1 Chronicles 17
McGeeCHAPTER 17THEME: David and the templeDavid’s desire to build God a house so delighted the Lord that He repeats the entire episode as recorded in 2 Samuel 7.
1 Chronicles 17:1
I think it rained the night before, and as David heard the pitter-patter of the rain on his palace, he thought of the ark of God out there in a tent. Now David says to Nathan, “I want to build God a house.”
1 Chronicles 17:2
Nathan said what he thought was right. I am very sympathetic with Nathan. However, here is a case when a prophet of God was wrong. God will have to straighten him out.
1 Chronicles 17:3
God always identifies Himself with His people, which is the reason He took upon Himself our humanity, my friend. Back in the Old Testament He met with His people in a tent because they lived in tents.
1 Chronicles 17:6
Now when the people of Israel moved into the Promised Land and built permanent homes, there was no permanent temple built. And God says that He didn’t say to them, “Why haven’t you built Me a house of cedars?” But this desire has come into the heart of David.
1 Chronicles 17:7
God told Nathan to deliver a message to David. God said to David, in effect, “I don’t want you ever to forget your humble beginning. I went down and picked you up, a little shepherd boy, and I made you king over My people.” God made David great like the great men in the earth. David stands as one of the great men of history.
1 Chronicles 17:9
God says the day will come when He will put Israel in that land, and then they will have peace. They will turn to Jehovah God in that daythey are still far from that. There is quite a division in Israel today as to whether or not they should even follow the orthodox viewpoint.
1 Chronicles 17:10
Isn’t this just like our God? David had said, “I want to build God a house.” God said, “David, you can’t do it. You are a bloody man, and I can’t let you build the temple. But I will build you a house.” It was in David’s heart to build God a house, and God gave him credit for it.
1 Chronicles 17:11
Who is this One? Notice God’s message to the virgin Mary: “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luk_1:31-33). The great covenant which God made with David is to be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
1 Chronicles 17:13
God means this. God will build a Kingdom on this earth, and Jesus Christ is coming to establish that Kingdom.
1 Chronicles 17:15
As we have said, this entire incident was recorded in 2 Samuel 7. And here in Chronicles He goes over it again because He considers it important.
1 Chronicles 17:16
Notice the reaction of David. “I just don’t understand your goodness, your grace, and your mercy.” My friend, I am another one who can say the same thing. Why has God been so good to me? Why has God been so good to you? Our God is not short on mercy, is He? Oh, to come to Him and have a personal communication with Himwe have a communication from Him, His Word.
1 Chronicles 17:17
That is a remarkable statement. They were looking for One to come. He was to be of the seed of the woman. He was to be from Abraham; He was to come from the tribe of Judah; now we are told that He will be in the family of David. David is overwhelmed by the fact that the Messiah will be in his line.
1 Chronicles 17:18
Have you ever poured out your heart to God until you didn’t have anything left to say? This is David’s state here. He had poured out his heart and is empty. He is just sitting there before God.
1 Chronicles 17:19
Did God do all of this for David because he was a nice boy? No, he wasn’t always a nice boy. Neither did God save you and me before we were nice folk. He saved us because of His marvelous, infinite grace. He does so many special things for us, not because of our goodness, but because of His goodness. David is overwhelmed by what God has told him. It is no wonder he could sing those beautiful psalms.
1 Chronicles 17:20
My, what a privilege to have a God like this!
1 Chronicles 17:21
David reviews and marvels at God’s grace to the nation Israel.
1 Chronicles 17:23
David believed and rested upon what God had promised.