2 Samuel 7:27

Prayer induced and encouraged by promise.

David gives the promise of God to him as a reason for praying that his house might be established forever. He intimates that otherwise he would not have found it in his heart to do so. In like manner, the promises of God to Christians incite and encourage them to pray for bestowments that they would not have otherwise ventured to ask for.

I. THE GREATNESS OF GOD 'S PROMISES . They set before us blessings so precious, vast, and enduring, that, apart from the declarations of God, we should never have dared to think of them as possible for us, or to pray for them. From the goodness and power of God in general we might have ventured to hope and pray for some blessings, hut not such as are now the common subjects of Christian prayer. Look in this view at some of the Divine promises, or declarations which are equivalent to promises.

1 . As to the believer himself. Promises as to:

2 . As to the future of the kingdom of God on earth. The attraction of all men to Christ; the universal spread of the knowledge, worship, and service of God; and consequently of peace, union, and brotherhood; obedience on earth to God's will as it is obeyed in heaven. In opposition to such a prospect is the whole history and experience of the world, with the exception of a small fraction; the depravity of mankind, the power of error, superstition, idolatry, priestcraft, old habits of wickedness, etc. Such a vision could never have appeared to men; or, if it had occurred to an active imagination, could never have been regarded as a matter for serious prayer and endeavour, if God had not given it by his prophets and by his Son.

II. THE EFFECT WHICH THESE PROMISES SHOULD HAVE ON OUR PRAYERS . They should:

1 . Impel us to pray. Not lead us to neglect prayer, as if the Divine purpose and promise superseded all need for prayer. "Thus saith the Lord God: I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them" ( Ezekiel 36:37 ). The blessings promised are for these who seek them.

2 . Enrich and enlarge our prayers. The measure in which we receive is according to the measure in which we desire and ask ( Luke 11:5-13 ; 2 Kings 13:18 , 2 Kings 13:19 ).

3 . Greatly encourage them. Leading us to pray with confidence and importunity. Petitions that would have been presumptuous without the promises are now sober and reasonable. We need not and ought not to be deterred either by:

Sufficient that they are the promises of God, and he