1Ch 17:1-15 | KingComments | STEP | In this chapter God speaks to David ( ) and David speaks to God ( ). God now speaks to us through His Word and we may speak to Him in prayer in response. This chapter is the heart of the first book of the Chronicles and deals with the continuing importance of the person and the work of David in connection with “the ark of the covenant of the LORD” ( ), the full name of the ark. This chapter is about three houses: 1. the house that David built ( ), 2. the house to be built for God ( ) and 3. the spiritual house of David, the lineage that runs to Christ ( ). David’s life is reaching a new stage here. Earlier he went to his own house to bless it ( ). Now he gets spiritual exercises about God’s house. Exercises about God’s house take place in one’s own house, your own living environment. If there are no such exercises at home, they are not there in God’s house. But he who only has an eye and time for his own house, has no time to care for God’s house ( ). Whosoever is content to remain in the door of his own tent shall not go out to the tent of God ( ). Those who do not know to manage their own household cannot take care of the church of God either ( ). The one cannot be seen apart from the other. When David is at rest in his house, he realizes the incongruity that exists between his own dwelling place and that of the ark. Also for us the question may be: can we have satisfaction in our own prosperity, our own, often luxurious, living environment, while we have no eye for the city as a picture of the church in its daily revelation, where God dwells?

‏ 1 Chronicles 17:1-15

Introduction

In this chapter God speaks to David (1Chr 17:1-15) and David speaks to God (1Chr 17:16-27). God now speaks to us through His Word and we may speak to Him in prayer in response.

This chapter is the heart of the first book of the Chronicles and deals with the continuing importance of the person and the work of David in connection with “the ark of the covenant of the LORD” (1Chr 17:1), the full name of the ark.

This chapter is about three houses:

1. the house that David built (1Chr 17:1),

2. the house to be built for God (1Chr 17:4 ; 11 ; 12) and

3. the spiritual house of David, the lineage that runs to Christ (1Chr 17:16 ; 23 ; 27).

The Desire of David

David’s life is reaching a new stage here. Earlier he went to his own house to bless it (1Chr 16:43). Now he gets spiritual exercises about God’s house. Exercises about God’s house take place in one’s own house, your own living environment. If there are no such exercises at home, they are not there in God’s house.

But he who only has an eye and time for his own house, has no time to care for God’s house (Hag 1:4). Whosoever is content to remain in the door of his own tent shall not go out to the tent of God (Exo 33:7-10). Those who do not know to manage their own household cannot take care of the church of God either (1Tim 3:5). The one cannot be seen apart from the other.

When David is at rest in his house, he realizes the incongruity that exists between his own dwelling place and that of the ark. Also for us the question may be: can we have satisfaction in our own prosperity, our own, often luxurious, living environment, while we have no eye for the city as a picture of the church in its daily revelation, where God dwells?

David Is Not Allowed to Build a House for God

From what David says in 1Chr 17:1, Nathan understands what he means. Nathan doesn’t say in so many words that David can build the temple, just like David himself didn’t say. This intention of David as such is not wrong. Therefore the prophet encourages him. Stimulating each other to do something for the Lord is good. However, Nathan's advice is an initial, humanly understandable response, but not the word of the LORD. In the night that follows, Nathan is told what the LORD thinks of David’s intention.

For reasons to be given later, David is not allowed to build the temple (1Chr 22:8 ; 1Chr 28:3). Other things have to happen first. David is not allowed to build a house for the LORD, but the LORD will build a house for David. He gives to David, who must first become a receiver. We can’t give the Lord what He needs, but that doesn’t mean we can’t give him anything. The Lord likes to receive from us what we want to give Him.

Nowhere do we read that the LORD, when He walked around with the people, gave the order to build a house for Him to dwell in. On the contrary, He has always adapted Himself to His people. When the people of Israel were slaves, He became their Deliverer; when the people dwelt in tents, His dwelling place was also a tent; when the people had to fight, He revealed Himself as the Captain of the LORD’s host; when the people will be established in peace, God will also establish in the house of His glory.

So it is with Christ in relation to us. We are born of a woman, He also; His earthly people Israel was under the law, this He also was during his life on earth; now that He gathers a heavenly people for Himself, He is in heaven for us; when He comes in glory, we come with Him in His glory; when He reigns, we reign with Him.

What God Is for David

David’s holy desire to build a house for the glory of God is the opportunity for God to tell of what He has done to David (1Chr 17:7-8) and what He will do to him (1Chr 17:9-14). 1Chr 17:9 will be fully realized in the kingdom of peace. In this verse and the following verses, we see a reference to the Messiah. 1Chr 17:10 is elaborated in 1 Chronicles 18-20, as a premonition of the judgments that precede the kingdom of peace.

God does not mention a particular son, but He speaks in a general sense of one “of your sons” (1Chr 17:11). That fits in this Bible book. One “of your sons” refers to the Messiah and not Solomon as the physical son. It is about the Lord Jesus, the Son of God (Psa 2:7; Heb 1:5 ; Heb 5:5; Acts 13:33), for Whom God will be a Father and Who will be His Son (1Chr 17:13; 1Chr 22:10 ; 1Chr 28:6).

The Son will build a house for the LORD. The reign and kingship of the Son shall be “without end” (1Chr 17:12b; 1Chr 17:14; Lk 1:32-33; Dan 2:44). It is also clearly said that the kingdom of the Son is the kingdom of the LORD: “My kingdom”.

As a faithful envoy, withholding nothing from the whole purpose of God, Nathan conveys to David all the words of the LORD (1Chr 17:15). He is as faithful in this as Paul is later, who says to the elders of Ephesus: “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God” (Acts 20:27).