The Lord’s Covenant Promise to David
December 8, 2020
Commentary
Not long after David had become king, he mentioned to Nathan that he was bothered because he was living in a palace while the Ark of the Covenant was in a tent (v. 1). Nathan replied now that he was king, he could have whatever he wanted (v. 2). However, the Lord told Nathan that he needed to tell David that he was not the one to build the temple (vv. 3-4). The Lord said that He didn’t live in a temple when He brought His people out of Egypt, and He didn’t need to live in one now (v. 5).
He said that a tent had always been His home wherever He had gone. He wanted David to choose special leaders and tell them to be like shepherds for His people Israel, but it was not His desire for them to build a cedar temple for Himself (v. 6). The Lord told David that He brought him in from the fields, where he took care of sheep, and He made him the leader of His people (v. 7). He helped him destroy his enemies right in front of his own people and made him a very famous person (v. 8). He explained how He had given His people Israel a land of their own where they could live in peace (v. 9). They would no longer have to fear, and evil nations wouldn’t bother them, as they did when He let judges rule His people and while He kept the enemies from attacking (v. 10).
He then promised David that his descendants would be kings (v. 11). He said He would choose Solomon to be king and build the temple and no one would be able to take the kingdom away from him (v. 12). He explained how He would be like a father to Solomon, and Solomon would be like a son to the Lord (13). He would make sure that his son and his descendants would rule his people and his kingdom forever (v. 14). Nathan told David exactly what the LORD had said (v. 15).
Application
Ten times in this chapter David is called “servant.” The servant does not tell the master what to do; the master tells the servant what to do. I need to get my directions from the Lord every day.
1 Chronicles 17:1– 15 (NET)
1 When David had settled into his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I am living in a palace made from cedar, while the ark of the Lord’s covenant is under a tent.” 2 Nathan said to David, “You should do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you.”
3 That night God told Nathan, 4 “Go, tell my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord says: “You must not build me a house in which to live. 5 For I have not lived in a house from the time I brought Israel up from Egypt to the present day. I have lived in a tent that has been in various places. 6 Wherever I moved throughout Israel, I did not say to any of the leaders whom I appointed to care for my people Israel, ‘Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?’”’
7 “So now, say this to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: “I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd to make you a leader of my people Israel. 8 I was with you wherever you went and I defeated all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth. 9 I will establish a place for my people Israel and settle them there; they will live there and not be disturbed anymore. Violent men will not oppress them again, as they did in the beginning 10 and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies.
11 When the time comes for you to die, I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He will build me a house, and I will make his dynasty permanent. 13 I will become his father and he will become my son. I will never withhold my loyal love from him, as I withheld it from the one who ruled before you. 14 I will put him in permanent charge of my house and my kingdom; his dynasty will be permanent.”’” 15 Nathan told David all these words that were revealed to him.