Read & explore together
David Thanks God for His Promise
David answers God’s promise with a prayer marked by humility, praise and request. Reading these parallel accounts together shows how David speaks about God’s greatness, Israel’s place as God’s people, and the future God has spoken for David’s house.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
These verses present David praying before Yahweh after God has spoken about his servant and his house. In both accounts, David does not boast. He wonders at God’s kindness, praises God as unlike any other, remembers Israel’s redemption, and asks God to establish what he has said.
2 Samuel 7:18–29; 1 Chronicles 17:16–27Main takeaway
David prays by humbly receiving God’s promise and asking God to do what God has spoken.
Explore the prayer
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01David is humbled by God’s promiseDavid begins, “Who am I?” and “what is my house?” He knows God has already brought him this far, and yet God has also spoken about his house for time to come.
Explanation
David begins, “Who am I?” and “what is my house?” He knows God has already brought him this far, and yet God has also spoken about his house for time to come. David says little about himself because God already knows his servant and has shown him this greatness.
02David praises Yahweh’s greatnessAfter speaking of his own smallness, David turns to God’s greatness. He says there is no one like Yahweh and no God besides him.
Explanation
After speaking of his own smallness, David turns to God’s greatness. He says there is no one like Yahweh and no God besides him. This is not empty praise. David roots it in what has been heard about God, so his prayer honours God for who he is.
03David remembers Israel as God’s peopleDavid links his prayer to Israel. He says God redeemed this people for himself, made a name for himself by great and awesome things, made Israel his people forever, and became their God.
Explanation
David links his prayer to Israel. He says God redeemed this people for himself, made a name for himself by great and awesome things, made Israel his people forever, and became their God. God’s word to David sits within God’s dealings with his people Israel.
04David asks God to establish his wordDavid asks God to confirm and bless what he has spoken about his servant’s house. He wants God’s name to be magnified.
Explanation
David asks God to confirm and bless what he has spoken about his servant’s house. He wants God’s name to be magnified. He says he has found heart or courage to pray because God revealed this word, and he calls God’s words truth and this promise a good thing.
Read the accounts alongside one another
Keep each reading’s setting and wording in view.
Scroll across to compare the readings.
| Book | Included readings | Explore in this guide |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Samuel | 2 Samuel 7:18–29 | David is humbled by God’s promise David praises Yahweh’s greatness David remembers Israel as God’s people David asks God to establish his word |
| 1 Chronicles | 1 Chronicles 17:16–27 | David is humbled by God’s promise David praises Yahweh’s greatness David remembers Israel as God’s people David asks God to establish his word |
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does David start with “Who am I, and what is my house?”
Notice that he compares himself with what God has already done and what God has said about his house.
02What does David say makes Yahweh unlike anyone else?
Look for his words about there being no other God and about what has been heard with the ears.
03How does David show that his prayer depends on God’s word?
Find where he asks God to do as he has spoken and where he says God’s words are truth.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
2 Samuel 7:18–29
18Then David the king went in and sat before Yahweh; and he said, “Who am I, Lord Yahweh, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?
19This was yet a small thing in your eyes, Lord Yahweh, but you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come; and this among men, Lord Yahweh!
20What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Lord Yahweh.
21For your word’s sake, and according to your own heart, you have worked all this greatness, to make your servant know it.
22Therefore you are great, Yahweh God. For there is no one like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23What one nation on the earth is like your people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, and to make himself a name, and to do great things for you, and awesome things for your land, before your people, whom you redeemed to yourself out of Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
24You established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever; and you, Yahweh, became their God.
25“Now, Yahweh God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, confirm it forever, and do as you have spoken.
26Let your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘Yahweh of Armies is God over Israel; and the house of your servant David will be established before you.’
27For you, Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found in his heart to pray this prayer to you.
28“Now, O Lord Yahweh, you are God, and your words are truth, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.
29Now therefore, let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, Lord Yahweh, have spoken it. Let the house of your servant be blessed forever with your blessing.”
1 Chronicles 17:16–27
16Then David the king went in and sat before Yahweh; and he said, “Who am I, Yahweh God, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?
17This was a small thing in your eyes, O God, but you have spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have respected me according to the standard of a man of high degree, Yahweh God.
18What can David say yet more to you concerning the honor which is done to your servant? For you know your servant.
19Yahweh, for your servant’s sake, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, to make known all these great things.
20Yahweh, there is no one like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
21What one nation on the earth is like your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, to make you a name by great and awesome things, in driving out nations from before your people whom you redeemed out of Egypt?
22For you made your people Israel your own people forever; and you, Yahweh, became their God.
23Now, Yahweh, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, be established forever, and do as you have spoken.
24Let your name be established and magnified forever, saying, ‘Yahweh of Armies is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel. The house of David your servant is established before you.’
25For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you.
26Now, Yahweh, you are God, and have promised this good thing to your servant.
27Now it has pleased you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, Yahweh, have blessed, and it is blessed forever.”