2 Samuel 7:22

NASB	NLT	VOICE
22 For this reason You are great, Lord God; for there is no one like You, and there is no God except You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.	22 “How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you!	22 So You are great, O Eternal Lord. No one else like You exists, and there is no god greater than You, as we should know from everything we have heard.

God is The Only One

In the context of 2 Samuel, King David is responding to God’s covenant promise that his lineage will survive for all times, eventually leading to Jesus. In the ancient Near Eastern context, polytheism was prevalent. Many cultures around Israel were worshiping multiple gods. Israel’s faith was pertinent in its monotheism. The exclusivity of God is foundational, setting the stage for the New Testament revelation of Jesus as the True God incarnate. The Israelites had witnessed God’s mighty acts, from the deliverance from Egypt to that establishment of David’s kingdom. They trust everything that has been taught to them orally and through the communal experience of God’s faithfulness. 

Respond With Gratitude and Praise

Live David, take time to reflect on God’s work in your life and respond with gratitude and praise. How often do we just take time to just thank God for everything we have? We are often so focused on our chaos and our struggles that we rarely take the time to thank God for what we do have. Our emotions will make us feel like we do not have enough, things are not good, and life is over. When we pause and look at our situation, we may be able to recognize that things are as bad as we once thought. Sometimes, we have to force the gratitude to come out, being thankful for the first breath of the day, for a roof over our head, for food in our fridge, and more. These things can feel meaningless to be thankful for because they have always been there, but when we recognize these things are a luxury – we find a new view of life. Some people didn’t have the chance to wake up today. Some people don’t have the ability to wake up under a roof. Some people are watching their food sources being stolen from them. When we pause and reflect, we find our sources of gratitude. We also find our communities to pray for, and we can ask God how we can be His hands and feet to meet the needs of those that yearn for our blessings. 

Reflection Questions.

1. What have you witnessed as a mighty act of God? It can be big or small, but what felt mighty to you?
2. What is one thing that you are grateful for today?
3. What is one way that you can help meet the needs of those around you today?

Call to Action

Read John 17:3. Thank God for being the only one that is our provider, healer, and mighty counselor. Ask God if there is anything in your life that is in the way of fully living a right relationship with Him. Pray for the strength to beat those temptations and idols.

Check out the next slice of manna: Manna for the Mind #287