1 Chronicles 17

1 Chronicles 17:1-15

This chapter contains, 1. God’s acceptance of David’s purpose to build him on house, and the promise he made him thereupon, ver. 1—14. 2. David’s thoughtfulness for the promise, and prayer for its fulfillment, ver. 16—27.

1. NOW it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan thy prophet, ‘Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant

of the LORD remained under curtains. 2. Then Nathan said unto David, ‘Do all that is in thine heart, for God is with thee. 3. ¶ And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4. Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in. 5. For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel, unto this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from our tabernacle to another. 6. Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel (whom I commanded to feed my people) saying, Why have ye not build me an house of cedars? 7. Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, ‘I took thee from the sheep-cure, ever from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel: 8. And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth. 9. Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waite them any more: (as at the beginning, 10. And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel) moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore, I tell thee, that the LORD will build thee an house. 11. ¶ And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired, that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12. He shall build me an house, and I will establish his throne for ever. 13. I will be his father, and he shall be my son, and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee. 14. But I will settle him in mine house, and in my kingdom for ever, and his throne shall be established for evermore. 15. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

David’s pious purpose, Nathan’s encouragement, and God’s gracious acceptance of his intentions, though he restrained him from the service, we had before, 2 Rev. vii. We may observe, [1.] How solicitous the heart of every faithful Israelite is, that God’s glory may be set forth. [2.] That God’s ministers should delight to encourage others, to every good word and work. [3.] A gracious desire, though ineffectual, is not forgotten of God. [4.] Blessings on our children, are mercies to ourselves. [5.] In Jesus Christ is the promise fulfilled, v. 14. who is exalted to sit upon the throne of David for ever and ever.

16. ¶ And David the king came, and sat before the LORD, and said, ‘Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto.’ 17. And ‘yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God, for thou hast also spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God. 18. What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? For thou knowest thy servant. 19. O LORD, for thy servant’s sake, and according to thine own heart hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all those great things. 20. O LORD, where in thine like thee, neither is there any God bestows thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 21. And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by drawing out nations from before thy people whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt? 22. For thy people Israel did thou make thine own people for ever, and thou, LORD, becamest their God. 23. Therefore now, LORD, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, be established for ever, and do as thou hast said. 24. Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, I to LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee. 25. For thou, O my God, hast

thy servant, that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee. 26. And now, LORD (thou art God, and hath promised this goodness unto thy servant). 27. Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blesseth, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever.

1 Chronicles 17:16-27

David’s prayer differs little here from the former, but in a few expressions. It reaches, (1.) With what deep humility we should approach God, v. 16. (2.) That those are the truly honourable of the earth, whom God regards, v. 17. (3.) That the highest glory of the greatest king, is to be the servant of God, v. 18. (4.) As there is no God like the Lord, so there is no happiness equal to a sense of his favour. (5.) When we have God’s promises, we may confidently plead them, and be assured we shall be heard and answered. (6.) Then who now share in God’s covenant of grace, will affriendly partake of everlasting glory.