February 26

2 Corinthians 6:8‑9
DAVID’S desire to build a house for the Lord was recognized by God as good, and Nathan the prophet agreed at once that it would be an excellent thing to do. But both he and David had to learn that God’s thoughts are ofttimes different from those of the best and most well-intentioned men. David was not to build the house. That was to be the work of his son Solomon. This, however, did not cool his zeal or cause him to be less interested in the project. He manifested a truly subject spirit, and in his prayer, as he sat before the Lord (2 Sam. 7:18-2918Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? 19And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord God? 20And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord God, knowest thy servant. 21For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them. 22Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? 24For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, Lord, art become their God. 25And now, O Lord God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said. 26And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee. 27For thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. 28And now, O Lord God, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant: 29Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever. (2 Samuel 7:18‑29)), he gave vent to his deep appreciation of the grace God had shown toward him,
“When the Master of all the workmen
sent me into the field.
I went forth elate and happy, the tools of
His service to wield,
Expectant of high position, as suited my
lofty taste,
When lo! He set me to weeding and
watering down in the waste.
Such pottering down in the hedges! A
task so thankless and small!
Yet I stilled my vain ambition, and worked
for the Lord of all.
Till, meeker grown, as nightly I sank to
my hard-won rest,
I cared but to hear in my dreaming, ‘This
one has done his best.’
The years have leveled distinctions. There
is no more great or small;
It is only faithful service that counts with
the Lord of all.
And I know that tilled with patience, the
veriest waste of clod
Shall bring forth the perfect harvest,
planned in the heart of God.”