The God Who Promises: Daily Thoughts from 2 Samuel (9)

Some years ago I received a promise from God that He would take care of me and my family in consequence of a difficult career decision. It was such a comfort. And He has done exactly as He promised. Perhaps you have also received promises from God. What a joy it is that we have such a God who chooses to make and keep promises with us.

David is experiencing this promise-keeping God during his bid to build God a temple. God has said no, that his son will build it, but then promises David a perpetual dynasty. David’s response is amazing and instructive.

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD! Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. Therefore you are great, O LORD God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O LORD, became their God. And now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. For you, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.” (2 Samuel 7:18-29, ESV)

David’s response to Yahweh’s promise to make his kingship an everlasting one is to worship God, probably in front of the tabernacle, the tent, which he wanted to make into a temple. He addresses God as he sits before Him, a posture of remaining awhile in God’s presence. He uses several different names for God: “You are God” (Elohim), “Lord GOD” (Lord Yahweh, or perhaps better translated ‘sovereign Yahweh’, the word in all caps in our translations always a representation of God’s personal name, Yahweh), “LORD” (Yahweh), “LORD (Yahweh) of hosts, and “LORD God” (Yahweh Elohim). He is full of gratitude and marvels at Yahweh who brought him this far despite not really deserving it. He sees it as part of Yahweh’s big plan to redeem one people from all the nations of the earth to be His people.

David then turns around and asks for God’s blessing in terms of the very promise God just made to him. How do you know God will hear your request? When you pray according to His will (1 John 5:14).  He worships God for the promise and he uses the promise as the basis for his requests.

When God gives you a blessing how will you respond? When He uses you to accomplish good things for others, how will you pray? Here is your model.