Homiletic Review 2 Samuel 7:18-19 Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house… The plan of David to build a "house magnifical" for Jehovah was not approved. Man proposes; God disposes. We think we know; but God knows better. The Divine veto was conveyed to him as gently as possible; it was coupled with a great promise, "Thy house and thy kingdom shall be established before thee." 1. On receiving this communication the king left his cedar palace, went into the weather-beaten tabernacle, and "sat before the Lord." The season of silent prayer is of inestimable value. Some of our deepest feelings are more readily expressed in silence than in words. A hand-clasp has volumes in it. Our Lord never preached a more impressive sermon to Peter than when He "turned and looked on him." So in our communion With God we may sometimes make known our most earnest desires without a word (1 Samuel 1:13-15). 2. Then David pours out his soul in thanksgiving. He makes audible acknowledgment of God's goodness in taking him from the sheepfold and setting him up as the head of a royal line; and in his promises of goodness "for a great while to come." His gratitude finds its climacteric expression in the words, "There is none like Thee; neither is there any God beside Thee." One thing is clear: God loves to be thanked for His goodness. Observe how the importance of thanksgiving is emphasised in the Scriptures (Psalm 95:2). Paul enjoins the Philippians to "make known their requests with thanksgiving unto God" (Philippians 4:6). Possibly our prayers would be more effectual if they were more frequently winged with praises. The filial spirit, without which there can be no true approach to the mercy-seat, suggests a due recognition of the Father's goodness. 3. Then David's prayer: "Let the house of Thy servant David be established before Thee." This was in pursuance of a covenant. God on His part had promised to perpetuate the Davidic line; David on his part had promised faithfulness. The plea, in the present instance, was but a reminder: "Do according to thy word!" The unit of church membership, now as in the Old Economy, is the household. Every Christian head of a family has a covenant with God, in which salvation is promised "to thee and thy seed after thee." The same law is over all God's people; but some fall short of their privilege in refusing to claim it. The man who has no family altar, for example, can scarcely put God in remembrance of His covenant. If we want our households saved, let us cover them with a constant canopy of intercession; saying often, like David, "O Lord, thou hast promised! Thou hast promised!" 4. The prayer of David was answered gloriously. (1) The sovereignty of Judah was continued in his line until the beginning of the Christian era (Genesis 49:10). (2) Then came Christ, of the Davidic line. In His triumphal entry He was greeted, "Hosanna! Hosanna to the Son of David!"(3) The Davidic covenant is thus bound up with the destinies of the Christian Church. (Homiletic Review.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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? |
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