Something in David’s prayer in 1 Chronicles 17 gives me a “warm fuzzy” this morning. Touches my heart. Puts a smile on my face. Thanksgiving on my tongue. A song on my lips.

David, wants to build a permanent house for the God who has, “moved with all Israel”, going from “tent to tent and from dwelling and dwelling” (17:5-6a) since they left Egypt. But the Lord says, in effect, No thanks — I’ll ask your son to do it. Instead, says the God of surprises and 360’s, “The LORD will build you a house”. Your throne shall be a forever throne, and that through a son whose reign shall be established forever (17:11-14). A promise which pointed to Solomon, but will ultimately be fulfilled in Jesus, the promised Messiah, the son of David, the Son of God.

As David noodles on the revelation, he sits before the LORD and asks, “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?” (17:16). As he processes, he prays. As he synthesizes, he supplicates. As he is filled with wonder, he worships.

“There is none like You, O LORD, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And who is like Your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be His people, making for Yourself a name for great and awesome things, in driving out nations before Your people whom You redeemed from Egypt? And You made Your people Israel to be Your people forever, and You, O LORD, became their God.”

(1Chronicles 17:20-22 ESV)

Who is like Your people? That’s what exploded on my meditation palette this morning.

There is none like our God. Given. No debate among those who have been translated from darkness into light. No doubt for those who have come to know the Father through the Son by the Spirit. There is no God besides You, our God.

But there is also none like us. Yet for different reasons.

God is a being like no other because He is before any other. He defies comparison for He created all things we might compare Him to. He defies comprehension, for He is the source of all things. He is above all others for He is holy, holy, holy — separated in glorious unimaginability, unlike all others.

But God’s people are unlike any other people not because of who we are, but because of what we are — redeemed! Redeemed from bondage and slavery. Redeemed through divine intervention and the mighty hand of God. Redeemed to be His people. Redeemed to show He is a God of great and awesome things. Unlike any other people, because He has chosen us to be His people, and to be His people forever.

Who is like Your people? No people!

Are they perfect? Nope, not in themselves. Oh, but they are holy and righteous, soon to be presented without spot or blemish in Christ. How come? Because they have been redeemed! Bought with a price. Purchased by the blood.

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever, I am.

Redeemed and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence
With me doth continually dwell.

I think of my blessed Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long;
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.

I know I shall see in His beauty
The King in whose law I delight,
Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,
And giveth me songs in the night.

Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed
His child, and forever, I am.

~ Fanny Crosby, 1882

There is none like our God. And there is none like us.

Trophies of God’s amazing and abundant grace. On display for all to see–on earth and in heaven–so that ” the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known” (Eph. 3:10) for His glory.

Doesn’t that give you a “warm fuzzy?” Doesn’t that put a smile on your face and thanksgiving on your tongue? Doesn’t that put a song on your lips? I’m thinkin’ . . .