2 Samuel 7:18-29 The unfathomable blessings of God

2 Samuel 7:18-29

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed,

“Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And now, Sovereign Lord, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord? 20 “What more can I say to you? You know what your servant is really like, Sovereign Lord. 21 Because of your promise and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known to your servant. 22 “How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you! 23 What other nation on earth is like your people Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and gods that stood in their way. 24 You made Israel your very own people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God. 25 “And now, O Lord God, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever. 26 And may your name be honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is God over Israel!’ And may the house of your servant David continue before you forever. 27 “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer to you because you have revealed all this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!’ 28 For you are God, O Sovereign Lord. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 And now, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you have spoken, and when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign Lord, it is an eternal blessing.

Background

God’s offer to build David an everlasting dynasty surpasses his wildest imagination. David’s response prayer is one of gratitude displaying greater passion to establish God’s kingdom for His honor and for the people of Israel. Today’s passage reminds us of God’s immense propensity to bless those who are passionate for Him and for His kingdom’s work. And the need to spend more time in prayer so that God’s will may be fulfilled in the world.

Observation

Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord? – David is pleasantly surprised by the way God responds to his offer to build Him a temple; for it is beyond his wildest imagination. David toys with the question: Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord? Is God always so generous and gracious to all? Nevertheless, David understands that God’s offer to build a perpetual dynasty for him is not mere reciprocity for his gesture but a design birthed out of God’s sovereign will: Because of your promise and according to your will, you have done all these great things.

How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you – David speaks of the uniqueness of the God of Israel as compared to the gods of the nations: We have never even heard of another God like you! David also speaks of the uniqueness of Israel in that they were chosen to be His people. God demonstrates His love for Israel by saving them from slavery in Egypt. He displays His mighty power by driving out the nations that stood in the way. David celebrates the special relationship Israel enjoys with God: You made Israel your very own people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God.

And now, O Lord God, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family – David responds to God’s promises in faith by affirming within his spirit the immutability of God’s word: Confirm it as a promise that will last forever. Nevertheless, David understands that God’s ultimate purpose is about Israel: so that everyone will say, ‘The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is God over Israel! Lastly, David proceeds to seal and pray God’s promises into fruition: For you have spoken, and when you grant a blessing to your servant.

Truth

1. Our relationship with God is a two-way street. As we display our love for God through concrete acts of adoration and worship, God reciprocates by blessing us with gifts from His Kingdom that money cannot buy. As we express our adoration towards God, God’s favor towards us increases. He blesses us with strong and righteous descendants and disciples; He imparts supernatural wisdom and faith to accomplish great things. David displays his love, reverence and appreciation towards God by offering to build God a temple. God expresses His favor for David by building him an everlasting dynasty. However, this is not a cold transaction of favors but reciprocity of the heart. As for David’s question: Do you deal with everyone this way, OSovereign Lord? In other words, does God initiate His love relationship with man, and reciprocates with greater blessings when man respond to His love? The answer is yes. God gave His Son unreservedly to forgive our sins and calls us His children. In the same vein, God is waiting for us to respond to His call to rule the Kingdom with glory. In Matthew 22, Jesus speaks of a parable where a king gave a wedding feast for His son and sends out invitations for his banquet. For those who received this invitation, many refuse to come and of those who came did not respect the king by dressing properly. As a result many are rejected from the Kingdom of God. Thus, Jesus says, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14.
2. Having received God’s promises, we must bring them into fruition through prayer. God’s promises must be brought into fruition by faith through prayer and obedience. Many believers suppose that since its God’s will to bless them, He will bring it to pass regardless of human participation. This is not true as evident in Jesus’ teaching concerning prayer, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” Matthew 6:10. In the case of David, he proceeds to pray into fruition of God’s promises to him: And now, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. God’s Kingdom work can only be accomplished with the participation of His children.

Applications

1. Is your relationship with God a passionate one or is it obligatory and transactional? Is there no genuine interest to know what is in the mind and the heart of God for you are perpetually occupied by the cares of life? Perhaps, it is time to let God speak His mind by reading the word daily. God is hardly silent although He may not be a Man of many words. Given time, the storms that are raging in our mind will pass, and we will be able to converse with Him face to face.
2. Spend more time praying about the God’s Kingdom business and God will grant you all that you need. Pray for your nation, that the citizens especially the youths may walk in righteousness, justice and humility. Pray for the governors of the nation that they may walk in righteousness and love for the people. Pray that God will send more disciples into the churches.

Dear Lord, thank you for calling me your son and give me the privilege to rule with you. Reveal more of yourself to me as I endeavor to develop my relationship with you. I do not need to worry over the cares of life for I know that you are in control. I pray that you send more disciples into the world to build your kingdom. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.