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Bible Commentary
1 Chronicles

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1 Chronicles 17

1Ch 17:1

AFTER DAVID WAS SETTLED IN HIS PALACE: Having achieved peace with all his enemies round about (2Sa 7:1). The juxtaposition of two items -- David's bringing of the ark to Jerusalem (1Ch 13), and his desire to build a "house" for Yahweh -- indicates that, wrapped up in kingship, is the idea of the special access to Israel's God enjoyed by the king (cf Psa 2:7-8; 110:1; Jer 30:21). This is brought out in the "sonship" language of the promise.

The position of the promise in the record may remind us that David's darker moments, yet to come (2Sa 11-18), and known to the writer, will not obscure nor cancel the promises made to him and his house.

1Ch 17:2

Clearly Nathan is imposing his own view upon God here: Why WOULDN'T God want David to build Him a glorious house?

1Ch 17:4

YOU ARE THE ONE TO BUILD ME A HOUSE TO DWELL IN: Or, a question: "Are you the one...?"

"But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!" (1Ki 8:27). "However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet says: 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me?' says the Lord. 'Or where will my resting place be?' " (Act 7:48,49).

So David does not build a "house" for God, but God builds a "house" for David (1Ch 17:10).

1Ch 17:9

THEY CAN HAVE A HOME OF THEIR OWN AND NO LONGER BE DISTURBED: It is clearer from this record than the Samuel one that the reference to the house, although obviously referring to the great temple that Solomon would build, is, in a larger way referring to Jesus and his work. This house is made of people, and Jesus is the chief corner stone. Unlike the house that Solomon built for God, it will last for ever. To build an actual house, where moth and rust corrupt, is clearly a futile exercise, but the house that God will provide Himself is built for eternity.

1Ch 17:10

The promise that Yahweh would build a sure house for His priests is taken up and used to speak of David also: 1Sa 2:35; 2Sa 7:27; 1Ch 17:10.

1Ch 17:11

I WILL RAISE UP YOUR OFFSPRING TO SUCCEED YOU: David plainly understood this, in the first instance, to be fulfilled in his son Solomon: 1Ch 22:6-11.

1Ch 17:13

I WILL BE HIS FATHER, AND HE WILL BE MY SON: The Virgin Birth in the OT: Psa 71:6; 89:26,27; 110:3, LXX; Gen 3:15; 49:1,25; Isa 7:14; 49:1; Jer 31:22; Mic 5:1,2; 2Sa 7:14.

Plural application: to those in Christ: Gal 3:29; 2Co 6:18; Psa 89:30,32; 132:12. Also poss ref to Solomon: 1Ki 2:4,24.

1Ch 17:14

This will happen after David dies, but in his presence: 2Sa 7:16 (AV).

MY HOUSE: The royal house of David: In this covenant is revealed the selection of David's house as the family through whom the Messiah was to come: Note the development of the covenant:
  1. Adamic covenant: Gen 3:15.
  2. Abrahamic covenant: Gen 13:14-18. Immortal seed of Abraham will inherit the land of Palestine.
  3. Jacob's prophecy: Gen 49:8-10. Selection of the tribe of Judah as the royal tribe.
  4. Davidic covenant: 2Sa 7:12-16. Selection of the family of David as ancestors of the Messiah.
  5. Gabriel's visit to Mary: Luke 1:26-35. Selection of the virgin to bear the Son of God.
MY KINGDOM: = David's kingdom, of Israel, called also the Kingdom of God, and the kingdom of the Lord: 2Ch 13:8; 1Ch 28:5.

The key points are: (1) David's throne will be eternal (Psa 89:34-36; Isa 9:6,7; 55:1-3). (2) It will be established through a natural descendant of David (2Sa 7:12; Psa 132:11; Jer 33:17-21; Isa 11:1-5; Acts 2:30,31; 13:22,23; Luke 1:30-34). (3) Who would also be the Son of God (2Sa 7:14; Psa 89:26,27; Heb 1:5; Luke 1:32). (4) After David had died (2Sa 7:12,19; Act 2:29). (5) But in his presence (AV has "before you", instead of "before me"): Isa 24:23; Acts 15:16; Jer 30:9-11; 2Sa 23:5; Isa 9:6,7; Luk 1:32,33.

1Ch 17:16

David sat as a worshiper (2Sa 7:18), lay as a penitent (2Sa 12:16), and, stood as a servant (1Ch 28:2).

Sitting: for rest (Luk 8:35); for communion (Song 2:3), as disciples (Deu 33:3), in worship (2Sa 7:18-27), in resurrection (Eph 2:6), in glory (Rev 3:21).

"WHO AM I, O LORD LORD, AND WHAT IS MY FAMILY...?": "When we take the lowest place and 'seek not high things' we need have no fear of falling. Pride is the destroyer of men's souls. We rise in the balloon of our own self-esteem, only to fall to earth when our vanity is punctured. Most of our 'taking offence' and our super-sensitivity at criticism are but flowers which thrive in the garden of pride. The Man who became the world's outcast and bore the scorn of a people who should have reverenced him, had no pride to lose. He took no offense. Having become the servant of all, he had taken the lowest place. From the height of heaven the Spirit of God came to his lifeless body in the tomb of Gethsemane and called him to come forth. 'Friend, come up higher,' the words of the Lord's own parable, were exquisitely fulfilled in the Master himself. Exalted and given a name which is above every name, he received the blessing of immortality and was caught up to heaven to the presence of God the Father" (TMD 35).

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