"A Longing Satisfied"

"Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah." (Psalms 21:2) If you have ever had a longing satisfied by the Lord, then you might be able to relate to the expression of this that David is trying to put forth. When we are speaking about "heart's desire", it is something that is longed for with a great deal of soul searching and anguish, such as would be the case when David prayed and fasted for God to spare the life of that child that was conceived in adultery with Bathsheba; of course, that was not what happen, but his desire was that God would save it. I am sure that there were many things in David's life that could be considered as desires in his heart, but one in particular was that his kingship should stand for something. Of all the things that God had spoken into David's heart, that which was most well received was that upon David's throne would God establish His kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:8-16); and as we see David's reply, just as Abraham had believed, so too David had believed the LORD his God would do that which He had promised. And then there came many trials and temptations; all of which had taken David to the point of great despair and even doubt as to whether God would still fulfill His promise through him; yet, David had something special in his heart, something called a relationship with his Heavenly Father! What a difference there is between our earthly father and our Heavenly Father! If we were to base our relationship with God upon that which we know of our earthly father, then we fall greatly short in the area of trust; there is no comparison to the two, nor should we ever try and think that there is. David believed that God would do what He said that He would, despite David's sins and even his doubt; because God said that He would, therefore, if God said it, then He will do it! But, to understand David's heart in this matter, we should listen to his own words, and write them upon our own hearts: "Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou has brought me hitherto? And this was yet a small thing in Thy sight, O Lord God; but Thou hast spoken also of Thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord God? And what can David say more unto Thee? for Thou, Lord God, knowest Thy servant. For Thy word's sake, and according to Thine own heart, hast Thou done all these great things, to make Thy servant know them. Wherefore Thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like unto Thee, neither is there any God beside Thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And what one nation in the earth is like Thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to Himself, and to make Him a name, and to do for You great things and terrible, for Thy land, before Thy people, which Thou redeemest to Thee from Egypt, from the nations and their god's? For Thou hast confirmed to Thyself Thy people Israel to be a people unto Thee forever: and Thou, Lord, art become their God. And now, Lord God, the word that Thou hast spoken concerning Thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it, forever, and do as Thou hast said. And let Thy name be magnified forever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of Thy servant David be established before Thee. For Thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to Thy servant, saying, I will build thee a house: therefore hath Thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto Thee. And now, O Lord God, Thou art God, and Thy words be true, and Thou hast promised this goodness unto Thy servant: therefore now let it please Thee to bless the house of Thy servant, that it may continue forever before Thee: for Thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it: and with Thy blessings let the house of Thy servant be blessed forever." (2 Samuel 7:18-29)