SUMMARY
In this beautiful prayer, DavidSecond king of Israel, David united the northern and southern kingdoms. More responds to God’s promise that there will always be a member of David’s family on the throne of Israel.
ANALYSIS
David responds to God’s promise of a dynasty with a model prayer employing elements of thanksgiving for God’s present graceGrace is the unmerited gift of God's love and acceptance. In Martin Luther's favorite expression from the Apostle Paul, we are saved by grace through faith, which means that God showers grace upon us even though we do not deserve it. More, praise for God’s gracious activity in the past, and petition for the fulfillment of God’s gracious promises in the future:
- Thanksgiving: David displays commendable humility before God as seen in the rhetorical questions, “Who am I…and what is my house?” (that is, “family”), as well as his referring to himself as “your servant,” as he thanks God for God’s divine favor toward him in the present (vv. 18-21).
- Praise: David praises God for what God has done in the past, especially God’s redemption of the people in the exodus, the conquest of the land of Canaan, and the covenantal relationship in which Israel became God’s people, and God became their God (vv. 22-24).
- Petition: The prayer concludes with a petition concerning the future fulfillment of God’s promises for his dynasty (vv. 25-29).
