Solomon’s building.
Today, whatever it is you seek to do, remember that gratitude is remembering who does what. It is not independence, pride, or entitlement. It is realizing there is a God in Heaven and responding to Him in obedience.