‘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. ‘
2 Samuel 7:22 (NASB)
https://my.bible.com/bible/2692/2SA.7.22
I co-teach a Bible 101 class on Tuesdays. This past week, we looked at the various versions of our beautiful living word and briefly discussed the difference between paraphrased texts like The Message and approximate translations such as King James. It is my belief there is no perfect version. To me, they are all perfect. Each has a purpose. So much so, even one of my class participants remarked that they had a better understanding because we read the same scripture from different versions. Whether translation or paraphrase, tackling more than one provided exactly what that person needed to get to heart of the idea.
Long preface to get to my point: I live in NIV because that is what my church family uses. I have, thus far, in my 66 verses journey unpacked from it. However, for 2 Samuel, like one of my Bible 101 participants, I noticed something in NASB that I didn’t see in NIV or a few other versions. Let’s compare:
“How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.”
2 Samuel 7:22 (NIV)
‘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. ‘
2 Samuel 7:22 (NASB)
I love the praise “how great you are” – it brings harmony; “For this reason…” – however, brings questions. Context is key when reading and understanding His word. One of my favorite teachers refrains:
“always ask what the ‘therefore‘ is there for.”
Pastor Kurtis Thompson, Revelation Church
For this reason, as written in NASB, is such an example. We must go back to the text before it to get what comes after it. God blessed David; that’s what we need to know to go forward. Here in 2 Samuel 7:22, David continues to praise and pray. and saying, “hey, gimme a temple and kudos for my stuff and my legacy.” These are the “for this reason” that David offers praises and thanksgiving.
Now, I am just going to leave these questions here to chew on for a moment…
How are you blessed? God set the course now what sort of legacy are you leaving behind?
God is a purpose-driven promise-keeper. David recognizes this in his prayer. Even though God did not allow the temple to be built, He still fulfilled promises for David’s house. God has reasons we cannot imagine. The Working Preacher shares this about 2 Samuel 7:22:
“David is a model…as he reminds us that God’s promises, gifts and grace cannot be understood as a formula or even a reward.”
Sara M. Koenig
We are to pray with expectations, but perspective is key. David is the exact teacher of this perspective. The previous verse supports this mindset: “...according to your will, you have done this great thing…” (part of 2 Samuel 7:21, NIV). When you pray, do you expect the outcome based on what you want or do you pray with expectation that God provides for what you need? I would be lying to you if I said I get this right every time.
What now? Well, just remember those questions I posed about blessings and legacy. I am sure that sort of reflection upon them will either bring warm tingles or a gut punch. Praise and pray often, with expectation of needed provisions – not receipt of wants. Next, move! I will give a nod to my pastor, Matt Grohocki “though we may never be ready, we must be willing.” My pastor is right, we move even when it is not what we expect. God is in control of our legacies and blessing, we just need to be open to what they are.
I will wrap up today’s post by paraphrasing Pastor Rick Warren’s thoughts on prayer. He shared that prayer is a mix of speaking and listening, but we tend to do most of the talking. I could plug in a million bits of scripture that say we need to do more listening but instead, I will turn to the great 90s poet, Rob Van Winkle. Rob, aka Vanilla Ice, remarked “stop, collaborate and listen.” Work with God, not against and let him do most of the talking.
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6 responses to “PERSPECTIVE & LEGACY – A Look at 2 Samuel 7:22 (10 of 66)”
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As I was reading your preface I couldn’t help but think of my journey this year. I had a dilemma. I had a fellow Christian who seemed to me to be very legalistic. She felt I and others shouldn’t do something. I was like…. The Bible preaches unity and here I am with the Holy Spirit and there she is with the Holy Spirit but we have a difference of opinion…. Reminded me of your Bible versions. I think all are essential and some of us are more the message and others are more king James, but both are bibles….
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[…] ready to do what God asks us to do, but we must be willing (click here to read that devotion on 2 Samuel). Rise up, go and talk to others even when it is not comfortable. I am sure Ezra was a little […]
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