2 Samuel 7:18

DAVID AT PRAYER

‘Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord, and said,’ etc.

2 Samuel 7:18

We are chiefly concerned with the matter of David’s prayer.

We have said that he was alone with God. Consequently we find here much as to David, but even more as to God.

I. Now see what David says of himself.—‘Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that Thou hast brought me hitherto?’ His tone was very humble. He owed nothing to himself or to his parentage.

‘Is this the manner of man, O Lord God?’ He does not assume, as some do, to understand the philosophy of God’s actions (19). The words are not quite clear, but they probably mean either that God’s ways are not man’s ways (‘And this is the law of man’), or that he was amazed that this decree (16) should be made for such weak human beings as himself and his descendants. ‘Can this be the kind of man God chooses?’ As the old saint cried, when wave upon wave of Divine communion rolled over his soul, ‘Why me, Lord, why me?’

But he accepted at once the honour put upon him. ‘What can David say more unto Thee? for Thou, Lord God, knowest Thy servant.’ There is no true modesty in shrinking back, as Moses did at first when he was called in the wilderness. It is always safe to be in the way of God’s appointing.

For David saw now (19, 21) that he was an instrument in God’s hands. ‘For Thy word’s sake, and according to Thine own heart, hast Thou done all these things, to make Thy servant know them.’ God was fulfilling Himself. He is faithful to His promises and to His purposes.

One more point as to himself. Humble, not pretending to understand God’s dealings; meekly accepting these great honours which were laid upon him; recognizing that he was simply an instrument in God’s hands, David saw also that if he and his son were to be established upon the throne it would have to be by their remaining close to God. See how he links these two together. ‘Let Thy name be magnified, and let the house of David be established before Thee.’ Had David always lived ‘more nearly as he prayed’ his reign would have been even more glorious than it was.

II. Notice, again, what David says here as to God.—Much may be learned from the titles with which he addresses God. ‘O Lord God.’ Wherever God is thus printed in small capitals it represents the sacred name of Jehovah. From very ancient times the Jewish practice in reading the Scriptures has been to substitute in place of Jehovah Adonai, which means my Lord, or Lord; or if the title Adonai is joined with Jehovah, as here (v. 18), Elohim which means God. The English version follows the Jewish practice in giving Lord and God, and whenever they represent the name Jehovah indicates the fact by the use of capitals, ‘Lord God,’ which represents ‘my Lord Jehovah,’ must therefore be disguished from ‘Lord God’ (v. 25) which represents Jehovah Elohim, i.e. ‘Jehovah God.’ ‘O Lord God’ (18) ‘O Lord God’ (22), ‘their God’ (24), ‘The Lord of hosts’ (26), here are the names which David uses.

Briefly, we may sum up the principal points as to what David says about God.

He recognises God’s supremacy (22), His universal government (23–25), His glory (‘let Thy name be magnified,’ 26), His special and personal care for David (27), and His sure faithfulness (28, 29). It is natural to ask, Were these great promises made to David and to his descendants fulfilled? Literally, they were not. They were made conditional (14), and the conditions were broken. But the spiritual kingdom was established in the person of Christ. ‘Great David’s greater Son.’ ‘Unto the Son He saith, Thy Throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom.’ It is impossible to do full justice to this prophecy without going through David to Him Who, while He was David’s Son, was also David’s Lord. This is a good time in which to say a word or two as to prayer. For one thing, is it not in the highest degree reasonable? David comes at once into living contact with his best friend, with the Lord of hosts, with the Governor of the whole universe. Prayer links him in with all that is best and wisest and strongest in earth and heaven. But was not David disappointed when the answer to his dearest wish was made known to him? He was like Moses, who came to the borders of Canaan and yet entered not in. He did want to build the house for God himself. Prayer is not always answered as we expect or hope. We may say ‘to-day,’ but God may say ‘to-morrow.’ We may say ‘I,’ but God may say ‘thy son.’ If every letter were to be answered just as we expected, there would be no need for any answer at all. God’s appointments are often man’s disappointments. Take them where David took his, into the presence of God. The light which fills the hour of prayer is the only light in which to read God’s will concerning us.

Illustrations

(1) ‘Notice two things about David praying: (1) He went direct to God. Nathan, who appears now for the first time, was a pure-hearted, fearless man, “the hope of the new generation,” but when David prayed he did not call in Nathan. In the great emergencies of life prayer is personal and private. It belongs only to God and the soul. (2) David prayed in the accustomed place. “He went in.” Prayer anywhere may soon become prayer nowhere. He does not now remain in his house, but he goes into the sanctuary. It is well that many churches are open in the business hours of the week for any who desire a quiet minute or two just when the tide of life runs fastest.’

(2) ‘The main lesson of David’s prayer is that promise should ever be the basis and measure of prayer. The mould into which our petitions should run is, “Do as Thou hast said.” There is no presumption in taking God at His word. Let us seek to stretch our desires to the width of God’s promises, and to confine our wishes within their bounds.’

(3) ‘ “According to His own heart” (v. 20) God blesses me. I fancy that this second clause outruns and surpasses the first, glorious although the first is. The language of the lips cannot unveil all that lies in the soul; the promises of my Lord do not explain and exhaust His thoughts of peace: God’s heart is fuller, profounder, sweeter, more mysterious, more ineffable, than God’s word. Only heaven and the everlasting ages will reveal to me what He has planned and what he has gained for me in Jesus Christ, my “boundless and running over” Lord. Am I not a prince in the blood-royal of the skies?’