1 Chronicles 14:1-7: a reflection

1Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, masons, and carpenters, to build him a house. 2David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, for his kingdom was highly exalted, for his people Israel’s sake. 3David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David became the father of more sons and daughters. 4These are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

As David's kingdom is established and Hiram of Tyre sends help to build him a house, David draws the right conclusion about his rising fortunes: David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, for his kingdom was highly exalted, for his people Israel's sake. He did not credit his exaltation to himself, or see it as merely for his own glory; he perceived that it was God who had established him, and that his exaltation was for the sake of his people, not merely for himself. He rightly read his rising fortunes as God's doing, and for others' good.

Notice two things David perceived about his exaltation: that it was God's doing, and that it was for his people's sake. He did not take the credit for his rising fortunes himself, as though he had achieved them; he perceived that God had established him. And he did not see his exaltation as merely for his own glory or benefit; he perceived it was for the sake of his people. He read his position rightly: given by God, and for the good of others, not merely for himself. His exaltation was God's gift, and for a purpose beyond his own glory.

That right reading of position is worth taking to heart, for we can misread our own standing, crediting it to ourselves and using it for ourselves. When we rise, when our fortunes are good, when we gain some position or standing, we can credit it to our own achievement and see it as for our own glory and benefit; but David perceived that his exaltation was God's doing, and for his people's sake. Read your own standing rightly, as David did: as God's doing, not merely your own achievement, and as given for the good of others, not merely for your own glory. Whatever position or standing you have is God's gift, and given for a purpose beyond yourself, the good of others; do not credit it to yourself alone or use it merely for your own glory, but see it, as David did, as established by God and for the sake of others.

Lord, as David's kingdom is established and Hiram of Tyre sends help to build him a house, David draws the right conclusion about his rising fortunes: David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, for his kingdom was highly exalted, for his people Israel's sake. He did not credit his exaltation to himself, or see it as merely for his own glory; he perceived that it was you who had established him, and that his exaltation was for the sake of his people. He rightly read his rising fortunes as your doing, and for others' good. Show me two things David perceived about his exaltation: that it was your doing, and that it was for his people's sake. He did not take the credit for his rising fortunes himself; he perceived that you had established him. And he did not see his exaltation as merely for his own glory; he perceived it was for the sake of his people. He read his position rightly: given by you, and for the good of others. Take that right reading to my heart, for I can misread my own standing, crediting it to myself and using it for myself. When I rise, when my fortunes are good, when I gain some position, I can credit it to my own achievement and see it as for my own glory; but David perceived that his exaltation was your doing, and for his people's sake. Help me read my own standing rightly, Lord, as David did: as your doing, not merely my own achievement, and as given for the good of others, not merely for my own glory.