Thou, Lord. God, knowest thy servant. The Hebrew throughout has Lord Jehovah, except in 2 Samuel 7:22 , 2 Samuel 7:25 , where it has "Jehovah God," the title of Deity used in Genesis 2:1-25 . The repeated use Of this covenant and personal name of God is very emphatic; and the appeal to Jehovah's knowledge of his heart reminds us of similar outpourings of David's consciousness of his sincere devotion to his Maker, as for instance in Psalms 17:3 . read more
Unutterable thoughts and feelings known to God. God's knowledge of the heart, which is a terror to evil men who think upon it, is often a joy to his servants. "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee" ( John 21:17 ). So David, with his heart too full for adequate utterance, finds satisfaction in the thought that God knew what his thoughts and feelings were. I. THE FELT INADEQUACY OF LANGUAGE TO EXPRESS THE DEEPEST THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS OF... read more
For thy word's sake; In 1 Chronicles 17:19 we read, "For thy servant's sake." The phrase seemed, perhaps, to the Chronicler difficult, but it does not mean "because of thy previous promise," for no such promise had been given, but "because thou hast now said it." Nor does it imply pre-existing merit in David, but that God had now chosen to declare his will, and what was according to his own heart. It thus makes God's own good will and pleasure the cause of the great honours bestowed upon... read more
God's works and God's heart and words. David looks on those great things which God had promised him as if already accomplished, so great confidence had he in the power and faithfulness of the Promiser; and, conscious that they were due to no worthiness or power of his own, he acknowledges that all originated in the heart of God and were simply in fulfilment of his word, by which they had become known to himself. For the will and the work and the word he praises God. I. GOD DOES ... read more
Wherefore thou art great. God's goodness is to David a proof of his greatness, and he sees it displayed, not only in his dealings with himself, but also in the past history of the Jewish nation. There is in this a depth of evangelic piety. An unconverted heart would see the greatness of God in the majesty of creation, or in severe dealings with the impenitent. David saw it in acts of mercy and kindness. We look upon Elijah as the very type of sternness, yet he too recognized the presence of... read more
God surpassingly great and ever the same. "Wherefore," because thou doest these great things, extending on through the ages, and because thou canst and dost foresee and predict them, "thou art" manifestly "great" thyself, surpassing all others; the very God our fathers worshipped and have told us of. David's knowledge of God becomes to a greater degree personal insight and conviction through the new revelation with which he is favoured. It is well when living conviction as to God is... read more
And what one nation, etc.? The translation should be, And who is like thy people, like Israel, the one nation upon earth which God went to redeem for himself to be his people, and to make for him a name, etc.? Israel both was and remains to this day a nation unique in its history, both in those early dealings of God with it, and also in its later history and its marvellous preservation unto this day. It is remarkable that in this place the word for "God," Elohim, is followed by a verb... read more
The blessedness of God's people. The thought of the greatness of God, in contrast with other objects of worship, naturally leads to that of the happiness of the people to whom he has revealed himself, and on whose behalf he has shown his greatness by his works. Israel was thus blessed above all other nations; Christians inherit the same blessedness with large increase. The people of God are distinguished above all others by— I. THEIR REDEMPTION . ( 2 Samuel 7:23 .) 1 . The... read more
For thou hast confirmed. The word means "thou hast firmly and securely established Israel to "be thy people." This plainly refers to [he settlement in Canaan, now at last completed by David's victories, and not to the deliverance from Egypt. In the words that follow David recognizes the spiritual importance, not only of the permanent continuance of his house, but also of the empire given unto him. For Israel is now to be a people forever: and thou, Jehovah, art become their God. It is very... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:19
And is this the manner of man, O Lord God? Hebrew, and this is the law of man, O Lord Jehovah. In the parallel passage ( 1 Chronicles 17:17 ) the Hebrew has, "And thou hast regarded me according to the law of a man of high degree." The rendering of the Authorized Version here, which, by making the clause interrogative, implies a negative, gives absolutely no sense; but some commentators render, "And this is the manner of men, O Lord Jehovah," understanding thereby that God was acting... read more