2 Samuel chapter 7, verse 18 through 25. Here is the second half of the chapter. We looked at the first half of the chapter last Sunday, and in the first half of the chapter was a pretty significant development in the history of Israel and the history of God's redemptive purposes and the making known of them, the revelation of them. Because in the first part of this chapter, it tells of how David was thinking of building God's house, a house for God, a temple. And while he was thinking of that, God sent him a message in which God promised to build and establish David's house. That is, David's dynasty, him and his descendants, particularly an offspring from David, to build God's house and reign forever. God would build David's house for the sake of his people Israel, to confirm him there, and also to raise up this offspring from David who would build the temple, who would build God's house, and who would reign forever over his people Israel. We spoke of last time how there is a type, an initial fulfillment through his son Solomon, who will build the temple in Jerusalem, but how that was foreshadowing the greater son of David, the offspring of David, Jesus Christ, God come in the flesh, who even now is building the temple of God of living stones, which house we are if we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. And so this is In the unfolding of God's covenant of grace as he makes it known throughout the Old Testament, this is a significant development as it points to, indeed, there was the promise of this offspring even back from Genesis 3, but now we see it more crystallized. We understand it better as we read through scriptures that there would be a king from the line of David who would be this savior, who would be the one to deliver, to shepherd, to build up god's people and is dwelling with his people now let's hear what david did in response in 2nd samuel chapter 7 verses 18 through 25 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. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Let us pray. O Lord our God, we indeed give praise to you. and praise you as the Lord of hosts, as God over Israel, as the faithful God keeping covenant from generation to generation, even unto eternity, through death itself, that you are our savior and our faithful. We ask that you would teach us through your word to grant us greater wisdom and to build us up in faith. We pray this in Jesus' name, amen. In this passage, we find David responding to God's word in prayer. How does he respond to this great revelation given to him through the prophet Nathan from the Lord? He goes and he prays before the Lord. And it says he went in and sat before the Lord. Probably what that means is he went into the tent where the Ark of the Covenant was put and sat there to pray. This is one of the few times where someone sits while he prays. We see a number of different postures in prayer in scripture. Sometimes they kneel, sometimes they stand. But I can think of, I think there's at least one other time besides this where they sit. That's not really the important part. King David goes in and sits and he prays. And the prayer takes up indeed the rest of this chapter. I think we can learn from this passage in two ways. It is an example of prayer, so it should teach you and me how to pray to God. It also further explains the Davidic covenant as David reflects upon it and prays according to it. As an example of prayer for us, you and I can learn, first of all, that prayer is our response to God's word. That as God gives us his word, you and I should respond. We shouldn't be heedless. We shouldn't just, oh, there's God's word. go along our way, we should respond to it. Of course, we should respond in obedience, but we should also respond in prayer, calling upon God to fulfill His Word. We, of course, do this in worship itself. As God speaks to us, we also respond in prayer, in spoken prayer, in sung prayer, in praise. We respond to God as he speaks to us. God, of course, has initiative here as he is the one to declare the covenant to David, and David responds in this prayer. Note also, like we mentioned in Sunday School this morning, that we are to take our encouragement in prayer from God. As David himself says, I have courage to pray this because you have promised. What is David's basis? What is his confidence in making this prayer? in the character of God and in the word that he had given. Prayer should take its encouragement from God, not from our worthiness, but his word given by his grace, his power, and his faithfulness. And we ought to desire his blessing as that which is good and will secure our blessing forever. Prayer should take its encouragement from God. Note also it's prayer for what God has promised. As we look at this prayer more closely, that is what David is praying for. He essentially is praying, as you have promised, so do it. So bless my house. When we've received promises from God, when we read the promises of God, let us ask God for the fulfillment of those promises. Note also in this prayer how David prays with humility and wonder. That's really the first part, as we'll see in this prayer. He is in awe. Who am I? Who are you? This is a wondrous thing. Who am I to receive this? And this is still a small thing for you. We should pray with humility before God, recognizing the greatness of his grace. And we should praise God as David praises Him for who He is and what He has done. As well as asking for Him, we should praise Him as well. And so this is an example of prayer for us. It's also further explaining what this covenant is that God has made, that He made known in this chapter. As David prays, we can see, as we saw last week, the continuity of the covenant as it's not discarding what God had done before, but building upon it. That David recalls how God had redeemed his people Israel out of Egypt and driven out the nation before them. And now God continues this same faithfulness in now blessing David's house. that there is an unfolding that is going on, that God is showing his faithfulness to the fathers now through this promise to David. We also see its connection with God's faithfulness to his covenant people, that it's not just about David, it's also about Israel as indeed the people that David Reigns over that is God's covenant people the one people right there is one people of God God has brought one people out of sin and misery in the Old Covenant Of course, that was the the nation of Israel But still that that spiritual Israel continues today as the church is the heirs of God's covenant promises and Our king is the Lord Jesus Note also its revelation of the Davidic reign over his people forever. That is kind of the advancement that we have in our understanding of God's covenant in this chapter, that there is a king to come from David's line. that will be blessed forever. Not simply speaking of Solomon or Rehoboam or the other kings who came and went, or even of a monarchy over one nation there, like these earthly kings reigned over a dynasty that in some ways fell. as the monarchy of Judah fell under the Babylonians, but rather the line kept on going, and what it had pointed to all along was fulfilled in Christ, the eternal son who became man, becoming a human descendant of David, that he reigns forever, being raised from the dead, never to die again, an eternal king. So there is an example for prayer for us, and also we further understand the covenant that is being made. So let's look at it in more detail then. First thing we find is David's wonder, and we find the praise of God, and then we find the petition, the prayer that is being asked for, that is being asked. So in first verses 18 through 21, we find David's wonder. David's wonder at this great promise. Notice David's humility and his reverence, his recognition that this came about all of grace, not because David was such a powerful or noteworthy figure, but because of God's promise and according to his heart. One thing you'll notice throughout this prayer is the name used for God. It's translated here as O Lord God. But you'll notice that the Lord is not all caps. It's the God that is all caps. What's going on there? Because usually if Lord is spelled with all capital letters, it's referring to God's name, sometimes transliterated as Jehovah, right? Well, when it says Lord God, that is an attempt to translate the words Lord Jehovah. The word that was often, Lord, is often used to describe Jehovah, but now the word Lord is used in front of the word Jehovah. So you don't say, Lord, Lord. They translate it as Lord God. But we could also say, Lord Jehovah. That's David is praying to him, his Lord, to bring these things about. Oh, Lord God. In fact, I read one commentary said that it's mentioned seven times. I didn't count it up myself. but it's found throughout this prayer. But he begins in verse 18 to say, who am I? Who am I? Who is David? David was a youthful shepherd in a little town of Bethlehem, and now he's come to be king over all Israel, and not only king over Israel, but now one who has a house and dynasty that will reign forever. Who is David to come to this greatness to receive this great promise. And so David is in wonder at it. It's a good question for us, too. Who am I to be exalted with Christ in the heavenly places? Who am I to receive these honors, not merely deliverance from hell, but even exaltation in heavenly glory with Christ? Who am I? From following sheep to be prince over God's people, Israel. with a house that goes forever. Verse 19 then contrasts it with the great power of Lord Jehovah. Not only who is David, but consider the Lord God who had made these promises. This great thing for David was yet a small thing for God, the God who created heavens and the earth with his word. Who is he to look down upon the lowly David and to bring him up out of the dust to glory, and yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God." So again, David is wondering at it. In verse 20, the emphasis is on the knowledge of Lord Jehovah, that he knows his servants, David. What else can I say? You know me. What more can David say to you? You know your servant, O Lord God. Again, he's in wonder at this work, which is all the more wondrous, first of all, when we know that God knows us. He is not deceived by appearances. He knows the heart, and it also is grounds for humility. that God knows all things, that God is sovereign and powerful. He is not someone who would be gullible, that we would be able to trick. No, he is the one who knows all things and has shown us this greatness, this glory, this grace. And verse 21 then reflects on God's promise and heart. because of your promise. And according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness to make your servant know it. that this is God's choice, that He has chosen to bring this about and also to reveal it to David, to know it. We should be grateful both for the content of God's promises that He has decided to make, that He didn't have to make, and also His revelation of them to us, that we might be comforted, that we might be strengthened. And so we should approach God with wonder when we meditate upon His covenant, when we meditate upon His will and deeds of redemption. The next part of this passage then in verses 22 through 24 speak of the praise of God, or I should say David praises God in these verses 22 through 24. Of course, he had already begun to praise God as he had noted in wonder at this great thing that had been done. But here in verse 22, he praises God for who he is. Verses 23 through 24, praises him for what he had done. In verse 22, therefore you are great to the Lord God. There is none like you and there is no God besides you according to all that we have heard with our ears. So Lord Jehovah is great. He is unique. There is none like him. Is there anyone like God? Is he just, you know, one grade bigger than the next biggest guy? No. You can line up a bunch of men and see this person's a little taller, this person's a little taller, but that's not how we compare with God. God is utterly distinct from all that he has made, eternal and unchangeable. Holy, holy, holy, we are to resemble His holiness, but who is like God, eternal, without end, unchangeable, infinite? There is none like Him. There is no God besides Him. He alone is God. Not simply that He alone is our God, that we only have one God, and we should only have one God, but He also is the only God, the only true God. And this is made known. The reference there to what we have heard with our ears is not to say, well, as far as we know, you're the only God, but he's pointing out that not only are you the only God, but what we have heard testifies to this. We see it everywhere. We see it in your creation. We see it in your dealings with your people, right? These truths about God, we have heard with our ears. What Lord, what God of any people is like our God? In verses 23 through 24, then, he moves to praise of God for his dealings with Israel. There's no people like God's people. And that redounds to the glory of God. They are a people set apart. God's people is holy. He has set them apart. The one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people. Remember what Peter says in the New Testament, you are that holy nation. You who are once not a people are God's people. And that those who come to Christ, the cornerstone, whether Jew or Gentile, are that people that God has redeemed. And that is unto the glory of God, that he went to do it. He took this initiative in his grace to bring us, redeeming us from the house of bondage. And as David reflected upon how this had been done in the past, in the Exodus, he says that God had made himself a name. in doing this. What does that mean? It means that he had made himself a reputation, right? He had gained glory in doing this. The nations would know, people like Rahab, right? This God is not one to be despised. He had done these great things for his people. He had humbled the might of Egypt, right? This redounded to his glory, his fame. He did for them great and awesome things. Not only that, but then he drove out a nation and its gods from before them. That is, driving out the Canaanites. They melted before them as they came into the land with Joshua. Verse 24 is important. And you established for yourself your people, Israel, to be your people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God. This is a reference to how God confirmed his covenant with the people of Israel. That even as he's reflecting upon his promises to David, also continues to remember the promises made, indeed, to the whole people. When we think about Israel's history going forward, you know, you could question, were the people under the Davidic Covenant or under the Mosaic Covenant? Well, it's kind of like asking, was Joshua under the Abrahamic Covenant or the Mosaic Covenant? Well, the Mosaic covenant was added on to the Abrahamic covenant, or it's, you know, a further expression of the same covenant of grace. Circumcision continued on. It was not taken away. Same with the Davidic covenants. God was continuing to be faithful to his promises to Israel. And now that is further expressed by setting up over them a king to deliver them. That was not to replace what came before, but to further express and reveal what came before. And the same thing happens with the New Covenant, except that the outward expressions, the ordinances, now are changed because Christ himself died, and so those symbolic ordinances are taken away and enduring. simpler, clearer, more powerful ones are put in place. But the same principles of salvation, of grace through faith in Christ continues to endure. So God had established for himself his people. He had The central aspect of the covenant is that the Lord became their God, though they were sinners, though that they were unable, even if it was on the basis of their good works, it would not have even gotten started, because by the best of their works, they could not have atoned for the sins they had already committed. It would be only by God's grace in Christ that He could make sinners His people. He had taken them to be His own. And so this is to the praise of God. Let the Lord Jehovah be praised for who He is. God, the only God, and the God of His people. A gracious God who keeps covenant, who saves His people. This is also a basis for the following petition. God's greatness, his uniqueness, his divinity, grace, power, great name, covenant. These are all David's grounds for confidence and reasons in support of his prayer, that this God now will keep his promise that he has made to me. And so as he praises God for these things, he's going to get, and now, you God, who is this way, follow through on your promises and bless my house. And so we come to the last section, verses 25 through 29. And now, David gets to his petition, his request. And he states it twice, and he does so in different ways. First in verses 25 through 27, and then in verses 28 through 29. So in verse 25, he says, Oh Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house and do as you have spoken. So another pretty simple request, what you promised to do, do it. David is praying that God would Indeed, establish his reign over Israel, and also to raise up this offspring from David, who would reign forever and build God's house. Bring these things to pass, is what David is praying for. May it please you to bless the house of your servant. Oh, that phrase is actually from later on. Confirm forever the word that you have spoken. So what his prayer is. And now he reinforces that with arguments, as we spoke of earlier in verse 26. One reason for God to do this is that as a consequence, your name will be magnified forever. That people will magnify the Lord, saying, the Lord of hosts is God over Israel. And the house of your servant David will be established before you. So as God carries out this promise, that he will be exalted. So all the more reason for him to fulfill his word. That he will show his faithfulness to Israel by establishing the house of David. And in verse 27, he states that Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you because you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant. I will build you a house. So David is resting upon the promise that God had made and asking him to fulfill it. And that is where he gets courage to ask for these things, which he would not have been so bold to ask, not with this confidence and courage on his own. Then again, he asks in verse 29, a similar request. Now, therefore, may it please you to bless the house of your servants so that it may continue forever before you. Basically the same petition as before, but the earlier petition was saying, do what you have promised. And now he's taking up the actual content of what was promised and saying, do that. Bless the house of your servants so that it may continue forever before you. In verse 28, right before that, he laid together again an argument for it. He states several premises that all together lead to this conclusion. He says, the Lord Jehovah is God, His words are true, and He has promised this good thing to David. So if all those things are true, then he will bring these things to pass. You are God, you are all powerful, you are gonna be able to do this. Your words are true, you would not lie. Whatever you have said, you will be true to. And you have promised your servant that you will do this particular good thing. So you'll be true to it, you're able to do it. Therefore, bless the house of your servant that it might continue before you forever. And then in verse 29, at the end of it, he asked that God would bless David's house since the Lord God had spoken. And with his blessing, David's house would be blessed forever. In other words, your blessing is the one that counts. With your blessing, it'll be blessed forever. This is a valuable thing, therefore I ask for it. So God's promises should give you courage to pray for what is promised. Now, if I promised my children that when we got home, I would give them chocolate, What do you think they would ask me for when we get home? They would probably ask me for chocolate, right? Yeah. I don't want to give you ideas there. But if I promised them something, they would be more bold to ask for it when the time came. Well, likewise, when God gives us promises, when God has promised to establish the reign of his son forever, this is reason for us to ask God to bless the reign of David's son. When he has promised these things, that doesn't mean, oh, so we don't have to worry about that. I don't have to think about it. No, it's all the more reason we should pray earnestly to see these things brought to pass. That we might pray that God's kingdom of grace be advanced and ourselves and others brought into it and the kingdom of glory be hastened. For he has promised these things. This prayer is still relevant for us today. For Jesus is the promised son of David. We can pray these things with ever more clarity. You notice how in Psalm 72, part of that psalm, it said, let prayers be made for him, right? We should pray that God advance the kingdom of his beloved son. We should pray for the cause of Christ. Jesus is the heir of the promise made to David. In fact, David all along was a type of Christ. And indeed, Christ was David's savior. Let us continue to pray to God that he would bless the house of David, that he would extend the kingdom of his beloved son, that he would bring it about that all kings fall before him and all nations serve him, and that blessings abound where'er he reigns. Look to the promises of God concerning the kingdom of Christ and pray for them. Let your eschatology drive your prayer. Let your beliefs about the promises of God and His covenant be expressed in the way you pray before Him, as it was with David. And so learn from this example for prayer, your humility, your response to God's word, taking encouragement from God, and also see here further explanation about this covenant, this covenant of grace, which God has made that we too might be redeemed, part of this redeemed people, a covenant of grace and redemption in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Let us pray. O Lord God, we indeed come to you, acknowledging our weakness, our sins. Who are we to be brought to honor and glory? And yet we call upon you, coming to your throne of grace, asking for help in time of need, asking for, indeed, your promises to be fulfilled. We desire to see the kingdom of Christ flourishing in grace and glory, in righteousness and salvation. We desire to see your churches full. We desire to see your church purified. We desire to see your ways being done and practiced everywhere, all over the earth. We ask that you would bring all rulers and nations, peoples and families to come to Christ to kiss the Son. We pray, Father, that you would do this more and more and that we might see it in our lifetime and be comforted by your grace at work. We pray, Father, that you would advance the kingdom of your beloved Son and to bless us in it. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.