Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, vols. 13–63

Verse 18. Then went King David in, and sat before the LORD. This was not the usual Oriental posture of prayer, but David was mingling meditation with his supplication, so that his attitude was not according to ordinary rules.

18. And he said, Who am I, OLord GOD?Why, you are David, the valiant man who slew Goliath! No, no, no—the man of God is nobody in his own esteem!

18, 19. And what is my house that You have brought me up to now? And this was yet a small thing in Your sight, O Lord GOD; but You have spoken also of Your servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD? No, it is not the manner of man in general, but it is the manner of the Man Christ Jesus!

20-22. And what can David say more unto You? For You, Lord GOD, know Your servant For Your word's sake, and according to Your own heart, have You done all these great things, to make Your servant know them. Therefore You are great, O LORD God: for there is none like You, neither is there any God beside You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. There is some sweet doctrine here! The Lord blesses David, not because of David's virtue, or David's merit, or David's prowess, but for His own sake—"For Your word's sake, and according to Your own heart, have You done all these great things, to make Your servant know them." The reason why streams of love flow from God is just this—it is according to His Nature. He is a fountain, so the blessing must flow from Him. He is a sun, so He must shine. It is not only because we need His love, but because, "God is Love," that His love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given to us. Now what is the inference from all this? Does David say, "Therefore, O Lord, I am great and honorable"? Oh, no! He has nothing to say in praise of himself! He says, "Therefore You are great, O Lord God: for there is none like You, neither is there any God beside You, according to all that we have heard with our ears."

23-25. And what one nation in the earth is like Your people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to Himself, and to make Him a name, and to do for You great things and terrible, for Your land, before Your people, which You redeemed to You from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? For You have confirmed to Yourself Your people Israel to be a people unto You forever: and You, LORD, have become their God. And now, O LORD God, the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever, and do as You have said. What a blessed prayer this is, "Do as You have said"! Get hold of a promise of the Lord, take it to the Throne of Grace and then urge this plea, "Do as You have said." It is a good argument for every upright man to use when he reminds Him of His promise and asks Him to keep His pledged word. And we certainly may use this plea with the thrice holy God—"Do as You have said."

26. And let Your name be magnified forever Or, "be greatened"—be made great "forever." Notice the way David returns to God the words that were addressed to himself. The Lord said to him, "I have made you a great name, like unto the name of the great that are in the earth." And David replies, "Let Your name be made great forever. You, Jehovah of Hosts, are God over Israel; if You have made me king, and if my throne shall be established, much more shall Yours."

26, 27. Saying, The LORD ofHosts is the God over Israel: and let the house ofYour servant David be established before You. For You, O LORD ofHosts, God of Israel Notice how the name of the Lord seems to grow in this chapter until here it comes to its full force, dignity and majesty—"You, O Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel."

27. Have revealed to Your servant, saying, I will build you an house: therefore has Your servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto You. That is the best place to find a prayer—in your heart—no prayer comes up before God, with acceptance, but that which comes out of the very heart which should be like the sacred ark of old, wherein were hidden Israel's most precious things. God's words had gone right down into David's heart and touched the secret springs of it—and now they welled up in this blessed prayer!

28. 29. And now, O Lord GOD, You are that God, and Your words are true, and You havepromised this goodness unto Your servant: therefore now let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You: for You, OLord GOD, have spoken it There is that grand pleading again—"You, O Lord God, have spoken it." If you can remind God of His own promise, you may have whatever you will of Him. If He has said anything, His word shall surely be fulfilled.

29. And with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever