2 Samuel 7:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.

NIV: "Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.

NASB: For You, Lord of armies, God of Israel, have given a revelation to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house’; therefore Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to You.

CSB: since you, Lord of Armies, 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 pray this prayer to you.

NLT: 'O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer to you because you have revealed all this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you — a dynasty of kings!’

KJV: For thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.

NKJV: For You, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You.

The verses in 2 Samuel 7:25–29 repeat a lot of the same themes. In all of them, David addresses "O Lord God" or "O Lord of hosts." All of them mention God's promise to build David a "house" or "this good thing." Most of them remind God of the word He has spoken, the revelation, or the promise He made. Three of them implore God to make good on His promise.

These themes are set out in a mirrored literary form called a chiastic structure:

A. David asks God to do what He promised.
B. David affirms that God will do it.
C David humbly reminds God what He promised.
B' David affirms that God will do it.
A' David asks God to do what He promised.

In a chiasm, the center theme is the most important. David very clearly and humbly summarizes what God has said. This is the point of the chapter and the main theme of the Davidic Covenant.

This is the only verse to mention how God's promise, itself, is what gives David the courage to ask God to fulfill what He said He would do. David's relationship with God is marked by zeal for God's reputation and a great humility. He wouldn't dare approach God with such a request: a son to take his place on the throne and a lasting dynasty. He can only utter the words because God, the Lord, the God of angel armies, initiated a covenant with David, his descendants, and all of Israel.

We often get caught up in what—or even if—we should pray. If God knows the future, and He knows what's best for us, why should we pray? How would we even know what to pray for, especially in big things? Jesus tells us that it's good to pray, and it's even good to pray repeatedly for the same thing (Luke 18:1–7). We need to make sure we're praying for something that's within God's will—praying "in His name" (1 John 5:14–15). Praying for what He's already promised is one way to do that.

This isn't to say that we can never ask God for something He hasn't already mentioned. It is, however, a reminder of where our priorities should be. Ask God how we can work within His plan. Ask Him to fulfill the promises He's given us in the Bible. If we can do that, we may find we're content with the blessings He chooses for us.

Second Samuel 7:25–29 records David's "Amen" to God's promises. God has promised great blessings for David and Israel (2 Samuel 7:8–17). David uses a chiasm to affirm God's words: a mirrored pattern of verses. 25: please do it; 26: You will do it; 27: this is what God will do; 28: You will do it; 29: please do it. Second Samuel 8 records some of God's blessings in war and in the officials who help govern the nation. First Chronicles 17:23–27 also records David's plea.

In 2 Samuel 7, David wants to build a temple for the ark of the covenant. He's convicted that he has a big house, so the ark doesn't belong in a tent (2 Samuel 5:11–12; 6:17). God declines David's request. Rather, God will build David a "house": a dynasty. David's son will be king—and that sone will build the temple. David's throne will be established forever. David responds with a humble prayer of gratitude and praise, asking God to do all He has promised for David and for Israel. God will, through Jesus (Revelation 22:16). First Chronicles 17 records the same events.

In 2 Samuel 7, David learns he can't out-give God. God has made him king and given him a mansion and a family (2 Samuel 5:3, 11–15). He's allowed David to bring the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:1–15). Now, David wants to build the ark a proper temple. Instead, God says David's son will build the temple, and God will build David a lasting dynasty. Solomon does build the temple (1 Kings 5), and Jesus will fulfill David's dynasty (Luke 1:32).