I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. 2 Samuel 12:7-8
This was part of the rebuke that Nathan the prophet delivered to David following his sexual liaison with Bathsheba. David had become presumptuous and took God’s blessings for granted. God, through Nathan, reminds David that he had protected him from Saul, made him king, provided him with wives and gave him a position of leadership over all Israel and Judah. Yet, by his actions, David said to God, “It’s not enough, I want more!” So David sent for Bathsheba and slept with her (11:4).
In God’s reprimand he goes on to say, “And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more” (verse 8). God doesn’t rebuke David for wanting more but rather for not asking for more!
David had stopped pursuing all God had for him. Perhaps David believed that since God had given him so much he couldn’t expect more. Perhaps he thought there were limits on God’s blessings or that he wasn’t worthy to receive any more.
Yet throughout the Bible we see God’s desire to bless his people. God wants to open the floodgates of heaven and pour out blessings (Malachi 3:10). God wants to give “a double portion” (Isaiah 61:7). God wants “to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). Jesus provides an overabundance of wine (John 2:1-10).
God always has more for us—more to give us, teach us, show us. But are we prepared to humble ourselves and ask?
