Journal: Reformed Presbyterian Theological Journal
Volume: RPTJ 10:1 (Fall 2023)
Article: David’s Prayer
Author: Clayton J. Williams

RPTJ 10:1 (Fall 2023) p. 47

David’s Prayer

Clayton J. Williams

Professor of Old Testament Studies
Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary

¹⁰ Therefore David blessed the Lord before all the assembly; and David said:

“Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever.
¹¹ Yours, O Lord, is the greatness,
The power and the glory,
The victory and the majesty;
For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;
Yours is the kingdom, O Lord,
And You are exalted as head over all.
¹² Both riches and honor come from You,
And You reign over all.
In Your hand is power and might;
In Your hand it is to make great
And to give strength to all.

¹³ “Now therefore, our God,
We thank You
And praise Your glorious name.
¹⁴ But who am I, and who are my people,
That we should be able to offer so willingly as this?
For all things come from You,
And of Your own we have given You.
¹⁵ For we are aliens and pilgrims before You,
As were all our fathers;
Our days on earth are as a shadow,
And without hope.

¹⁶ “O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own. ¹⁷ I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You. ¹⁸ O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and fix their heart toward You. ¹⁹ And give my son Solomon a loyal heart to keep Your commandments and Your testimonies and Your statutes, to do all these things, and to build the temple for which I have made provision” (1 Chronicles 29:10–19, NKJV)

When one of Christ’s disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1, NASB), he expressed a need that we all have. Just as our parents teach us to speak during the first few years

RPTJ 10:1 (Fall 2023) p. 48

of life, we need to be taught how to speak to our heavenly Father—how to pray—once we enter into new life in Christ. Our Lord responded to this question with the most famous prayer of the Bible, the Lord’s Prayer, which every believer comes to know by heart. But before the advent of Christ, the ancient saints had just as much of a need to know how to pray, and...