2 Samuel 7:18 – 29 “Then King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? And as if this was a small thing in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, You have also spoken about the future of the house of Your servant. Is this Your custom with man, O Lord GOD? What more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord GOD. For the sake of Your word and according to Your own heart, You have accomplished this great thing and revealed it to Your servant. How great You are, O Lord GOD! For there is none like You, and there is no God but You, according to everything we have heard with our own ears. And who is like Your people Israel—the one nation on earth whom God went out to redeem as a people for Himself and to make a name for Himself? You performed great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before Your people, whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt. For You have established Your people Israel as Your very own forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God.
And now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house. Do as You have promised, so that Your name will be magnified forever when it is said, ‘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 revealed this to Your servant when You said, ‘I will build a house for you.’ Therefore Your servant has found the courage to offer this prayer to You.
And now, O Lord GOD, You are God! Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. 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 with Your blessing the house of Your servant will be blessed forever.”
Throughout the Bible, we may read lots of prophecies with Jeremiah, Isaiah, and others delivering God’s words in tones of thunder; however, there are very few times in the Bible when we get a glimpse of the relationship a man or woman of faith actually has with God. This prayer of David is one such time.
The prophet Nathan has just related all God’s incredible promises to David, and David is overwhelmed. What does it mean that “David went and sat before the Lord?” Perhaps David entered the tabernacle, but it’s far more likely that David simply went into a room by himself where he could be quiet and then addressed the Lord. David and the Lord have been meeting together for years in remote pastures on mountainsides, in caves where David was hiding from Saul, in Ziklag when David fled to the Philistines, and now in Jerusalem. The Ghanaians would say that the Lord and David “know themselves,” that they are comfortable together.
Notice the content of David’s prayer. David repeatedly praises God’s greatness and His power, describing the wonders that God has already done for Israel. Next, David repeats the promises that God has given him through the prophet Nathan. And finally, David begs God to confirm those promises and to fulfill them. Is David trying to butter God up or to curry favor with God? Far from it! David knows that God knows his heart. But David is quite conscious of the facts of his life. David knows how he started out as the marginalized youngest son, exiled to herding sheep. David remembers the chaos that ensued after Samuel anointed him and how Saul pursued him, hounding him so much that David actually hid with the Philistines for a time. David fully realizes that only God could have brought him this far, and now David is asking God to continue to hold him and keep him and his family.
APPLICATION: There’s a slogan written on Ghanaian busses, taxis, and tro – tro’s that reads “If not for God…” One of the most common Adinkra symbols in Ghana is the “Gye Nyame” symbol. “Gye Nyame” means “Except (for) God” and is a symbol of reliance on God. Psalm 127 tells us, “If the Lord does not build the house, they who build it labor in vain.” The Gye Nyame symbol carries a similar meaning. David fully realized that it was only God who had brought him and his family to this point, and only God would be sufficient to carry them into the future. Ghanaians would agree.
Each one of us can do what David did. Find a quiet corner, sit comfortably, and then ask God to join you. You may not hear anything or see anything, but you will soon feel the peace of the Holy Spirit. Speak to God just as you would to a close friend, knowing that He already knows your needs and the things that make you anxious. But don’t spend lots of time talking; instead, lay out your concerns and then quietly wait for God to speak to your heart. Prayer is a conversation, not a monologue. If you want answers from God, you must listen. Will God speak in an audible voice? Possibly, but that’s extremely rare. What God will do is to quiet your heart, to guide your thoughts, and to give you His peace. Once you have asked God for guidance, rest assured that He will give it.
A few nights ago, I awoke to answer a call from the hospital where I work. While I was up, God impressed me that I should call a friend in America who is facing surgery for herself. Recently, this friend’s husband was hospitalized with health problems. When I called my friend, I learned that she was considering postponing her surgery. As we spoke together, God impressed me that my friend needed to proceed with her surgery. As it turned out, my friend’s pastor, her husband, and her sons had already told her the same thing. But my call from Ghana helped her decide completely and have peace with that decision.
Proverbs 3:5 – 6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” When we ask God for guidance, He will give it to us. God might even wake someone up at midnight to call you from Africa if necessary!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help everyone who reads these words to learn to sit before You and to wait for Your leading. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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