1Ch 17:21 | KingComments | STEP | We read, as a rarity, that someone sits before the LORD ( ). The more common postures are that someone throws himself before the LORD, kneels or stands up respectfully. Here with David we see that he confidentially “sat”, which means that he sits down with the LORD. It is a beautiful example of a confidential relationship with the LORD, in which he takes into account the greatest respect at the same time. He wants to speak to the LORD about what he has heard from Him and what has been promised by Him. When David speaks, he is no longer talking about his wish that is not fulfilled. He is not sad or depressed now that the LORD does not allow him to do what he wishes to do. Instead of discouragement there is great gratitude with him. He flows over with joy for what the LORD promised him concerning his descendancy, what He will give him, him and his house. Later, we see that he does what is in his power to collect what is necessary for the temple which not he, but his son Solomon may build. This is an example for us. With the means that the Lord has given us, we can cooperate in a work we would have liked to have done ourselves, but for which the Lord has appointed someone else. We come to this when we see how much we ourselves have been gifted by the Lord. This is the first thing we find with David. In the presence of the LORD, David’s first remark about himself is: “Who am I?”, and about his house he says: “What is my house?” He is deeply impressed by the grace that has been bestowed upon him and his home. That leads him to speak about his own smallness. This is the appropriate sense of received grace that should also characterize us in our dealings with the Lord. He also shows his faith and trust. David acknowledges in his prayer of thanks what the LORD said earlier that it is about the future, about the coming of “a man of high degree”, that is the great Son of David ( ; ). In Him, that is in Christ, a row of people in an ascending line will culminate in the distant future. David is already king and his descendancy is already chosen, but that doesn’t make him proud, for everything is the consequence of God’s blessing. He is of humble descent and has been led to great heights by God. David’s feeling is the feeling that Mary is singing about when she is told she will become the mother of the Messiah ( ). David speaks to the LORD about “David” ( ) and not about “King David”, for earthly glory is forgotten in the presence of the LORD. David is not speechless, but he also cannot add anything to the benefits that are being done to him. He knows that he is the object of the love and grace of the LORD. This he is, not because of who he is in himself, but because it is in the heart of the LORD Himself ( ) to bless His servant David. He also wanted to make this known to him. These are indeed “great things”. The Lord loves to hear from us as well, wherein we value His blessings. We may say prayers expressing our needs, but it is also beautiful to tell Him our appreciation of His blessings and promises. Then follows a confession of the uniqueness of God ( ). That He is a unique God, He has proved in the redemption of His people ( ). Directly linked to the uniqueness of God is the uniqueness of God’s people ( ). God and His people belong together. The people owe their uniqueness to Who God is as the unique God. God has chosen that people as His property. He has done that to make Himself through them a Name on earth. His people are His honor because He has given them His honor. God wants us to pray to Him for what He has promised ( ). In Luke 1 the continuation of this prayer comes as a first fulfilment: “The Lord God will give Him [i.e. the Lord Jesus] the throne of His father David” ( ). The content of David’s prayer is of high order. He addresses the LORD in expectation of his hearing: “Let the word … be established forever, and do” ( ); “let Your name be established and magnified … and the house of David Your servant is established” ( ). The promises for the future are the ground for his prayer ( ). God loves that His unquestionable promises are accepted by His own, without any restraint. If His promises are accepted as certain by a faithful heart, this will be reflected in the gratitude that is brought to Him. Because the LORD is God and He has promised this good thing ( ), David trusts that his prayer will be heard. He expresses the certainty of the hearing. He says that the LORD has blessed his house, and that it will therefore be blessed forever ( ). There is no better basis for our prayers than the promises God has given in His Word. That gives the certainty of the hearing. The time of the hearing is God’s matter.

‏ 1 Chronicles 17:21

The Prayer of Thanksgiving of David

We read, as a rarity, that someone sits before the LORD (1Chr 17:16). The more common postures are that someone throws himself before the LORD, kneels or stands up respectfully. Here with David we see that he confidentially “sat”, which means that he sits down with the LORD. It is a beautiful example of a confidential relationship with the LORD, in which he takes into account the greatest respect at the same time. He wants to speak to the LORD about what he has heard from Him and what has been promised by Him.

When David speaks, he is no longer talking about his wish that is not fulfilled. He is not sad or depressed now that the LORD does not allow him to do what he wishes to do. Instead of discouragement there is great gratitude with him. He flows over with joy for what the LORD promised him concerning his descendancy, what He will give him, him and his house. Later, we see that he does what is in his power to collect what is necessary for the temple which not he, but his son Solomon may build.

This is an example for us. With the means that the Lord has given us, we can cooperate in a work we would have liked to have done ourselves, but for which the Lord has appointed someone else. We come to this when we see how much we ourselves have been gifted by the Lord. This is the first thing we find with David.

In the presence of the LORD, David’s first remark about himself is: “Who am I?”, and about his house he says: “What is my house?” He is deeply impressed by the grace that has been bestowed upon him and his home. That leads him to speak about his own smallness. This is the appropriate sense of received grace that should also characterize us in our dealings with the Lord.

He also shows his faith and trust. David acknowledges in his prayer of thanks what the LORD said earlier that it is about the future, about the coming of “a man of high degree”, that is the great Son of David (1Chr 17:17; 1Chr 17:13). In Him, that is in Christ, a row of people in an ascending line will culminate in the distant future. David is already king and his descendancy is already chosen, but that doesn’t make him proud, for everything is the consequence of God’s blessing. He is of humble descent and has been led to great heights by God. David’s feeling is the feeling that Mary is singing about when she is told she will become the mother of the Messiah (Lk 1:46-49).

David speaks to the LORD about “David” (1Chr 17:18) and not about “King David”, for earthly glory is forgotten in the presence of the LORD. David is not speechless, but he also cannot add anything to the benefits that are being done to him. He knows that he is the object of the love and grace of the LORD. This he is, not because of who he is in himself, but because it is in the heart of the LORD Himself (1Chr 17:19) to bless His servant David. He also wanted to make this known to him. These are indeed “great things”.

The Lord loves to hear from us as well, wherein we value His blessings. We may say prayers expressing our needs, but it is also beautiful to tell Him our appreciation of His blessings and promises.

Then follows a confession of the uniqueness of God (1Chr 17:20). That He is a unique God, He has proved in the redemption of His people (1Chr 17:21). Directly linked to the uniqueness of God is the uniqueness of God’s people (1Chr 17:22). God and His people belong together. The people owe their uniqueness to Who God is as the unique God. God has chosen that people as His property. He has done that to make Himself through them a Name on earth. His people are His honor because He has given them His honor.

God wants us to pray to Him for what He has promised (1Chr 17:23). In Luke 1 the continuation of this prayer comes as a first fulfilment: “The Lord God will give Him [i.e. the Lord Jesus] the throne of His father David” (Lk 1:32).

The content of David’s prayer is of high order. He addresses the LORD in expectation of his hearing: “Let the word … be established forever, and do” (1Chr 17:23); “let Your name be established and magnified … and the house of David Your servant is established” (1Chr 17:24). The promises for the future are the ground for his prayer (1Chr 17:25). God loves that His unquestionable promises are accepted by His own, without any restraint. If His promises are accepted as certain by a faithful heart, this will be reflected in the gratitude that is brought to Him.

Because the LORD is God and He has promised this good thing (1Chr 17:26), David trusts that his prayer will be heard. He expresses the certainty of the hearing. He says that the LORD has blessed his house, and that it will therefore be blessed forever (1Chr 17:27). There is no better basis for our prayers than the promises God has given in His Word. That gives the certainty of the hearing. The time of the hearing is God’s matter.