(26) Let thy name be magnified.—David here, in the true spirit of the Lord’s prayer, puts in the forefront of his petition the “hallowed be thy name;” and this is the striking feature of all his life, into whatever sins he may at times have been betrayed, that his main object was to live to the glory of God. read more
(27) Therefore hath thy servant.—The ground of the believer’s prayer must ever be the lovingkindness and promises of God. read more
(29) Let it please thee.—These words may be taken either in the optative, as in our Version, or better in the future, constituting a prophecy based upon the promise, “It will please thee.” Compare a similar possibility in the translation of the last clause of the Te Deum, “Let me never,” or “I shall never be confounded.”Several of the Psalms have been referred by various writers to this point in David’s life; but while many of them take their key-note from the promise now made, and which was... read more
The Message of the Second Book of Samuel 2 Samuel 7:7 The second book of Samuel does not contain any very definite divisions, but seems most naturally to fall into three parts. In the first, which includes chapters one to eight, we have the account of David's public doings. In the second section, containing chapters nine to twenty, we have the history of David's court life. At chapter twenty the third and closing section of the book begins. This section constitutes an appendix of... read more
CHAPTER IX.PROPOSAL TO BUILD A TEMPLE.2 Samuel 7:1-29.THE spirit of David was essentially active and fond of work. He was one of those who are ever pressing on, not content to keep things as they are, moving personally towards improvement, and urging others to do the same. Even in Eastern countries, with their proverbial stillness and conservatism, such men are sometimes found, but they are far more common elsewhere. Great undertakings do not frighten them; they have spirit enough for a... read more
4. The Lord’s Promise to David and the Covenant CHAPTER 7 1. David’s desire (2 Samuel 7:1-3 ) 2. Nathan receives the message for David (2 Samuel 7:4-17 ) 3. David in the presence of Jehovah (2 Samuel 7:18-29 ) We reach now a climax. The Lord speaks and reveals His great purposes He had in His eternal councils for David, the king after His own heart. We behold the king in peace sitting in his own house; he had rest from all his enemies. In pious meditation the heart of the king had but... read more
7:2 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within {a} curtains.(a) Within the tabernacle covered with skins, Exodus 26:7. read more
7:5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, {b} Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?(b) Meaning, he should not: yet Nathan speaking according to man’s judgment and not by the spirit of prophecy permitted him. read more
7:7 In all [the places] wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a {c} word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?(c) Concerning building a house: meaning without God’s express word, nothing should be attempted. read more
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Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Samuel 7:23
(23) Whom God went to redeem.—The word here used for God in this its usual plural form is always construed with a singular verb when it refers to the true God. Here the verb is plural, because the thought is, “What nation is there whom its gods went to redeem?”For you.—These words, which can only refer to Israel, seem strange in a prayer to God. They are omitted by the LXX., and changed into for them by the Vulg. If they are retained as they are, it must be understood that David for the moment... read more