https://odb.org/2026/04/20/humble-sacrifice
1 Chronicles 17:16–22 (NIV): 16 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said:
“Who am I, LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 17 And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You, LORD God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men.
18 “What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, 19 LORD. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises.
20 “There is no one like you, LORD, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 21 And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth whose God went out to redeem a people for himself, and to make a name for yourself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? 22 You made your people Israel your very own forever, and you, LORD, have become their God.
King David sacrificed much for the people of Israel, including battling to save them from their enemies (1 Chronicles 14:8-17). Then he heard from the prophet Nathan that through his bloodline a throne would be “established forever,” as fulfilled in Christ (17:14; see Luke 1:30-33). He replied in humility, “Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” (1 Chronicles 17:16). He knew that his life was established by God and His will (v. 19) and that He had ultimately done the work of rescue and redemption for David and his people (vv. 20-22). (Tom Felten, Our Daily Bread 20th April 2026)
Even King David, the most illustrious of Israel’s kings, admits in humility who is he that the LORD God would bring him and his family that far in his life. He was anointed by Prophet Samuel as a lad to be king. He defeated the giant champion of the Philistines, Goliath, while he was still in his youth. He led Israel to numerous victories at the battlefield. The surrounding nations were eager to take back what they had lost since the time of Joshua and Caleb, David and his mighty army stopped them and drove them away.
The main defining characteristic of the Israelites was that they had their God, Yahweh Elohim the Great I Am with them. He was with them ever since the days of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He raised up a descendant adopted as a prince into the royal household of the Egyptian Pharoah to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt. The irony of Moses confronting his adoptive father to free his people from slavery. External writings tell of a little-known diety of a small band of people making a difference transforming them into a feared nation. They prosper when they obey His laws and falter when they become rebellious.
Are we as believers any different from the children of Israel? It is our LORD God who established us and brought us out of the miry clay into solid ground, able to stand on our own in this world we are passing through as pilgrims. We are in the world but not of this world. Our citizenship is in heaven. We will one day live with God as He dwells again amongst His people like at the beginning at the Garden of Eden and in a way when His presence was at the Tent of the Meeting with Moses.
This morning let us remember and acknowledge Jesus for who He is in our lives. Who are we that He brought us this far? Yet we live in the shadow of His mighty wings. It is Jehovah the Great I Am that established and made us who we are today. Our wealth, our reputation, our stature in society, our sphere of influence. We may be a billionaire or a CEO or a vice president or an associate, it is God who established and made us. Who are we and yet He loves us and is gracious towards us, blessing us though we don’t deserve His blessings, compassion and love!
Have a good week ahead, everyone! May we live in His abundant grace as we live out His will for our lives!
Ronnie's Thoughts 