Bible Commentaries
1 Chronicles 17

Introduction

First Chronicles Chapter 17

1 Chronicles 17:1 "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."

David is very pleased with his own home made with cedar. He is, also, pleased with the ark of the covenant being in Jerusalem now. David did not want to have a more expensive house to live in himself than the house the ark was in. He was deeply convicted that he wanted the LORD’s house to be greater than his own. Nathan is spoken of specifically here as the prophet. The eighth son of David was, also, named Nathan, but this does not mean him. In fact, David’s son could have been named for Nathan, the prophet. David had great respect for the prophet, Nathan.

1 Chronicles 17:2 "Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that [is] in thine heart; for God [is] with thee."

Nathan speaks hastily here. He knows that David loves the LORD in his heart. He knows that this is not just a spur of the moment thing with David. He had thought it out, and it was his desire to build a house for the LORD. God is with David.

1 Chronicles 17:3 "And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,"

1 Chronicles 17:4 "Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:"

1 Chronicles 17:5 "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]."

Perhaps, when Nathan got alone that night, the Word of the LORD came to him. Sometimes, the desires of our heart to do for the LORD, are not the exact plan He has for us. David’s intentions were good, but he had not been chosen of God to do that particular task. This would be a difficult thing to tell David, especially since he had already told him to go ahead. Nathan spoke before he had the Word from the LORD. Now, he must go and tell David of this. The LORD is saying, that He is perfectly satisfied to dwell in the tent that David prepared for him. He had dwelt in the tabernacle, which was really a tent, on their journey to the promised land.

1 Chronicles 17:6 "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?"

Had God wanted a house of cedar, He would have told the judges. God had never asked anyone to build him a house of cedar. God brought prosperity and peace during the reign of each of the judges.

1 Chronicles 17:7 "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:"

God had chosen David, when he was a humble little shepherd boy, and anointed him to be king of all Israel. This sheepcote was out with the sheep. God elevated David to what he was at this time. God made David king in Saul’s stead.

1 Chronicles 17:8 "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."

God had been with David in the past, and would continue to be with him. God helped him, when he was running from Saul. He, also, helped him gain the kingdom. God would continue to bless him as king of Israel. His name was great among his enemies, because the enemies knew God was with him.

1 Chronicles 17:9 "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,"

The place that God had chosen for Israel was the promised land. It was the inheritance on the western side of Jordan that he had given to the nine and a half tribes, and the land on the eastern side of Jordan that He had given to the two and a half tribes of Israel. This will be their inheritance forever. God will be their God, and the city of their God will be Jerusalem.

1 Chronicles 17:10 "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."

God gave protection in the time of the judges. God would even bless the time of the kings, if they would remain faithful to him. God fought the battles for Israel, when they were keeping His commandments. God had promised that there would always be a king on the throne of Israel from the house of David.

1 Chronicles 17:11 "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."

David’s reign was for 40 years, including the time he ruled in just Judah. Solomon’s reign would be for 40 years, as well. God will establish the reign of Solomon.

1 Chronicles 17:12 "He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever."

This is a promise to David that God will, indeed, allow Solomon to build the house that he had wanted to build. God will establish peace in the kingdom, and there will be a time of peace to build the temple.

1 Chronicles 17:13 "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:"

Saul displeased God so greatly, that God had taken the kingdom away from him. God anointed David king before the death of Saul. The promise to David was that God would not deal as harshly with Solomon, as He did with Saul.

1 Chronicles 17:14 "But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore."

The King that reigns on the throne forever, that descends from David in the flesh, is the Lord Jesus Christ. This, I believe is speaking of the reign of Jesus.

1 Chronicles 17:15 "According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David."

We remember, at the beginning of this, that God was speaking to David through the prophet Nathan.

1 Chronicles 17:16 "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?"

Whether this is saying that David sat before the ark, which symbolized the presence of God, or not, I cannot say. He, at least, was praying to the LORD. He was so humbled by this, that he asked the LORD, "Who am I, that this should happen to me"?

1 Chronicles 17:17 "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."

David was aware that this promise from God goes far beyond the next generation. David could not imagine why God would have chosen him for such great honor. David realized that the things that had already been done for him by God, was as if he was a great man. He is saying, I am no more than a shepherd, how would I deserve this? Now, the prospect of the kingdom remaining in his descendents forever was almost more than he could imagine.

1 Chronicles 17:18 "What can David [speak] more to thee for the honour of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant."

David was aware that all of the things he had said were useless, because God knew everything about him already. He is saying, "What could I say that you do not already know"?

1 Chronicles 17:19 "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."

All of this is because of the great love that God had for David. David was aware that he did not deserve this honor. God was doing it for David’s sake because he loved God in his heart. God loved David, was the only reason God promised him this.

1 Chronicles 17:20 "O LORD, [there is] none like thee, neither [is there any] God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears."

David had been raised up to believe in God. He was from a Hebrew family. They had taught David about the wonderful things God had done for His people. Even all of those wonderful things he had heard of God, did not compare with this. David was overwhelmed by the greatness of God. David reaffirmed his faith in God, and Him alone.

1 Chronicles 17:21 "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?"

This tiny little nation had become great, because God had chosen them for His people. It was God who went and redeemed them out of Egypt. We have said, over and over, that it was the God of the Israelites that the other nations feared. Even the nations around them realized that Israel’s God was God. His greatness and terribleness brought many of them to that conclusion. Moses went as God’s agent to redeem the people, but it was actually God who redeemed them.

1 Chronicles 17:22 "For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God."

God had chosen them to be His people and all He wanted from them was to be their God. He wanted them to love Him enough to keep His commandments.

1 Chronicles 17:23 "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."

This is a statement from David, that he wished it to be just as God had said.

1 Chronicles 17:24 "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."

David realized that all of the honor and glory should go to the LORD. David had decided that God would always be his God. David would like to promise that the house of Israel would be faithful, but he could not promise that.

1 Chronicles 17:25 "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."

It was almost as if David was saying, "You have promised me all these things and I know you keep your Word". He says, "The least I can do is bring my prayer requests to you". David was very humbled that God would bring this great honor to his house.

1 Chronicles 17:26 "And now, LORD, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:"

1 Chronicles 17:27 "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."

This is, again, a re-affirming that he believed in the LORD with all his heart. The promises that God made David were so fabulous, it seemed too good to be true, but David knew it was. He accepted the blessings God had showered on his house.

1 Chronicles 17 Questions

1. In 1 Chronicles 17:1, David said he lived in a house of _________.

2. He, also, said the ark of the covenant remaineth under ___________.

3. Who is the prophet in 1 Chronicles 17:1?

4. In 1 Chronicles 17:2, what does Nathan tell David to do?

5. What was the desire of David’s heart?

6. What did the Word of God tell Nathan to do?

7. In 1 Chronicles 17:5, what reason does God give David, for not wanting him to build Him a house?

8. Who had God specifically mentioned that He did not tell to build Him a house?

9. God had chosen David, when he was a humble ________ ______.

10. Who was David to rule over as king?

11. Where was the place God had chosen for His people to dwell?

12. The city of their God will be ____________.

13. Who is 1 Chronicles 17:11 speaking of as David’s son?

14. How long did David reign?

15. How long did Solomon reign?

16. Who will build the temple to the LORD?

17. Why had God destroyed Saul?

18. Who is the King who reigns forever?

19. Where did David pray?

20. What had David realized about these promises God had made?

21. Why was it useless for David to speak of himself?

22. David had heard of the greatness of God from where?

23. Why had this tiny little nation of Israel become great?

24. What is David saying in 1 Chronicles 17:23?

25. What are 1 Chronicles 17:26 and 1 Chronicles 17:27 re-affirming?

Verses 1-15

1Ch 17:1-15

1 Chronicles 17:1-15

GOD REJECTS DAVID’S PURPOSE TO BUILD

A TEMPLE BUT PROMISES THE MESSIAH

WHOSE THRONE WOULD LAST FOREVER;

DAVID’S PRAYER OF RESPONSE

"And it came to pass, when David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of Jehovah dwelleth under curtains. And Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thy heart; for God is with thee. And it came to pass the same night, that the Word of God came to Nathan, saying, Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith Jehovah. Thou shalt not build me a house to dwell in: for I have not dwelt in a 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. In all places wherein I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people, saying, Why have ye not built me a house of cedar? Now therefore thus shalt thou say to my servant David, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be prince over my people Israel: and I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast gone, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee; and I will make thee a name, like unto the name of the great ones that are in the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the first, and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will subdue all thine enemies. Moreover I tell thee that Jehovah will build thee a house. And it shall come to pass, when thy days are fulfilled that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will set up thy seed after thee, who shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build me a house; and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee; but I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David."

2 Samuel 7:1-17 is parallel to these fifteen verses.

The variations in the two accounts are not significant. God’s prohibition against David’s intention of building God a house was stated in the form of a question in 2Samuel, but appears here as a positive commandment forbidding it. The meaning is the same either way. The Hebrew method of making a negative statement frequently took the form of a question as in Luke 18:8.

Also, both accounts make it absolutely certain that the passage has no reference whatever to Solomon. This, of course, is disputed. Jacob M. Myers, for example, wrote that, "Verse 11 must not be made to bear too much weight ... it seems to refer only to Solomon." However, it is impossible to put "too much weight" on verse 11! It thunders the message, found also in the parallel, that the Great One who would build God a house would appear after (yes, that’s the word, AFTER) David’s death; and Solomon did not appear after David’s decease, but during his lifetime and was co-regent with him for a period. See our extensive comment on this in the parallel.

E.M. Zerr:

1 Chronicles 17:1. David had built himself a house, for which Hiram. King of Tyre, had furnished men and materials. (Ch. 14:1, 2.) But the ark was kept in a tent which seemed inappropriate. He felt unworthy to have a better dwelling-house than was provided for the ark of God. The mere statement of this fact was all he said to Nathan the prophet. This was a different man from Nathan the son of David.

1 Chronicles 17:2. Prophets were inspired to write or speak when God wished to give some communication through them. (Hebrews 1:1.) At other times they were as other men, and might express an opinion that would prove to be in error. David had been so well favored of the Lord that Nathan supposed he would approve of the plan to build a house.

1 Chronicles 17:3. This verse gives a clear instance of how God worked with his prophets. When he had some communication he wished to give, he would contact the man for the service. It was done in the case of Samuel (1 Samuel 3:4), and once with Isaiah. (2 Kings 19:20-21.)

1 Chronicles 17:4-5. There was but one tabernacle built by Moses which was used all through the wandering. But it was moved from place to place, which is the meaning of from tent to tent, etc. The same tent (tabernacle) was used for many generations after the children of Israel got settled in Canaan.

1 Chronicles 17:6. The point in this verse is that no reason existed for David’s feeling of neglect, for God had not made any complaint at not having a house for his name.

1 Chronicles 17:7-9. It is best to group these verses into one paragraph because of the one thought running through them. David feared that he would be charged with indifference toward the matters of the Lord, and that the nation might be in danger of some penalty for the neglect. Against such an idea the Lord recalled the promotion that had been made for him, elevating him from the humble calling of tending sheep to the great honor of being king of God’s people. And no fear needed to have been felt as to the security of the people, for the cutting off of the enemy nations was evidence that God would not neglect his inheritance. Therefore, the absence of a building for the Lord was not endangering the welfare of the nation.

1 Chronicles 17:10. The watch-care of God had continued through the long period of the judges, and it was destined still to continue. All of these things were said to David to set his mind at ease as to the immediate necessity for a permanent building. However, lest he might get the impression that God opposed his desire because it was wrong to build a house, he was told that such a structure would yet be built. He will be told later why he was not permitted to build it.

1 Chronicles 17:11. Many of the predictions made in olden times, both favorable and unfavorable, were to be fulfilled on the generations after the ones to whom the predictions were made. (Genesis 12:3; Genesis 48:22, 2 Kings 20:17-19.) It was good news to David to be told that his son was to continue in the kingdom after him.

1 Chronicles 17:12. Had it been wrong in principle to have a permanent structure, God would not permit anyone to build it. The reason why David was not permitted to build the house is stated in 1 Chronicles 22:8-9, which will be commented upon in the proper place. For ever means "throughout the age." Had all things gone well, the house and throne built and enjoyed by Solomon would have continued to the end of the (Jewish) age. The Babylonian Captivity was brought on because of the disobedience of the nation, and it made an interruption into the existence of the temple and reign of the nation over which Solomon had been king.

1 Chronicles 17:13. Father and son. are named in this way to express the closeness that was to exist between God and the king. Him that was before thee refers to Saul, who became so unworthy that God withdrew all favors from him and permitted him to die in disgrace. Solomon was chastened of the Lord, but did not end his days as did Saul.

1 Chronicles 17:14-15. Forever and evermore are explained by my comments 1 Chronicles 17:12. The communication was delivered to Nathan the prophet and he gave it to David. (Hebrews 1:1.)

Verses 16-27

1Ch 17:16-27

1 Chronicles 17:16-27

DAVID’S PRAYER OF RESPONSE

"Then David the king went in, and sat before Jehovah; and said, Who am I, O Jehovah God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far? And this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; but thou hast 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 Jehovah God. What can David say yet more unto thee concerning the honor which is done to thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant. O Jehovah, for thy servant’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou wrought all this greatness, to make known all these great things. O Jehovah, there is none like thee, neither is there any god besides thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears, and what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem unto himself for a people, to make thee a name by great and terrible things, in driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou redeemedst out of Egypt? For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people forever; and thou Jehovah becamest their God. And now, O Jehovah, let the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, be established forever, and do as thou hast spoken. And let thy name be established and magnified forever, saying, Jehovah of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and the house of David thy servant is established before thee. For thou, O my God, hast revealed to thy servant that thou wilt build him a house: therefore hast thy servant found in his heart to pray before thee. And now, O Jehovah, thou art God, and hast promised this good thing unto thy servant: and now it hath pleased thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue forever before thee: for thou, O Jehovah, hast blessed, and it is blessed for ever."

These verses are parallel to 2 Samuel 7:18-29; and, "The Chronicler followed his source quite closely, with insignificant variations."

We have written three pages of comments on these verses in our Commentary on 2Samuel, pp. 85-97.

There is a strong likelihood that David, at first, understood that "house" which the Lord said would be built as a reference to the physical temple later erected by Solomon; but there is every reason to believe that David later realized that the promise included the coming of one much Greater than Solomon, that the true temple of God was in heaven, and that God’s Israel was in no manner whatever limited to any race of men.

The Messianic promises of the Psalms, especially in many of them that were written by David, abundantly prove this ultimate understanding on David’s part.

The critical notion that this text teaches that Solomon would be the builder of that promised "house" is effectively refuted by 1 Chronicles 17:25, above, in which David made it crystal clear that he understood the builder of that house to be, not Solomon, or any other mortal, but God Himself.

E.M. Zerr:

1 Chronicles 17:16-19. Gratitude is again expressed by David for the great attention God gave to him. He was humble and felt unworthy of such favors. He was unselfish also in that he appreciated the promises that were to be fulfilled after his death.

1 Chronicles 17:20. In those days of prevailing idolatry it was especially appropriate to contrast the God of Israel with all the heathen gods.

1 Chronicles 17:21. Two great events in the history of the children of Israel are referred to; deliverance from Egypt and settling in Canaan. Both required a powerful hand, for Egypt was a strong nation and Canaan was being usurped by strong idolatrous nations. God took his chosen race and gave them success over all foes. A name ... terribleness. The second word is from the same Hebrew word as "reverend" in Psalms 111:9. One meaning of it is, "to revere." The expression means to respect the name of God. It is true also that the name of God means something terrible in the common sense of the word, to those who will not respect it. The heathen nations learned to their sorrow how terrible it was to show disrespect for the holy name of God.

1 Chronicles 17:22. In the general sense of the word ever, God designed Israel to be his people to the end of that age. In an extended and moral sense, he offered to make them his beloved possession endlessly on condition of their faithfulness to him.

1 Chronicles 17:23. David gladly submitted to the plans of the Lord, and connected himself with the house that was to be built. That is, he regarded his own honor as being bound up with that of the house.

1 Chronicles 17:24. The worthy motive of David’s wish was that God’s name might be magnified. His own glory was not important, but it was more desirable to have the glory of God’s name become manifest to the idolatrous nations.

1 Chronicles 17:25-27. The promises of God gave David the heart to offer this prayer. That principle is true today with the true servants of God. By the same token we may justly conclude that when a professed follower of the Lord does not have the heart to pray, it is because he does not believe the promises made by the. Lord.