David's Prayer Series

Scripture

Last time we examined 2 Samuel 7:1-17. David had been settled in Jerusalem for some time. His beautiful palace had been built. One day he told Nathan the prophet that he wanted to construct a permanent building to house the ark of God. Nathan encouraged him to go ahead. But later that evening God told Nathan to tell David that David was not to construct a permanent building for the ark of God. Instead of David building a house for God, God was going to build a house for David. God did not mean a physical structure. God promised to build an eternal kingdom for David. God put it this way in 2 Samuel 7:16, “And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.” God’s promise is known as the Davidic covenant.

As soon as David heard what God was going to do for him, David responded in prayer. This is one of the most marvelous prayers in Scripture.

Let’s read about David’s prayer in 2 Samuel 7:18-29:

18 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? 19 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! 20 And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! 21 Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. 22 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. 23 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? 24 And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God. 25 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. 26 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. 27 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. 28 And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 29 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.” (2 Samuel 7:18-29)

Introduction

If you are a Christian, what do you find to be the most difficult thing to do as a Christian? Is it sharing the gospel with someone you don’t know? Is it sharing the gospel with someone you do know? Is it sharing your testimony of God’s grace in your life with fellow believers? Is it spending time each day reading your Bible? Is it worshiping God with fellow believers on the Lord’s Day?

I think that the most difficult thing to do as a Christian is prayer. I am not talking about praying before a meal. Or praying when we are in a crisis. Or praying for a loved one who is ill. Almost all of us do that. No, I am talking about spending time alone with God in focused prayer. That is difficult.

And yet, prayer is our lifeline to God. In prayer, we express to God what we think about him. In prayer, we confess to God our manifold sins. In prayer, we give thanks to him for his abundant mercies to us. And in prayer, we petition him for those things he has put on our hearts.

The Bible gives us several models for prayer. The best-known model for prayer is what is known as “The Lord’s Prayer,” although it really is “The Disciple’s Prayer.”

Another model for prayer is the prayer that David prayed after God made a covenant with him. In gratitude to God for his amazing grace to him, David prayed to God. We can be encouraged to pray better as we examine David’s prayer.