Devotion 08 October 2026

Let us hold firmly to the hope that we have confessed, because we can trust God to do what he promised. Hebrews 10: 23

READING: 2 Samuel 7

Chapter 7 tells of David's desire to build a temple in Jerusalem in which to house the ark, which he has recently brought to Jerusalem. God says no. God's answer turns on wordplay: David is not to build him a house (temple); rather, God will build David a house (royal dynasty) that will last forever.

The promise found initial material fulfilment through Solomon, who built the temple of the Lord. But it is ultimately fulfilled through Jesus the Messiah, descendant of David.

David humbly accepted God’s “no”, responding rather with a heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving, in which he humbly acknowledges that he is king only because of God.

But then David continues to request God, in prayer; “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made ... Do as you promised.” (v25).

This wasn’t a passive prayer that said, ‘Well God, do whatever You want – I don’t care.’ Nor was it an arrogant prayer that said, ‘God, let me tell You what to do’. This was a bold prayer that said, ‘God, here is Your promise – now I trust You to fulfil it grandly and to be faithful to Your word.’

For us today, David's prayer is a model of yielding to God while at the same time boldly appropriating God’s promises. “Appropriate’ here means to claim, to take exclusive possession of it, to use it for a specific purpose.

In a believing prayer like this, we may appropriate God’s promise for:

·       forgiveness: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…” (1 John 1:9)

·       peace: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

·       guidance: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go” (Psalm 32:8)

·       growth: “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

·       help: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

“You are God, and Your words are true” (v28); this was David’s foundation of faith. He knew that God was God and that every word of His was true. He knew that God can be trusted.

Prayer

Almighty God, I praise You for Your faithfulness, even when You seem to say ‘no’ to me. I claim Your promises of forgiveness, peace, guidance, growth, help and eternal life with You, in Jesus’ name. Amen