2 Samuel 7:21 For your word's sake, and according to your own heart, have you done all these great things, to make your servant know them. David looks on those great things which God had promised him as if already accomplished, so great confidence had he in the power and faithfulness of the Promiser; and, conscious that they were due to no worthiness or power of his own, he acknowledges that all originated in the heart of God and were simply in fulfilment of his word, by which they had become known to himself. For the will and the work and the word he praises God. I. GOD DOES GREAT THINGS ON BEHALF OF HIS PEOPLE. The works of creation are great and according to his own heart, originating in himself, and on a scale proportionate to his own greatness. So with the works of his providence. But we will apply the words to redemption. The works included in this are indeed great. They are on a scale of grandeur worthy of God. 1. The methods employed are great. The Incarnation - the union of God and man in one Person. The display of the glory of God in the earthly life of Christ, and at his death, resurrection, and ascension. His exaltation to be "Lord of all." The descent and operations of the Holy Spirit. 2. The work effected on behalf of man is great. The atonement especially, and all involved in it. The conquest over sin and Satan and death. The opening of the way to God and heaven. 3. The work wrought in and towards men is great. (1) In respect to each believer. Illumination, regeneration, pardon, peace, holiness, perfection, glory everlasting, together with the special guidance and government of God's providence tending to and issuing in these great results. (2) In respect to the multitude redeemed and saved. (3) In respect to the final deliverance and exaltation with the Church of the whole creation (Romans 8:19-22; Ephesians 1:10). II. GOD DOES THESE GREAT THINGS "ACCORDING TO HIS OWN HEART." 1. They spring from his heart. They are done spontaneously, of his own free grace and will "his own good pleasure." Not at the prompting of others, for none other could have conceived them. Not under a sense of obligation, for we had no claim upon him, except that our sin and misery appealed to his compassion. They originated in the Divine mind, sprang from the Divine love. 2. They befit his heart. They bear the stamp of the Divine nature; are worthy of his infinite wisdom, righteousness, benevolence, and power; are the grandest display of them. "It became him," etc. (Hebrews 2:10). "All thy ways Are worthy of thyself - Divine; But the bright glories of thy grace Beyond thine other wonders shine." III. GOD DOES THESE GREAT THINGS IN FULFILMENT OF HIS OWN WORD. "For thy Word's sake." 1. He announces them by his Word. "To make thy servant know them." The things which God has done and will do he makes known. It is thus they become available to each and all to whom the Word is communicated. For the knowledge is the chief part of the means by which salvation is wrought. "The gospel... is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Romans 1:16; see also Romans 10:13, 14; 1 Corinthians 1:17, 18, 23; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:22, 23). Thus also we are assured of the completion of the work of redemption. For by the promises our God lays himself under obligation to perfect the salvation of all believers. It is, therefore, a great privilege to know these great things which God works. 2. He accomplishes them according to his Word. He cannot do otherwise. He "cannot lie" (Titus 1:2). "He abideth faithful; he cannot deny himself" (2 Timothy 2:13). Moreover, "what he hath promised, he is able also to perform" (Romans 4:21). Now that he has given his Word, "for his Word's sake" if there were no other reason, he will do "all these great things." Then: 1. Let us, like David, adore and praise our God for his wondrous works, and for making them known to us. How glorious he appears in these works! Let us ascribe glory to him. 2. Let believers rest assured of the complete accomplishment of the work of their own redemption. They have the Word and the heart of God, and his actual works for them and in them, to give them assurance. 3. Let us fear, lest we should fail, through negligence and unbelief, to appropriate the redemption so wondrously wrought for us, notwithstanding our knowledge of it. (See Hebrews 2:1-4.) - G.W. Parallel Verses KJV: For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them. |
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