18 And king David cometh in and sitteth before Jehovah, and saith, 'Who 'am' I, Lord Jehovah? and what my house, that Thou hast brought me hitherto? 19 And yet this 'is' little in Thine eyes, Lord Jehovah, and Thou dost speak also concerning the house of Thy servant afar off; and this 'is' the law of the Man, Lord Jehovah. 20 And what doth David add more to speak unto Thee? and Thou, Thou hast known Thy servant, Lord Jehovah. 21 Because of Thy word, and according to Thy heart, Thou hast done all this greatness, to cause Thy servant to know 'it'. 22 Therefore Thou hast been great, Jehovah God, for there is none like Thee, and there is no God save Thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 'And who 'is' as Thy people, as Israel—one nation in the earth, whom God hath gone to redeem to Him for a people, and to make for Him a name—and to do for you the greatness—even fearful things for Thy land, at the presence of Thy people, whom Thou hast redeemed to Thee out of Egypt—'among the' nations and their gods? 24 Yea, Thou dost establish to Thee Thy people Israel, to Thee for a people unto the age, and Thou, Jehovah, hast been to them for God. 25 'And now, Jehovah God, the word which Thou hast spoken concerning Thy servant, and concerning his house, establish unto the age, and do as Thou hast spoken; 26 And Thy Name is great unto the age, saying, Jehovah of Hosts 'is' God over Israel, and the house of Thy servant David is established before Thee, 27 For Thou, Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, Thou hast uncovered the ear of Thy servant, saying, A house I build for thee, therefore hath Thy servant found his heart to pray unto Thee this prayer; 28 And now, Lord Jehovah, Thou 'art' God Himself, and Thy words are truth, and Thou speakest unto Thy servant this goodness, 29 And now, begin and bless the house of Thy servant, to be unto the age before Thee, for Thou, Lord Jehovah, hast spoken, and by Thy blessing is the house of Thy servant blessed—to the age.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 7:18-29
Commentary on 2 Samuel 7:18-29
(Read 2 Samuel 7:18-29)
David's prayer is full of the breathings of devout affection toward God. He had low thoughts of his own merits. All we have, must be looked upon as Divine gifts. He speaks very highly and honourably of the Lord's favours to him. Considering what the character and condition of man is, we may be amazed that God should deal with him as he does. The promise of Christ includes all; if the Lord God be ours, what more can we ask, or think of? Ephesians 3:20. He knows us better than we know ourselves; therefore let us be satisfied with what he has done for us. What can we say more for ourselves in our prayers, than God has said for us in his promises? David ascribes all to the free grace of God. Both the great things He had done for him, and the great things He had made known to him. All was for his word's sake, that is, for the sake of Christ the eternal Word. Many, when they go to pray, have their hearts to seek, but David's heart was found, that is, it was fixed; gathered in from its wanderings, entirely engaged to the duty, and employed in it. That prayer which is from the tongue only, will not please God; it must be found in the heart; that must be lifted up and poured out before God. He builds his faith, and hopes to speed, upon the sureness of God's promise. David prays for the performance of the promise. With God, saying and doing are not two things, as they often are with men; God will do as he hath said. The promises of God are not made to us by name, as to David, but they belong to all who believe in Jesus Christ, and plead them in his name.