2 Samuel 7:27

2Sa 7:27 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.

Ver. 27. Therefore hath thy servant found in his heart.] Or, as some read it, and the original will well bear it, Therefore hath thy servant found his heart - viz., thus well-affected, and all the powers of his soul concentred in the making of this prayer unto thee. He light of such a heart by hap, as we say, or upon serious and long seeking of such a heart; for the Hebrew word will bear both.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Sa 7:27-29. Thy servant found it in his heart to pray this prayer — That prayer which is found in the tongue only will not please God; it must be found in the heart, which must be lifted up to God, and poured out before him. Thou art that God — Who hast declared thyself to be Israel’s God, and in particular my God. And thy words be true — Thus he relies with unshaken faith on the truth of all that God had said, and confidently expects the accomplishment of God’s promises to him. And hence, it seems, these and some other clauses of this prayer are not so much to be considered as petitions, as the overflowings of a grateful heart, touched with a sense of the greatness of these mercies, and therefore dwelling on them, and thereby showing how much it desired them. For after God had promised David these things by a prophet sent to him on purpose, it is hardly to be supposed that he would immediately begin to offer to God petitions for them in any other sense than as expressions of the very high estimation in which he held them. Indeed it is easy to see, as Delaney observes, that “his heart was wholly possessed with a subject which he did not know how to quit, because he did not know how to do justice to his own sense of the inestimable blessings poured down upon himself, and promised to his posterity; and much less to the infinite bounty of his benefactor.” That it may continue for ever before thee — When Christ for ever sat down on the right hand of God, and received all possible assurance that his seed and throne should be as the days of heaven, then this prayer was abundantly answered.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Hebrew, found his heart disposed.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(27) Therefore hath thy servant.—The ground of the believer’s prayer must ever be the lovingkindness and promises of God.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

27. hast revealed to thy servant] Lit. hast uncovered the ear of thy servant, a figure of speech said to be derived from the practice of removing the hair or a corner of the turban from another’s ear in order to whisper a secret into it. Cp. 1Sa_9:15.

therefore] The promise justified a prayer which otherwise would have seemed presumptuous.

found in his heart] Lit. found his heart; i.e. found courage. Cp. the phrase “to take heart.”

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel,.... As he is called in Sa2 7:26,

hast revealed to thy servant; which he otherwise could not have known:

saying, I will build thee an house; see Sa2 7:11,

therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee; found his heart disposed to this service, or found freedom and boldness in him to put up this prayer to God; what encouraged and emboldened him to do it was the gracious promise of God, that he would build up his family, and establish his kingdom; or otherwise he could not have taken such liberty, and used such boldness with God in prayer, as to have requested it of him.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Therefore hath thy servant found in his heart ... - The promises of God are the true guide to the prayers of His people. We may dare to ask anything, how great soever it may be, which God has promised to give. In this and the two following verses David expresses the same wonder at the riches of God’s grace, and the same expectation founded on that grace, which Paul does. in such passages as Eph 1:5-7; Eph 2:7, etc. marginal references.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

In his heart. Literally, "has found his heart," (Haydock) following the inspirations of divine grace, to pray with attention and love, (Calmet) and confidence. (Haydock)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Because thy promise hath given me encouragement to pray, and assurance of answer.

Found in his heart, or, found his heart, i.e. taken courage; as a man is said to lose his heart when he wants courage.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Thou hast revealed to thy servant; Hebrew, thou hast uncovered the ear of thy servant. (see note on 1Sa_9:15) Hath thy servant found in his heart; Hebrew, hath found his heart. The word "heart" has a wide meaning in Hebrew, embracing both our intellectual and our moral powers. Here it simply means "courage," as in, 1Sa_17:32. The Revised Version puts this in the margin: "Therefore hath thyservant been bold to pray this prayer.

Ver. 27. (ZION.)

A prayer found in the heart.

When a prayer such as David"s is found in the heart, it is:

1. Found in the right place. If only on the tongue it is not really found at all Its proper abode is the heart; yet it is not always found there, even when renewed, as the heart must be for its dwelling.

2. Possessed of priceless worth; in contrast with other things that are often found in the heart. (Mat_15:19) A rare flower among weeds, a fountain in the desert, a treasure in poverty, a friend in need! "I have no earthly friend," said one; "but I have a praying heart.

3. Derived from a Divine source. It is not indigenous. Its orion is in "the Father of lights," from whom comes "every good gift and every perfect boon;" its production is due to the teaching of his Word and the operation of his Spirit. (Zec_12:10)

4. Destined for a proper use. Not to be neglected, repressed, or restrained; (Job_15:4) but appreciated, guarded, cherished, freely and fully "poured out" at the feet of the Giver, that he may be glorified. D.

Prayer induced and encouraged by promise.

David gives the promise of God to him as a reason for praying that his house might be established forever. He intimates that otherwise he would not have found it in his heart to do so. In like manner, the promises of God to Christians incite and encourage them to pray for bestowments that they would not have otherwise ventured to ask for.

I THE GREATNESS OF GOD"S PROMISES. They set before us blessings so precious, vast, and enduring, that, apart from the declarations of God, we should never have dared to think of them as possible for us, or to pray for them. From the goodness and power of God in general we might have ventured to hope and pray for some blessings, hut not such as are now the common subjects of Christian prayer. Look in this view at some of the Divine promises, or declarations which are equivalent to promises.

1. As to the believer himself. Promises as to:

(1) Pardon of great and numerous sins, long practised. Repeated pardons.

(2) Renewal of nature and character. Deliverance from slavery to sins the most natural, the most habitual. "A new heart," etc.

(3) Adoption into the family of God. The Spirit of adoption. Participation of the Divine nature. Free access to God. Fellowship with him.

(4) Victory over the mightiest enemies.

(5) "Grace sufficient" for all circumstances, and highest good from them.

(6) Fulness of spiritual life, of knowledge, holiness, strength, joy. "Filled unto the fulness of God;" "Filled with the Spirit" The indwelling in the heart of Christ, of God, by the Holy Spirit. Truly there are heights of godliness, goodness, and blessedness attainable in this life, to which most of us are strangers.

(7) Heaven. Seeing God face to face; being with Christ, being like him in body, soul, condition; reigning with him as kings; experiencing "fulness of joy, pleasures forevermore." Let any one examine the statements of Holy Scripture on these subjects, and consider what they mean; and he must perceive that they set forth blessings which, apart from the assurances thus given, men could not have conceived of, much less imagined that they could ever be their own.

2. As to the future of the kingdom of God on earth. The attraction of all men to Christ; the universal spread of the knowledge, worship, and service of God; and consequently of peace, union, and brotherhood; obedience on earth to God"s will as it is obeyed in heaven. In opposition to such a prospect is the whole history and experience of the world, with the exception of a small fraction; the depravity of mankind, the power of error, superstition, idolatry, priestcraft, old habits of wickedness, etc. Such a vision could never have appeared to men; or, if it had occurred to an active imagination, could never have been regarded as a matter for serious prayer and endeavour, if God had not given it by his prophets and by his Son.

II THE EFFECT WHICH THESE PROMISES SHOULD HAVE ON OUR PRAYERS. They should:

1. Impel us to pray. Not lead us to neglect prayer, as if the Divine purpose and promise superseded all need for prayer. "Thus saith the Lord God: I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them". (Eze_36:37) The blessings promised are for these who seek them.

1. Enrich and enlarge our prayers. The measure in which we receive is according to the measure in which we desire and ask (Luk_11:5-13; 2Ki_13:18, 2Ki_13:19)

2. Greatly encourage them. Leading us to pray with confidence and importunity. Petitions that would have been presumptuous without the promises are now sober and reasonable. We need not and ought not to be deterred either by:

(1) Our sinfulness and God"s holiness and threatenings.

(2) Our insignificance and God"s majesty.

(3) The greatness of the blessings promised, and our or incapacity to receive them; the difficulties in the way of the fulfilment of the

(4) the difficulties in the way of the fulfilment of the promises.

Sufficient that they are the promises of God, and he

(1) "Jehovah of hosts," having all things under his control, unchanging and eternal and;

(2) "God of Israel," our God, our covenant God, who has taken us to be his, and given himself to be ours in Christ Jesus. All that he has promised appears only to befit such a sublime relationship. (See further in homily on ver. 25.) G.W.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

This prayer, &c. - That prayer that is found in the tongue only will not please God. It must be found in the heart. That must be lifted up and poured out before God.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

to your servant that you will build him a house

David refers to himself as "your servant." AT: "to me that you will build me a house" (See: First, Second, or Third Person)

that you will build him a house

Here the metonym "house" refers to David's ancestors continuing on as the rulers of Israel. In 2 Samuel 7:4 Yahweh asked David if he would be the one to build a house for Yahweh. There "house" represented a temple. If your language has a word that can express both ideas, use it here and in 2Sa 7:4. (See: Metonymy)

Now

This does not mean "at this moment," but is used to draw attention to the important point that follows.

your words are trustworthy

"I trust what you say"

with your blessing your servant's house will be blessed forever

This can be stated in active form. AT: "you will continue to bless my family forever" (See: Active or Passive)

your servant's house

Here David refers to himself as "your servant." AT: "my house" or "my family" (See: First, Second, or Third Person)

house

Here "house" represents David's family. (See: Metonymy)

translationWords

Yahweh of hosts

God

Israel

reveal

servant

house

courage

pray

word of God

trust

promise

bless

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.