2 Samuel 7:25 And now, O LORD God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever… Do as thou hast said. The words are used by David of the promises given to him respecting himself and his house. They are applicable to all the promises. I. THEY FURNISH A GUIDE TO OUR PRAYERS. What God has said shows us what we should ask. His promises indicate: 1. The kind of blessings which we should most earnestly seek. The promises of God - those given us in Christ especially - assure us of temporal good so far as is needful; but relate chiefly to spiritual and eternal blessings. The "good things" of Matthew 7:11 are interpreted for us by Luke 11:13 to be mainly "the Holy Spirit," which comprehends all good for our spirits, all the best things for time and eternity. While, therefore, we may pray for things temporal with moderated and submissive desire, we should most earnestly and constantly pray for things spiritual. In praying according to what God "has said," we are guided by infinite wisdom and love; we are asking "according to his will" (1 John 5:14). To permit ourselves to be prompted in prayer by our own worldly, carnal inclinations, is to turn our worship into sin, and to ask for evil instead of good. 2. The degree of these blessings which we should seek. The promises of God encourage us to open our mouths wide for him to fill (Psalm 81:10). They are without limit in extent and duration of blessing. Let us not limit ourselves in our desires, nor limit in our thoughts the bounty or power of God (Psalm 78:41). What he "has said" includes all we can need, but no more than we need for our highest blessedness; let us not be content with less. Let us study the promises, stretch our minds to grasp them, and then turn them into prayer; and, certain that our thoughts have not attained to the full extent of their meaning, let us yield ourselves to the influences of the Holy Spirit, that he may intercede within and "for us with groanings which cannot be uttered," but which "he that searcheth the hearts" can interpret and respond to (Romans 8:26, 27). II. THEY FURNISH AN ALL-POWERFUL PLEA IN OUR PRAYERS. "Do as thou hast said" is an appeal to the faithfulness and kindness of him to whom we pray. "Thou canst not break thy word ('Thy words be true,' ver. 28); thou art too kind to trifle with those who confide in it. For thy Name's sake, therefore, fulfil thy promises." III. THEY ASSURE US OF A FAVOURABLE ANSWER TO OUR PRAYERS. When our prayers are according to the Divine promises, we should be absolutely certain of their success. For: 1. God is able to do as he has said. 2. He is most willing. His promises spring from his love to us, and express what he is most desirous of conferring upon us, and which only our indifference, unwillingness, unbelief, and consequent unfitness prevent our receiving. 3. His word binds him. "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or bath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19). 4. He has given confirmations of his promises and pledges for their fulfilment, especially in the gift of his Son (2 Corinthians 1:20; Romans 8:32). Therefore "let us ask in faith, nothing doubting" (James 1:6, Revised Version). Were it not for what he has said, we might reasonably hesitate to ask for such great things as we are taught to pray for; but, having his word, there is no room for hesitation (ver. 27). However conscious of sinfulness and unworthiness, we may and should "come boldly unto the throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16; also Hebrews 10:19, 22). Let us, then: 1. Familiarize ourselves with the promises of God, that we may pray with understanding and largeness of heart, and with confidence, importunity, and perseverance. 2. Use the promises when we pray, whether for ourselves, our families, our country, the Church, or the world. 3. Abandon whatever would turn the words, "Do as thou hast said," into a fearful imprecation. For think of what God has said as to what he will do with the impenitent, the unbelieving, the disobedient, the unforgiving, etc., even if they offer prayers to him (see e.g. Matthew 6:12, 14, 15). - G.W. Parallel Verses KJV: And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said. |
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