2 Samuel 7:18-29

David's Response to the Lord's Will. 2 Samuel 7:18-29

18 Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

19 And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord God?

20 And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord God, knowest thy servant.
21 For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.

22 Wherefore thou are great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

23 And 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?

24 For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, Lord, art become their God.

25 And now, O Lord God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.

26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.

27 For thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee a house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.
28 And now, O Lord God, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

29 Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

14.

What caused David's thanksgiving? 2 Samuel 7:18

Even though he was not allowed the blessed privilege of building the temple, David knew that he had received great blessings from the hand of Jehovah. Had not God promised him that his kingdom should last forever? Therefore had David taken a place in the tent in Jerusalem that he had placed there for the housing of the ark and rendered up to God a song and prayer of thanksgiving. His background was one of humble origins, but he had risen to a place of national and international prominence.

15.

Why did David sit before the Lord? 2 Samuel 7:18

David's gratitude for all the blessings of God overwhelmed him. He would not be allowed to go into the tabernacle proper and probably sat by the altar which was outside the temporary tent erected to house the Ark. Sitting is not the usual attitude of prayer in the Old Testament. The oriental mind does not see anything inappropriate in it, as is evidenced by the Mohammand ritual; where it is one of several postures. The Coptic Christians also practice this kind of posture. The fact that David was sitting would indicate that he may have been meditating as well as praying the prayer which is recorded. He may have spent quite an extensive time in rendering this thanksgiving to God.

16.

Why did David call this a small thing in God's sight? 2 Samuel 7:19

David had a faith in God that was deep and abiding. He thought that God could do whatever pleased Him. It was a great thing to David, but nothing was impossible with God. God had not only cared for David in the immediate past, but He had also revealed to him the future. Martin Luther saw in this verse, an indication of the mystery of the incarnation as David said, and is this the manner of man, O Lord God? Certainly the virgin birth of Jesus Christ was not the manner of men.

17.

Why did David say no more? 2 Samuel 7:20

David did not make a long speech or prayer. The heart of a true worshipper is revealed without much speaking. David was overwhelmed by the revelation that was given to him and in a sense was left rather speechless. He simply said for God to do that which was best. He believed that God knew him even better than he knew himself.

18.

How could this be for God's word's sake? 2 Samuel 7:21

The word of God is true. God honors His word. Mankind should learn that when God speaks, man should listen. No word of God has ever yet been broken. Jesus said that heaven and earth would pass away, but His word would never pass away (Matthew 24:35). If God made a prediction about David's house and the prophecies came true, then God's word would be established. David viewed these things as coming to pass in order that God might demonstrate the veracity of His word.

19.

What was David's concept of God? 2 Samuel 7:22

David viewed God as being a great God. He expressed his faith in the fact that there is none like God. As a matter of fact, he did not believe that there was any God except the Lord God of Israel. David was a monotheist through and through. He had no images, as far as we have any record. He was not led astray, as was Solomon, to worship other gods. The faith of David was outstanding, pure, and deep. His faith was based on what he had heard. The faith of the fathers had been handed down to the children from generation to generation. David had experienced many manifestations of God in his own life. These things had led him to have the faith which he possessed.

20.

What was Israel's position? 2 Samuel 7:23

David believed that there was no nation as blessed as Israel. God had redeemed His people out of difficult times. He wanted a people for His own possession. By this He had made him a name. As other nations viewed the fortunes of Israel, they would come to the logical conclusion that God was blessing His people. This would bring many people to worship the God of Israel. God had done many great and terrible things for Israel. He had redeemed them from Egypt; they had been spared from many nationssuch as the Amalekites, Edomites, Ammonites, and Philistines. None of the superstitious practices of people who believed in false gods had been able to stop the advance of Israel. Israel was unique.

21.

What was God's purpose in all this? 2 Samuel 7:24

As Israel came out of Egyptian captivity, God said that He was to make of them a nation of priests (Exodus 19:6). They were to be a peculiar treasure unto God. God was looking forward to the time when they would say that they were God's people and that He was their God. This was the tragedy of the circumstances in the days of Hosea. They had turned their backs on God, and God had said to them that they were not His people. He said, furthermore, that He would not be their God (Hosea 1:9). Throughout the intervening years, God has been wooing people. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. His activities look forward to the time when they can say in truth that the tabernacle of God is with men, that He will dwell with them, that they shall be His people, and that God Himself shall be with them and be their God (Revelation 21:3).

22.

What was David's final prayer? 2 Samuel 7:25

David concluded his prayer by beseeching God to fulfill the promises that He had made. He prayed that the name of God might be magnified forever (2 Samuel 7:26). He saw this being fulfilled as people would say, the Lord of Hosts is the God over Israel. David did not have overweening ambitions for himself. He put God first, He would not reject God, as the people had rejected Him when they asked for a king to rule over them (1 Samuel 8:7). David prayed that it might be understood that the Lord God Himself was the ruler of Israel. He put himself second and then prayed that his house might be established forever before God.

23.

What assurance did David have? 2 Samuel 7:27

David rested his hope in the word of God. He said that God had revealed these things to His servant, and it was this that had given him confidence to pray his prayer to God. His final petition was that the words of God be found true (2 Samuel 7:28). As far as David was concerned, the fulfillment was as sure as the nature of God was true. God could not lie (1 Samuel 15:29 and Hebrews 6:18). What God had spoken to David was sure to be fulfilled.