2Samuel:7

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* Verse 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 . * Verse 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 . * Verse 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 ? Ephesians strkjv @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 . Henry ' _2__8 **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary **** _

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