Promises As Prompts

Promises as Prompts

And now, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. 2 Samuel 7:29

GOD GAVE DAVID A STUNNING PROMISE—to make his dynasty everlasting and secure his throne forever. Naturally, David said “thank you.” He marveled at the promise and praised God for his goodness. He recounted God’s faithfulness to him and his people. And then he did something that hardly seems necessary in light of all that was just said: He prayed for God to do it—and even called it a bold prayer (verse 27).

If God had just promised to do something, why would David think it necessary or even appropriate to pray that promise back to God? Doesn’t God keep his word? If God had said what he was going to do, why pray as though it were still up in the air? What was David thinking by repetitively asking God to confirm and fulfill the promise (verse 25), repeating its words as if God needed a reminder (verse 29)? Was David questioning God’s integrity?

Of course not. David seemed to understand a fundamental truth about human responsibility to serve as stewards of God’s plans. God expresses his will, and we agree with it by praying it, speaking it, and living it out. It’s like a contract or a check that needs two signatures to be valid. God can do things unilaterally, but he almost always works out his purposes on earth through human agency. We are partners with him in whatever he wants to do.

We see this throughout Scripture, sometimes clearly and sometimes between the lines. God states his will and waits for a response. He warns of consequences and expects us to agree with his original intent. He speaks to prophets so they will declare what he has said and prompt listeners to agree in faith. He gives us examples of what is possible and then invites us to step into them ourselves. All of which means that your faith, prayers, words, and actions are clearly vital components of his plan. See them as means of partnering with him, and let his promises fill your petitions. They are given for just that response.

When we find anything promised in the Word of God, we are not to neglect to seek it because it is promised; we are to pray for it on that very account.