1 Chronicles 17 Bible Commentary

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 ^a cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD [remaineth] under ^b curtains.

(a) Well built and fair.
(b) That is, in tents covered with skin.

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

(c) As yet God had not revealed to the prophet what he purposed concerning David, therefore seeing God favoured David, he spoke what he thought.

17:3 And it came to pass the same ^d night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

(d) After Nathan had spoken to David.

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 ^e tent to tent, and from [one] tabernacle [to another].

(e) That is, in a tent which moved to and fro.

17:6 Wheresoever I have ^f 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?

(f) Meaning, wherever his ark went, which was a sign of his presence.

17:7 Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, ^g [even] from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel:

(g) Of a shepherd of sheep I made you a shepherd of men: so that you did not come to this dignity through your own merits, but by my pure grace.

17:9 Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will ^h 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,

(h) Make them sure that they will not move.

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 ⁱ build thee an house.

(i) Will give you great posterity.

17:12 He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ^k ever.

(k) That is, to the coming of Christ: for then these figures would cease.

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 ^l thee:

(l) Which was Saul.

17:16 And David the king ^m came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who [am] I, O LORD God, and what [is] mine house, that thou hast brought me ⁿ hitherto?

(m) He went into the tent where the Ark was, showing what we should do when we receive any benefits from the Lord.
(n) Meaning to this kingly estate.

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 ^o high degree, O LORD God.

(o) You have promised a kingdom that will continue to me and my posterity and that Christ will proceed from me.

17:19 O LORD, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own ^p heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all [these] great things.

(p) Freely and according to the purpose of your will, without any deserving.

17:24 Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts [is] the God of ^q Israel, [even] a God to Israel: and [let] the house of David thy servant [be] established before thee.

(q) That is, he shows himself indeed to be their God, by delivering them from dangers, and preserving them.

17:25 For thou, O my God, hast ^r told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found [in his heart] to pray before thee.

(r) You have declared to me by Nathan the prophet.