Imagine you’re a king who just heard a prophet share God’s amazing promise. He told you that your family will always rule as kings in Israel. How would you respond?
David responded with one of the most profound prayers in the Old Testament.
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?
And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God; you have spoken also of your servant’s house into the distant future. May this be instruction for the people, O Lord God!
And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God!
Because of your promise and according to your own heart, you have wrought all this greatness so that your servant may know it. (2 Samuel 7:18-21),
David set up a tent for the Ark of the Covenant. He went inside, sat before the Lord, and prayed.
We should ask ourselves how we approach God—whether we sit, stand, kneel, or walk. Our posture matters, but what’s more important is regularly meeting with God and connecting with Him.
Remember, we are speaking to the same Creator and lover of humankind that King David did.
David’s humility shone through as he called God “Sovereign Lord” seven times. He referred to himself as the “servant of the Lord” ten times.
How do we see ourselves before God? What kind of respect do we have when we speak to him? Do we view ourselves as servants, bound to follow his guidance, since he is the Sovereign Lord of our lives?
God’s Uniqueness
David recognized God’s uniqueness. He understood he was in the presence of someone truly special. He also realized that God had chosen him to represent Him to the world.
Therefore you are great, O Lord God, for there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
Who is like your people, like Israel? Is there another nation on earth whose God went to redeem it as a people and to make a name for himself, doing great and awesome things, driving out nations and their gods before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt?
And you established your people Israel for yourself to be your people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God” (2 Samuel 7:22-24).
It’s a good practice to start our prayer time by acknowledging who God is. When we come before the Lord, we should recognize that we are in the presence of Someone unique—the one and only God.
We then humbly speak to Him, expressing what a gift it is to communicate with Him. We can also ask for the Holy Spirit’s help to guide our prayer time.
This is a great way to begin, as David modeled for us, and it’s wise to follow his example.
Forever
As David finished his prayer, the word “forever” came up many times. He deeply wished for God to keep blessing and working with his family forever.
And now, O Lord God, as for the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, confirm it forever; do as you have promised.
Thus your name will be magnified forever in the saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you.
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.
And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant;
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 7:25-19).
When I pray for God to bless someone, I often ask something like this: “Lord, please do whatever is best for them and brings glory to you.”
David linked God’s work with his family to a lasting blessing that would also bring eternal glory to God. I think that’s a wonderful way for us to pray.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this prayer on YouTube today.
Real Voices 