The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 289

Vers. 19--24.-Pleas in prayer. David was plea.ding with God, and, in asking him to con.firm and establish his word of promise, he ma.de reference to four grounds of appeal. These we may substantially adopt, adding another " all-prevailing plea" which David could not introduce. I. GoD's LOVE TO us AS INDIVIDUAL SOULS. "Thy servant's sake" (ver. 19). At other times we read, "For thy servant David's sake;" i.e. for the love which God bore to this servant and son of his. We may ask God to help us because we know he loves us; because he pities us who fear him (Ps. ciii. 13); beca.use he remembers us in our low estate, and counts our tears, and desires our happiness and well-being. IT. RIB OWN DIVINE BENIGNITY AND HONOUR. (Vers.19, 20, 24.) "According to thine own heart;" that he may act like himself, with the boundless grace and goodnesH which belong{to his Divine nature. "That thy Na.me may be magnified for ever," etc. (ver. 24); that all nations may know that thou a.rt a faithful God, continuing thy loving- kindnesses, and redeeming thy word to the land that is so peculiarly thine own. We may well plead the nature of God as a very strong reason why be should bless us. If he grant our request "according to his own heart," if he :fill our treasury and satisfy our want in accordance with the tenderness of his heart, the strength and bounty of his hand, and to the glory of bis Na.me, we shall be enriched indeed. Ill HIB CARE FOB HIS CHUBCH. (Vere. 21, 22.) As David prayed God to ful61 all the good plea.sure of his will on account of Israel, whom be had redeemed and attached to himself by his special mercies, so may we ask for all great things to be done for us on account of that Church for which the Son of God suffered and died, which be "redeemed with his precious blood." IV. THE DIVINE PBOMISE. "The thing that thou bast spoken concerning thy servant," etc. (ver. 23; see also ver. 26). We have great promis~s to plead with_ God, based on his own inviolable word; and there ca.n be no more solid ground on which to build our hope in prayer to God. There is one additional plea with which we are familiar, but which the King of Israel lived far too soon to urge (see Luke x. 24). We plead with God- V. THE NAME AND WORK OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, For the sake of him who loved us and gave himself for us, who lived and died on our behalf, Y'? ask f?r all those blessings we need; for mercy, for acceptance and sonsbip, for Divine gu1dan~e a~d protection a.long the path of life, for the indwelling Spirit, for help and blessing m Christian work, for an abundant entrance into the kingdom of hea.ven.-C. Vers. 25-21.-0ur relation to the Divine promise. I. THAT GoD's PROMISE DOES NOT EXCLUDE THE PBOPRIETY OF oun PETITION. "Thou hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant ha.th found in his hc11rt to pray before thee" (ver. 25). The fact tha.t God has promised to do anything for us is a OH, xvn.1-27.J THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 287