One of the traits that made David a Man After God’s Own Heart was his realization that the strength of his throne and his whole life was the Lord his God.  God actually told him so himself in 1 Chronicles 17.7-8: “Thus says the LORD of hosts,  I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel, and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you.  And I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.”

The Chronicler had a clear picture of the situation (14.17): “And the fame of David went out into all lands, and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.”

And David knew the favor had been true forever, as he included the following thoughts in his thanksgiving song after the Ark was moved to Jerusalem (16.19-22).  Speaking of the nation of Israel, David sang, “When you were few in number, and of little account, and sojourners in [the land], wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, saying, ‘touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!’”

Just as it was true for David, so it is true for us.  Jesus explains in John 15.5: “I am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” Good to know it, and even better to believe it.