His Glory Our Good

I recently preached from the passage in 2 Samuel in which, God reveals to King David that He would establish David’s throne forever. Of course, this promise is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and that was ultimately the point that I preached toward. But I noticed something I had not seen before resting in the midst of David’s answer to God’s promise that has been an encouragement to me every day since.

2 Samuel 7:18-21 (ESV) ¹⁸ Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, "Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? ¹⁹ And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD! ²⁰ And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD! ²¹ Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it.

Of course David was amazed and praising God because of His promise. Of course David was in awe. Is there really any other acceptable response to God’s goodness than thanksgiving? No, of course not, anything other than genuine thanksgiving is like wrestling with a bear. You can do it but it doesn’t make it right.

But the verse that caught my attention is verse 21. David was ecstatic about what God had told him. But, he recognized that there was a reason God had promised and would do such an amazing thing, and that reason wasn’t centered on David. David recognized that there was more at work than him just experiencing a good day. God was doing something not just for his day to day good experiences, but for his forever every day good. He did act for David’s good, but not some temporary sense of well being. He was truly working in David’s best interest, and David saw it.

David’s best interest wasn’t just having a son on the throne. His best interest was to know the greatness of God. David’s best interest certainly depended upon a King that would rule forever, but that King wouldn’t be a King if God wasn’t so great. If God wasn’t the almighty, if He weren’t the eternal, all powerful, ever-present, all knowing Creator there would be no reason to expect Him to fulfill such a promise as He made to David. But, in the midst of this amazing work He made David know His greatness.

I am always amazed when I see God at work. I am always grateful that He is still at His work today. I am certain that He has His people’s best interest in mind. Now, I am reminded that everything that I see Him do, isn’t just about my good, but also about us seeing His glory. Our greatest good is to know His great glory. We can be grateful He is making it known.