who we are

Today we read from 2 Samuel 9:1-11:27 in the One Year Bible. We read a heart-warming story of an old crippled man who is honored by King David. And the old man asks a very penetrating question that is echoed in other parts of the Bible. He asks "who am I, that the King would honor me so?"

We might find ourselves in a situation in our lives when we ask something like that, and it can go two different directions. I remember one time when I was working at a summer camp, there was some work in the sewer pond that needed to be done, and to my embarrassment I admit I told someone, "They don't pay me enough to go in there." I'm happy to say I learned better in the coming years, but at the time I was under the misapprehension that your dignity was determined by your pay grade.

That brings up the other direction it can go. Sometimes we ask ourselves, "Who am I that I have to do this?" This concept is often simply expressed as, "Why me??" On the other hand, we sometimes ask what the old man in the King David story did. "Who am I that God is honoring me like this?"

Well, CS Lewis was good at putting things in a memorable way. And he answered this question in a quote from Prince Caspian, "You come of the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve. That is both honour enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar, and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor on earth. Be content."

God, thanks for reminding us who we are.