1 Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth 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 one 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 built 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 sheepcote, even 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 waste 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 stablish 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.
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 honor 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 these great things.
20 O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside 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 driving out nations from before thy people whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?
22 For thy people Israel didst 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, The 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 told 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 hast 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 blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever.
The book of 1 Chronicles is a historical record of the people of Israel, focusing on the genealogy of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. It also includes details of the reigns of King David and King Solomon. Chapter 17 of 1 Chronicles continues the narrative of David's reign and his desire to build a temple for the Lord. This chapter highlights the covenant between God and David, and the promise of an everlasting kingdom through his descendants.
The chapter begins with David's desire to build a temple for the Lord. In the previous chapter, David had brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and had settled in his palace. David's heart was burdened because the Ark of the Covenant was still housed in a tent, while he lived in a palace made of cedar. He expressed his desire to build a temple for the Lord to Nathan the prophet, who initially gave him the go-ahead.
However, that same night, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, instructing him to tell David that he was not the one to build a temple for the Lord. Instead, God would establish a kingdom for David, and his son would be the one to build the temple.
After receiving the message from the Lord, Nathan relayed it to David. He reminded David of his humble beginnings as a shepherd and how God had been with him every step of the way, from defeating Goliath to establishing his kingdom. Then, Nathan delivered the message from God, stating that God would build a house for David.
This was not a physical house, but rather a promise of an eternal dynasty. God promised to establish David's kingdom and to raise up one of his descendants to sit on the throne forever. This promise was a continuation of the covenant God made with David in 2 Samuel 7, where He promised to establish David's throne forever.
This covenant was significant because it showed God's faithfulness to His promises and His love for David. Despite David's past mistakes, God still chose him to be the one to establish an everlasting kingdom. This covenant also foreshadowed the coming of Jesus Christ, who would be the ultimate fulfillment of this promise.
Upon hearing God's promise, David was filled with gratitude and humility. He sat before the Lord and prayed, acknowledging God's greatness and faithfulness. He praised God for choosing him and his family to be a part of His plan and for making a name for Himself through them.
David also expressed his desire to build a temple for the Lord, even though he knew he was not the one to do it. He gathered all the materials needed for the temple and handed them over to his son Solomon, who would be the one to build it.
Chapter 17 of 1 Chronicles is a testament to God's faithfulness and love for His people. It highlights the covenant between God and David, which was a promise of an everlasting kingdom through his descendants. This covenant was a foreshadowing of the coming of Jesus Christ, who would be the ultimate fulfillment of this promise. David's response to this covenant showed his humility and gratitude towards God, and his desire to honor Him by building a temple. Overall, this chapter teaches us about God's sovereignty and His plan to establish an eternal kingdom through His chosen people.
Chapter 17 of 1 Chronicles holds several important lessons and meanings for readers today. Through the story of David and God's covenant, we can learn about God's faithfulness, His sovereignty, and His plan for our lives.
God's Faithfulness
One of the main themes of this chapter is God's faithfulness. Despite David's past mistakes, God remained faithful to His promise to establish his kingdom forever. This shows us that God's love and faithfulness are not dependent on our actions or merit. He is faithful to His promises, and His love for us is unconditional.
This is an important lesson for us today, as we can often feel unworthy of God's love and promises due to our own shortcomings. However, the story of David reminds us that God's faithfulness is not based on our actions, but on His character.
God's Sovereignty
The covenant between God and David also highlights God's sovereignty. He chose David, a humble shepherd, to be the one to establish an everlasting kingdom. This shows us that God's plans and purposes are not limited by human expectations or qualifications.
God's sovereignty also brings comfort and assurance to believers. We can trust that His plans for us are good, and He is in control of all things. This gives us hope and peace, knowing that our lives are in the hands of a loving and sovereign God.
God's Plan for Our Lives
Through the covenant with David, we can also see God's plan for our lives. Just as He had a specific plan for David and his descendants, He also has a plan for each of us. This plan may not always align with our own desires or expectations, but we can trust that God's plan is perfect and will ultimately bring glory to His name.
David's response to God's covenant also teaches us about our role in God's plan. Despite knowing that he was not the one to build the temple, David still gathered all the materials and prepared for it. This shows us that even when we may not be the ones to fulfill God's plans, we still have a role to play in preparing the way for others.
Chapter 17 of 1 Chronicles is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness, sovereignty, and plan for our lives. It teaches us to trust in God's promises and to have humility and gratitude towards Him. Through the covenant between God and David, we can see the bigger picture of God's plan for salvation and the establishment of an eternal kingdom through Jesus Christ. As we read and reflect on this chapter, may we be reminded of God's love for us and His perfect plan for our lives.
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