April 17 A READ 1 CHRONICLES 17–21
David’s Kingdom and Covenant
OVERVIEW
David’s dream of building a fitting place for God to dwell and be worshiped meets with the prophet’s approval . . . and God’s denial. Solomon, not David, is God’s choice to build the Temple. But while David’s house for God must be postponed, God has plans for a house for David, one that will be established immediately and never end: an eternal kingdom and perpetual dynasty. In peacetime and war, through times of faithfulness and faltering, God will keep his promise by preserving David’s line.
MY DAILY WALK
If a chronicler were to write the priestly view of your life, what would he include? And what would he exclude from his account?
There are some notable omissions in the book of 1 Chronicles. Try as you might, you will find nothing about Saul’s reign or David’s sin with Bathsheba, Absalom’s rebellion or Adonijah’s attempted coup. Why are these bleak events in Israel’s history deleted? Not to whitewash the story of the nation, but to put the emphasis on God’s positive purpose for the nation’s existence. In spite of repeated human failings, God’s program for his people will be accomplished.
If you were to diagram your own spiritual pilgrimage, chances are it wouldn’t have any more ups and downs than Israel’s. And God is just as committed to your spiritual maturity and the fulfilling of his purpose for your life (Philippians 1:6). Pretend that you are the chronicler writing the autobiography of your own walk with God. What spiritual milestones would you highlight?
THERE ARE SOME CHRISTIANS WHO CAN’T BE CALLED PILGRIMS BECAUSE THEY NEVER MAKE ANY PROGRESS.
INSIGHT
How’s That Name Again? | 1 Chr. 18:16
David’s secretary, Seraiah (18:16; see NLT text note), is also called Sheva (2 Samuel 20:25) and Shisha (1 Kings 4:3). The variations in spelling are perhaps due to a non-Hebrew origin for his name, giving rise to different transliterations.
INSIGHT
A Census Sin | 1 Chr. 21:7-8
Why was David’s desire to take a census considered evil (21:7-8)? After all, counting the population was allowed in Old Testament law. The book of Numbers even gets its name from two censuses. But David’s census seemed to be motivated by reliance on and pride in military strength instead of dependence on and faith in God’s strength.
The LORD’s Covenant Promise to David
1When David was settled in his palace, he summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace,* but the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant is out there under a tent!”
2Nathan replied to David, “Do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you.”
3But that same night God said to Nathan,
4“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD has declared: You are not the one to build a house for me to live in. 5I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. My home has always been a tent, moving from one place to another in a Tabernacle. 6Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel’s leaders, the shepherds of my people. I have never asked them, “Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?”’
7“Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. 8I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! 9And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, 10starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will defeat all your enemies.
“‘Furthermore, I declare that the LORD will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings! 11For when you die and join your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom strong. 12He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for me. And I will secure his throne forever. 13I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my favor from him as I took it from the one who ruled before you. 14I will confirm him as king over my house and my kingdom for all time, and his throne will be secure forever.’”
15So Nathan went back to David and told him everything the LORD had said in this vision.
David’s Prayer of Thanks
16Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and prayed,
“Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 17And now, O God, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! You speak as though I were someone very great,* O LORD God!
18“What more can I say to you about the way you have honored me? You know what your servant is really like. 19For the sake of your servant, O LORD, and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known.
20“O LORD, there is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you! 21What other nation on earth is like your people Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations that stood in their way. 22You chose Israel to be your very own people forever, and you, O LORD, became their God.
23“And now, O LORD, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. May it be a promise that will last forever. 24And may your name be established and honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘The LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And may the house of your servant David continue before you forever.
25“O my God, I have been bold enough to pray to you because you have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him—a dynasty of kings! 26For you are God, O LORD. And you have promised these good things to your servant. 27And now, it has pleased you to bless the house of your servant, so that it will continue forever before you. For when you grant a blessing, O LORD, it is an eternal blessing!”