David's humility

“Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: ‘Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that You have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in Your sight, O God, You have spoken about the future of the house of Your servant. You have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men, O Lord God.’” 1 Chronicles 17:16-17
There are a few times in the Scriptures where we ‘overhear’ the prayers of various people. Listening to someone pray tells you a lot about their character. Here we have a prayer of David after he was told by the Lord that his dynasty would endure forever. We read how he sat before the Lord in amazement at this promise – it seems that he could hardly believe it.
David demonstrates great humility here. He never forgot where he had came from, the depths from which God raised him up: the youngest son of a man living in the hick town of Bethlehem, doing a menial job in tending sheep, spurned by his brothers, but having a simple faith in God. And God raised him up from there to be king over Israel. Yet even then, David did not see himself as being mighty or exalted or special – he calls himself God’s servant. Even as king, David lived a life of service in leading the people.
These are important lessons that we too should learn. When you stop and reflect on how great and awesome God is, and realise how insignificant you are in comparison, then you will be able to develop humility. When you realise that all you are is only because of what God has done for you, you’ll have the same attitude that David has here. If, like me, you’ve grown up in a Christian home and have always known the Lord, you can reflect on what your life might have become if you hadn’t known Him.