Analysis of 1 Chronicles Chapter 17
Chapter 17 of 1 Chronicles is a significant passage that reveals God’s covenant with David. This chapter contains a dialogical narrative between God, David, and the prophet Nathan. The focal point of this chapter is the divine promise concerning David’s dynasty and the future construction of the Temple.
1 Chronicles 17:1-2: David’s Initial Intentions
In the opening verses, David expresses his desire to build a house for the Ark of the Covenant. Here is the beginning of the passage:
Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in a house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains.
Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee.
David’s desire is deeply rooted in a sense of reverence and a desire to honor God with a permanent dwelling place. The cedar house David refers to underscores the luxury and permanence of his abode in contrast to the temporary tent housing the Ark. Nathan’s initial approval reflects a human understanding of righteousness, but the subsequent verses reveal divine intervention.
1 Chronicles 17:3-6: God’s Response through Nathan
God redirects Nathan’s initial counsel, demonstrating that human plans, even well-intentioned ones, must align with divine will. The passage reads:
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 the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:
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.
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?
God’s response highlights several key points:
- Divine Sovereignty: God asserts that He has not required a permanent house, emphasizing His sovereignty and mobility with His people throughout their journey.
- Historical Relativity: The reference to judges and past leaders suggests continuity in God’s relationship with Israel, highlighting that no previous leader was tasked with building a permanent dwelling for Him.
1 Chronicles 17:7-15: The Covenant with David
God proceeds to establish a covenant with David, shifting the focus from David building a house for God to God building a house (dynasty) for David:
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:
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.
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,
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.
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.
He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.
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:
But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.
According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
Key themes and implications from these verses include:
- Divine Choice and Promotion: God underscores His role in lifting David from a shepherd to a king, which reflects themes of humility and divine empowerment.
- Security and Peace for Israel: God’s promise to establish Israel in a secure place signifies national stability and peace, foreshadowing the Messianic Kingdom’s ultimate fulfillment.
- Dynastic Promise: The promise “I will build thee an house” symbolizes a lasting dynasty rather than a physical structure, indicating God’s blessings on David’s lineage.
- Messianic Prophecy: The reference to raising David’s seed and establishing his kingdom forever is often interpreted as a Messianic prophecy, ultimately pointing to Jesus Christ.
- Divine Fatherhood: God’s declaration to be a father to David’s descendant emphasizes a personal and intimate relationship, which is foundational to Christian understanding of God as a loving Parent.
1 Chronicles 17:16-27: David’s Prayer of Gratitude
In the concluding section, David offers a prayer of gratitude and humility in response to God’s promises. This passage highlights David’s recognition of God’s greatness and the honor of God’s promises:
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?
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.
What can David speak more to thee for the honor of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.
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.
O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside 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 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?
For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God.
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.
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.
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.
And now, LORD, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:
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.
David’s prayer can be dissected into several elements:
- Humility: David begins with deep humility, acknowledging his unworthiness (“Who am I, O LORD God…”). This humility is a model for all who receive God’s promises and blessings.
- Recognition of God’s Greatness: David extols God’s unparalleled nature and deeds, highlighting that there is no other God like Yahweh. This acknowledgment underlines the unique relationship between God and His people.
- Gratitude for Past Redemption: David recalls Israel’s redemption from Egypt, reinforcing God’s role as Redeemer and Protector, thus connecting the present promises to past acts of divine salvation.
- Prayer for Fulfillment: David petitions for the fulfillment of God’s promises, thereby demonstrating an active faith that trusts in God’s words and seeks their realization.
Conclusion
1 Chronicles Chapter 17 is a pivotal chapter that emphasizes themes of divine sovereignty, grace, and eternal promise. Through the narrative of God’s covenant with David, we witness a profound theological shift from human plans to divine assurance, highlighting God’s ultimate control and benevolence. David’s response, marked by humility and gratitude, serves as a template for the faithful’s appropriate disposition in receiving God’s promises. This chapter not only solidifies the Davidic covenant as a cornerstone of biblical theology but also foreshadows the coming Messiah, fulfilling God’s eternal promise of an everlasting kingdom through Jesus Christ.