2 Samuel 7:18-29

David's Prayer

18 Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD, and he said, "¹Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?

19 "And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, ²for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant concerning the distant future. And ³this is the custom of man, O Lord GOD.

20 "Again what more can David say to You? For ⁴You know Your servant, O Lord GOD!

21 "⁵For the sake of Your word, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness to let Your servant know.

22 "For this reason * ⁶You are great, O Lord GOD; for ⁷there is none like You, and there is no God besides You, ⁸according to all that we have heard with our ears.

23 "And ⁹what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and ¹⁰to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, before * ¹¹Your people whom ¹²You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods?

24 "For ¹³You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever *, and ¹⁴You, O LORD, have become their God.

25 "Now therefore, O LORD God, the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house, confirm it forever *, and do as You have spoken,

26 ¹⁵that Your name may be magnified forever *, by saying, 'The LORD of hosts is God over Israel '; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You.

27 "For You, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have made a revelation * to Your servant, saying, '¹⁶I will build you a house '; therefore * Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to You.

28 "Now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and ¹⁷Your words are truth, and You have promised this good thing to Your servant.

29 "Now therefore, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O Lord GOD, have spoken; and ¹⁸with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever."

2 Samuel 7:18-29 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 7

This chapter expresses David's concern for building an house for the ark of God, which he communicated to Nathan the prophet, and was approved of by him, 2Sa 7:1-3; and who was that night sent by the Lord to David, to acquaint him, that as he had for many years dwelt in a tent, and had never given directions to the tribes of Israel, and the rulers of them, to build him an house, so neither should David build him one; but his son that would succeed him in the throne should; and also observes to him the many great things he had done for him, and promises him more, and particularly the establishment of his throne and kingdom for ever, in which he has respect to the Messiah, that should spring from him, 2Sa 7:4-17. Then follows a prayer of David, in which he expresses the sense he had of the greatness and goodness of God, and of his own unworthiness to receive such favours from him he had, returns him thanks for the promises he had made, and prays for the performance of them, 2Sa 7:18-29.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 3:11; 1 Samuel 18:18
• 2. 2 Samuel 7:11-16; 1 Chronicles 17:17
• 3. Isaiah 55:8, 9
• 4. 1 Samuel 16:7; John 21:17
• 5. 1 Chronicles 17:19; Ephesians 4:32
• 6. Deuteronomy 3:24; Psalms 48:1; Psalms 86:10
• 7. Exodus 15:11; 1 Samuel 2:2
• 8. Exodus 10:2; Psalms 44:1
• 9. Deuteronomy 4:32-38
• 10. Deuteronomy 10:21
• 11. Deuteronomy 15:15
• 12. Deuteronomy 9:26
• 13. Deuteronomy 32:6
• 14. Genesis 17:7, 8; Exodus 6:7
• 15. Psalms 72:18, 19; Matthew 6:9
• 16. 2 Samuel 7:13
• 17. Exodus 34:6; John 17:17
• 18. Numbers 6:24-26

Footnotes

• [a]. Heb "YHWH," usually rendered LORD, and so through out the ch
• [b]. Or "law"
• [c]. Lit "uncovered the ear of"
• [d]. Lit "his heart"
• [e]. Or "spoken"