The First Book of the Chronicles
1 Chronicles 17
Chapter XVII · Vol. II, pp. 829–830
1 Nathan, first approving the purpose of David to build God an house, 3 afterward by the word of God forbiddeth it. 11 He promiseth him blessings and benefits in his seed. 16 David's prayer and thanksgiving.
1 Now ita came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell bin an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains.
3 And dit came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,
d Is.55.8; 30.21. Ps.33.10,11. Je.10.23.
5 For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel1 unto this day; but have gone2 from tent fto tent, and from one tabernacle to another.
1 The Syriac, Arabic, and some MSS. add 'out of Egypt.' The going from tent to tent, and from tabernacle to tabernacle, alludes to the frequent changes of the site of that sacred shrine. 'I have transferred my tabernacle from Gilgal to Nob, from Nob to Shiloh, and from Shiloh to Gibeon' (Targum and Jarchi). It is clear from this, that it had not always been judged necessary that the ark should be exclusively set in the tabernacle framed under divine direction in the wilderness. Indeed we see in ch. 15. 1 that when David contemplated the removal of the ark from the house of Obed-edom, he 'prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.'—I.
2 Heb. have been.
f Ex.40.2. 2 Sa.6.17. 1 Ki.8.4,16.
6 Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges gof Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?
g Ju.2.16. 1 Sa.12.11. Ac.13.20. 1 Ki.8.16. 2 Sa.7.7.
7 Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, hI took thee from the sheep-cote, even from following3 the sheep,4 that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel;
h 2 Sa.7.8. 1 Sa.16.12,13. Ps.78.70-72; 113.7,8; 89.19,20. Ac.13.22.
3 Heb. from after.
4 He reminds David of his humble origin, that he may contrast with it the work of his mercy and power. Even so, the work of grace must not only commence in humbling the sinner, but when the believer is most 'exalted through the multitude of the revelations' of God's goodness, he must still be reminded by some 'thorn in the flesh' that he stands by grace, and by grace alone, 2 Co. 12. 7. 1 Co.10.12. Ro.11.20.—C.
8 And I ihave 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:
i 1 Sa. xvii.-xxxi. 2 Sa. ii.-v. Ps.113.7,8; 75.6,7. ch.14.17.
9 Also kI 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 lany 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 mwill build thee an house.
11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must ngo to be with thy fathers, that oI will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons;5 and I will establish his kingdom.
A.M. 2962. B.C. 1042.
n 2 Sa.7.12. 1 Ki.8.20. Ac.13.36. Ge.25.8.
o 2 Sa.7.12. Ps.132.12; 89.4,29. Ro.1.3. Is.9.6,7.
5 This expression clearly intimates that this promised son was not yet born, while the subsequent prophecies of establishing his throne 'for ever,' and 'for evermore,' clearly point to Messiah, who was truly of the seed of David according to the flesh, Ac.2.30.—C.
12 He shall pbuild me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.6
p ch.22.10. 1 Ki. v.-viii. Mat.16.18. Is.9.6,7. Zec.6.12,13.
6 Solomon was a type of Christ, David's Greater Son. This promise can be applied fully to Solomon only in his typical character. It received its fulfilment in Christ the antitype. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his throne is established for ever.—P.
13 Iq 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:
q 2 Sa.7.14. Ps.89.26-28; 2.7; 45.6. He.1.5. Da.2.44. 1 Co.15.25. Jn.12.34.
14 But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.
16 And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, sWho am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
s 2 Sa.7.18-23. Ge.32.10. Job 7.17. Ps.8.4; 144.3. 1 Co.15.9,10. Ep.3.8.
17 And yet tthis 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 uregarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree,7 O LORD God.
t ver.7,8. 2 Sa.7.19; 12.8. Is.49.6.
u Ps.89.19-29; 78.70,71. 1 Ki.3.13. Ep.3.20. Is.49.6-9. Phi.2.8-11. Mat.28.18.
7 'Thou hast regarded me according to the order of the Adam—the man—from above the exalted.' See notes on 2 Sa. 7. 14, 18. C.—Pye Smith shows its reference to the Messiah, and adds, 'We collect from it that the Messiah would at an epoch remotely future descend from David, that he would be the pre-eminent man, sustaining a relation to the human race analogous to that of the first Adam, being in some peculiar sense from above, and communicating blessings to the world, by means of his most righteous, beneficent, and universal reign.'—I.
19 O LORD, for ythy servant's sake,9 and zaccording to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.1
20 O LORD, there is anone like thee, neither is there any God besides thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
21 And bwhat 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 cpeople Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God.
23 Therefore now, LORD, dlet 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, ethat thy name2 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.
e Mat.6.9. Jn.12.28. 1 Pe.4.11. Pr.16.4. Is.44.23; 23.15,16. 1 Co.10.31.
2 The name of God has been progressively revealed, not because God would add to his titles, but because by his name he reveals his nature, and reveals the perfections of that nature as the necessities of the church have from time to time required.—C.
25 For thou, O my God, fhast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath gfound in his heart to pray before thee.
Notes
Reflections.—Every true fearer of God is solicitous to have his glory set forth. And God's ministers especially ought to encourage every good word and work. Gracious desires, even where ineffectual, are highly regarded of God. But outward pomp in his worship and service is little esteemed in his sight. Earnest desires and endeavours to build a house to the Lord are the best methods to raise up our own. Blessings on our children are mercies to ourselves. But in Christ himself, as our all and in all, the promises have their complete fulfilment. With what deep humility we ought to approach unto God! Those are the truly honourable of the earth whom he regards; and it is the glory of the highest monarchs to be his servants. As there is none like him, so there is no happiness like to a sense of his favour. With ravishing wonder, and believing confidence, we may plead his promises. And if we keep his true word of grace, we shall partake of his everlasting glory.