“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?”
The full verse · 2 Samuel 7:23 · KJV
And what in the is like thy , even like , whom to for a to himself, and to him a , and to for you great and , for thy , thy , which thou to thee from , from the and their ?
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionDavid asks to magnify God’s incomparability by rehearsing His redemptive acts, turning theology into worship and inviting God to delight in His own glory manifest in Israel’s election.
The Response
What Scripture recordsGod does not verbally reply to this question. David’s prayer continues in verses 25–29 with petitions grounded in God’s promises, and the narrative then shifts to David’s military victories in chapter 8, implicitly affirming God’s covenant faithfulness through His blessings.
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyDavid asks not to gain information but to express wonder, using a rhetorical question that assumes no rival exists to Israel or Israel’s God. The question is structured around the Hebrew mi kamocha, “who is like,” a formula of incomparability found throughout Israel’s worship tradition (Exodus 15:11). By framing his praise as a question, David engages God dialogically rather than merely reciting facts, inviting the Lord into the joy of His own uniqueness. The question amplifies the theological weight of election and redemption, underscoring that God’s choice of Israel was gracious initiative, not earned merit. David’s awe is not abstract; it is rooted in historical acts, the Exodus foremost, where God demonstrated His power and commitment in ways no other deity could replicate.
Rehearse what God has done, not just what you need Him to do. David transforms his prayer into worship by recounting God’s past redemption, reminding himself of divine faithfulness before making new requests. When anxiety about the future threatens, catalog God’s completed acts of grace in your life and in Scripture. Psalm 77:11–12 models this: “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.” Let gratitude for past deliverance fuel confidence for present challenges, and let your requests rise from a foundation of praise rather than panic.
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