v 29 And now, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you have spoken, and when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign Lord, it is an eternal blessing!
David’s response to this promise from God is to pray in faith for its fulfilment. In all probability his vision of this fulfilment would have been an earthly one; the continuance of the Kingdom as he knew it was perhaps his expectation.
Just read through it again however and note how often the longer perspective breaks through.
A lasting dynasty. V 19
You made Israel your very own people forever. V 24
A promise that will last forever. V 25
May your name be honoured forever. V 26
May the house of your servant David continue before you forever. v 26
Bless the house of your servant, may it continue forever before you. V 29
It is an eternal blessing! V 29
So here are two things we can take to heart about prayer. First, we can confidently pray for what God has already promised. Then, second, pray with the long view in mind. We live in the age of short term goals; we ask for things right now and if there is no immediate answer we tend to give up on asking.
Does any of your praying fall into this category?
Didn’t Jesus say ‘“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. ‘ (Matthew 7)