‏ 2 Samuel 7

* David's care for the ark. (1-3) God's covenant with David.

(4-17) His prayer and thanksgiving. (18-29)

1-3 David being at rest in his palace, considered how he might

best employ his leisure and prosperity in the service of God. He

formed a design to build a temple for the ark. Nathan here did

not speak as a prophet, but as a godly man, encouraging David by

his private judgment. We ought to do all we can to encourage and

promote the good purposes and designs of others, and, as we have

opportunity, to forward a good work. 4-17 Blessings are promised to the family and posterity of

David. These promises relate to Solomon, David's immediate

successor, and the royal line of Judah. But they also relate to

Christ, who is often called David and the Son of David. To him

God gave all power in heaven and earth, with authority to

execute judgment. He was to build the gospel temple, a house for

God's name; the spiritual temple of true believers, to be a

habitation of God through the Spirit. The establishing of his

house, his throne, and his kingdom for ever, can be applied to

no other than to Christ and his kingdom: David's house and

kingdom long since came to an end. The committing iniquity

cannot be applied to the Messiah himself, but to his spiritual

seed; true believers have infirmities, for which they must

expect to be corrected, though they are not cast off. 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? #Eph 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.