1. The Presence of God in prayer
18Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said...
2 Samuel 7:18 (ESV)
11You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11 (ESV)
2. The Praise to God in prayer
18...“Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD! 20And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD! 21Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. 22Therefore you are great, O LORD God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
2 Samuel 7:18-22 (ESV)
David praises God both for Who He is and what He has done. Psalm 104:1
3. The Faithfulness of God in prayer
23And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? 24And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O LORD, became their God.
2 Samuel 7:23-24 (ESV)
God’s covenant faithfulness relates to the community of Israel, and we should also perceive His faithfulness in relation to the community of our local church. Psalm 89:1
4. The Glory of God in prayer
25And now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. 26And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. 27For you, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.
2 Samuel 7:25-27 (ESV)
David reminds us that our primary motive for everything we pray should be for the glory of God.
5. The Petition to God in Prayer
28And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 29Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”
2 Samuel 7:28-29 (ESV)
We should petition God along the lines of what He has promised to do. Psalm 119:81-82
Faith is the vehicle through which many of God’s promises flow.