“This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes?” (2 Samuel 12:7-9)
God’s rebuke of David is as surprising as it is blistering. Do you notice what His first complaint is? He doesn’t start with describing David’s sinful acts, the adultery and lies and murder we find so villainous. He starts with David’s ungrateful heart.
God saw Himself as being in relationship with David. He was and wanted to be the source of everything good in David’s life. He showered the king with success, possessions, and power. David refused to be satisfied with God’s goodness. David’s willingness to sin to get more showed he didn’t believe God could or would provide enough.
Our ungrateful hearts lead us in the same direction. Our choices to sin to get what we want show that we don’t trust God’s goodness, power, and love for us. We decide that if He won’t give us our desires now, we’ll set Him aside to take them our own way.
Think: Do you ever judge God’s goodness, love, or power by what He gives to you or keeps from you? Do you think of Him as the source of every good thing in your life?
Pray: Ask God to help you to have a grateful heart and to help you to trust Him alone to provide those good things He wants you to have.
Do: If God started listing the good things He has given you as He did in today’s verse with David, what would be the first 20 or so items on the list? Write those down.