A Prayer to Consider
II Samuel 7:18-29
December 10, 2000

            It is common for prominent people to build notable buildings that perpetuate their name:  Sir Christopher Wren, St. Paul's Cathedral in London and the chapel of King's College in Cambridge...But David dropped any such notion due to the promise of God.  He could only respond in worship and praise.  How do we respond when God tells us "no"?  We can learn about prayer from David. 

I. Approach to Prayer

            What is on your mind when you pray?

1.      A consciousness of God's omnipresence and omniscience

Example:  1st commandment "before Me."  Do we live life, let alone pray, as though we are before God?

2.      A profound realization of one's own unworthiness v. 18

No merit, no family pedigree, nothing to offer God.  David likely reflected on his own sin in light of God's mercy. 

3.      A focus upon God's attributes v. 19

Here God sees the present and the future - truly sovereign ruler over history.  David marvels at the future grace God will give.  "The measure of God's greatness here is his capacity to refer to the future as easily as to the past, so demonstrating that he is master of mankind and human history" (Joyce Baldwin). 

4.      A deep reality of the penetrating, omniscient work of God v. 20

In v. 18 David saw his unworthiness, here he sees his weakness.  There is a humbling that occurs in his prayerful contemplation, particularly of God's choice of him ("know").  "You yourself have singled your servant out, Lord Yahweh" (Anderson in Davis 84). 

5.      A consciousness of the will and purpose of God v. 21

God does simply what he wants to do.  He is always consistent with his nature and character.  This is the prerogative of God.  Verse 22:  no comparisons to God or substitutes for God.  God's greatness is displayed by his total independence of man (no poll checking, no economic data, no market research).

Illustration:  Louis XIV, funeral at Notre Dame Cathedral, all dark but one candle on his casket; Court preacher Masillon to give funeral oration, snuffed the candle and declared, "Only God is great! Only God is great!"

6.      A profound thanks for God raising up his people v. 23-24

-         Unique as a redeemed people; redemption involved liberation and possession

-         Preserved people (v. 24), He establishes his people

-         Privileged people (24b)

-         I Peter 1:18-19; I Corinthians 6:19-20

-         Illustration:  (Stott) Reverend Paul Gibson at Ridley Hall in Cambridge, retired, unveiled portrait - people will not ask 'who is that man?' but 'who painted that portrait?'  So...it is not 'who are these sheep?' but 'who gathered them?'

 

II. Praying God's Promises v. 25-29

            See the boldness in his prayer.

 

1.      "Do what you have promised" v. 25

II Peter 1:2-4

2.      "Glorify Your name through Your answers" v. 26

3.      "Hear Your promise" v. 27

This means we must give more thought to our prayer.

4.      You alone are able to fulfill Your promise" v. 28-29

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