Read 2 Samuel 7:18–29
Questions from the Scripture text: Before Whom does David go sit (2 Samuel 7:18)? What two things does he ask? What kind of thing was it to bring him thus far (2 Samuel 7:19)? What has the Lord spoken of, for how long? What can’t David think of (2 Samuel 7:20)? What does Yahweh know? Why has He done all these things (2 Samuel 7:21)? What did He make His servant to know? What doesn’t exist (2 Samuel 7:22)? What makes Israel special (2 Samuel 7:23)? From what has He redeemed them? What has He made them (2 Samuel 7:24)? For how long? What has He made Himself to be unto them? What does David ask the Lord to do (2 Samuel 7:25)? What does David ask to be done forever (2 Samuel 7:26)? What does he ask would be established? What enables David to pray such a prayer (2 Samuel 7:27)? What is true (2 Samuel 7:28)? What have those words said? What does David ask that blessing his house would do (2 Samuel 7:29)? For how long? What enables him to ask for this?
David turns God’s words over to Him in astonished praise, 2 Samuel 7:18–24. He has no good reason for why the Lord would choose him (2 Samuel 7:18). The Lord’s answer is just that He chose him (cf. 2 Samuel 7:8). And he has no good reason for why the Lord would bring him thus far (verse 18). The Lord’s answer is just that He did (cf. 2 Samuel 7:9). And he has no good words of praise (2 Samuel 7:20) for such an astonishing promise as he has been made (2 Samuel 7:19, cf. 2 Samuel 7:12-16). And he has nothing to which to compare Israel (2 Samuel 7:23-24), since the Lord has been pleased to make permanent promises concerning them as well (2 Samuel 7:10-11).
In all of this, David’s astonishment and response flow directly out of what God has just said by His prophet. That teaches us something about how to receive and respond to the Word of God: that we ought to be amazed by what He says concerning His people and that His own words should form our praises unto Him.
David turns God’s words back over to Him in earnest prayer, 2 Samuel 7:25-29. He makes it clear that this is what he is doing by the introduction to the “petitions” portion of his prayer, “Now, O Yahweh God, the word which You have spoken […] do as You have said” (2 Samuel 7:25). And what Yahweh of hosts has revealed (2 Samuel 7:27a) is what puts it into His servant’s heart to pray (verse 27b).
When our prayers request what God has promised, we are helped to pray them for the sake of His glory. “Let Your name be magnified forever” (2 Samuel 7:26a) is the ultimate purpose of “let the house of Your servant David be established” (verse 26b). Because God is infinitely glorious, His righteousness demands that He infinitely exalt His glory. There is no greater argument that we can make in prayer, and no greater encouragement to ourselves as we pray, than that God is accomplishing His glory by this.
When our prayers request what God has promised, we are enabled to pray with absolute confidence. “Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness” (2 Samuel 7:28). What a glorious thing to be able to say! And, dear believer, when you are praying Scripture back to God, you can always say it!
When our prayers request what God has promised, we are enabled to pray with pleasure. We can pray “let it please You” (2 Samuel 7:29a) “for You, O Lord Yahweh, have spoken it” (verse 29b). And as the Spirit conforms us to Christ, what pleases Him will also please us. Such is His mercy that what pleases Him in verse 29 is “to bless […] with Your blessing […] blessed forever” (cf. verse 29). This was God’s disposition toward David in Christ, which means that it is His disposition toward all who are in Christ.
How have you been developing the skill of praising and praying directly from the words of God in Scripture?
Suggested songs: ARP119G “Keep Your Promise to Your Servant” or TPH521 “The Lord’s Prayer”
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