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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:18 - 7:29
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David's Prayer of Thanksgiving
v. 18. Then went King David in and sat before the Lord, he spent some time in the tent where the ark of the Lord's presence was; for it took him a long while to become familiar with the miraculous contents of the message announced to him; and he said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, his entire family, that thou hast brought me hitherto? He humbly acknowledged that all the blessings and benefits bestowed upon him by the Lord were expressions of His free love and mercy.
v. 19. And this, the wonderful external favors, 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? literally, "And this is the law of the man, namely, Lord Jehovah. " David not only understood that the Messianic prophecy was given to his family, that the eternal establishment of his house and kingdom, in the person of Messiah, was included in the prophecy which had come to him, but it was also clear to him that this singular descendant would, in His person, combine two natures, the human and the divine. Messiah, the true man, would at the same time be the Lord Jehovah.
v. 20. And what can David say more unto Thee? Human language is inadequate to convey the gratitude which filled his heart. For Thou, Lord God, knowest Thy servant.
v. 21. For Thy word's sake, the promise transmitted to him by Nathan, and according to Thine own heart, out of free grace and mercy, hast thou done all these great things, for David even now considered the promises fulfilled, to make thy servant know them.
v. 22. Wherefore Thou art great, O Lord God, in the Revelation of His grace toward all mankind; for there is none like Thee, neither is there any God beside Thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears, namely, of the great deeds whereby in the past God had revealed Himself to His people as such a God.
v. 23. And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, an emphatic statement of the singular position Israel enjoyed in the grace of Jehovah, 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? it is a short review of all the great and mighty wonders with which God had visited His people since He had chosen them for His own, down to the time when He had driven out the heathen of Canaan and their idols before Israel's victorious armies.
v. 24. For Thou hast confirmed to Thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto Thee forever; and Thou, Lord, art become their God. The Lord's free grace had been the source of the covenant which existed, and Israel's obedience was the condition of the continuance of this relation.
v. 25. And now, O Lord God, the word that Thou hast spoken concerning Thy servant, the special Messianic promise, and concerning his house, establish it forever, as Thou hast said, so that it would truly be fulfilled.
v. 26. And let Thy name be magnified forever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel, the almighty God, who rules heaven and earth, is the Defender and Protector of Israel. And let the house of Thy servant David be established before Thee.
v. 27. For Thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, literally, "hast uncovered the ear," by the announcement of Nathan, saying, I will build Thee an house; therefore hath thy servant found in his heart, gained the courage, to pray this prayer unto Thee; for out of the fullness of the heart his mouth spoke.
v. 28. And now, O Lord God, Thou art that God, the one true God, and Thy words be true, and Thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant.
v. 29. Therefore, now, let it please Thee to bless, rather, begin to bless, the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before Thee; having determined upon His course, the Lord is begged to set Himself to the fulfillment of His promise, to take it in hand speedily; for Thou, O Lord, hast spoken it, and with Thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed forever. David completes his prayer of thanksgiving by expressing his confident hope, his firm trust, that the word of the Lord will certainly come to pass. True faith clings to the promises of God and applies them to ourselves.