Verses 25-29
3). Wonder at, and prayer for the fulfilment of, what YHWH’s purposes are for his house (2 Samuel 7:25-29 ).
David now prays with confidence that YHWH will fulfil what He has promised, simply because that promise is founded on His word to His servant, not on anything of His servant’s own deserving. His confidence is totally in God and what He has determined.
“ And now, O YHWH God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, confirm you it for ever, and do as you have spoken.”
Firstly he prays that YHWH will confirm for ever what He has promised and do as He has spoken, on the grounds that it is YHWH’s will for His house as revealed by His word of promise. He is relying on Him to fulfil His unmerited promise.
“ And let your name be magnified for ever, saying, ‘YHWH of hosts is God over Israel’ ”.
He next prays that YHWH’s Name will be magnified because all will be able to say, ‘YHWH of hosts is God over Israel’, and he can say that because he knows now that God will faithfully keep those who are His true people, so that their preservation is sure. This Israel includes, of course, the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16), the true Israel (John 15:1-6), the Israel which is made up of all who truly love Him and walk within His covenant. By entering into His covenant they become true Israelites (Exodus 12:48), as the writer to the Hebrews reminds us (Hebrews 8:6-13). Thus unbelieving Israel are excluded, and Gentiles who have become one with the true Israel by belief in Jesus Christ are included (Romans 11:17-28).
“And the house of your servant David will be established before you, for you, O YHWH of hosts, the God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.” Therefore has your servant found in his heart to pray this prayer to you.”
He again expresses his confidence that because of what God has said and promised he is now assured that his house will be established for ever, because it is YHWH Himself Who of His own free choice has said that He will build him a house. It is indeed because of that that he feels able to pray this prayer.
Note the emphasis on the fact that he can pray confidently because he does so on the basis of the promises of God. ‘And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will (because He has promised it) He hears us, and if we know that He hears us whatever we ask (which is in accordance with His will) we know that we will receive the petitions that we have asked of Him’ (1 John 5:14-15).
“ And now, O Lord YHWH, you are God, and your words are truth, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.”
His confidence lies in the fact that the Lord YHWH is God, and that God’s words are truth, a truth that can never be broken or gainsaid. Thus having promised this good thing to His servant, it is certain and sure, because His words are true.
“ Now therefore let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue for ever before you, for you, O Lord YHWH, have spoken it, and with your blessing let the house of your servant be blessed for ever.”
He finalises his prayer by asking that God will be pleased to bless his house (as God’s servant) as He has promised, so that it might continue for ever before Him. And he does it confident that it will be so because He has spoken it. Let His blessing therefore rest cause the house of His servant to be blessed for ever.
It was no light thing that God had promised David. Indeed it was so wonderful that as we have seen he has had to repeat himself two or three times while the wonder of it dawns on his soul. And it is because it is so wonderful that he has to keep reminding both himself and God that, while it seems too good to be true, it is certainly true, because God has promised it. His confidence is totally in the certainty that God must fulfil His word.
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