Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary1 Chronicles 17

God’s Promise to David This section tells how David, now living in his own palace, wants to build a permanent temple for the ark of God. God responds through the prophet Nathan, not only explaining why David will not build the temple, but also making wonderful promises to David about his family and the future of Israel. God shifts David’s focus from his personal plans to the greater plan God has for David and his descendants, including the coming of the Messiah.v. 1: David, sitting in his house, tells Nathan the prophet, “I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord

v. 2: Nathan tells David to do what is in his heart, because God is with him . Nathan encourages David’s desire to serve God.

v. 3: That night, God speaks to Nathan . God wants Nathan to give David a special message.

v. 4: God says to tell David, “You shall not build a house for me to dwell in” . Although David has good intentions, God has different plans.

v. 5: God explains that He has never lived in a house since He brought Israel out of Egypt, but has moved from tent to tent, from one tabernacle to another . God reminds David that He never asked for a permanent building before.

v. 6: God says He never told any of Israel’s leaders to build Him a house of cedar . God does not need an earthly palace to be present among His people.

v. 7: God tells Nathan to remind David that He took him from being a shepherd and made him ruler over Israel . God is the one who raised David up.

v. 8: God has been with David wherever he went, cutting off his enemies and making his name great—like the names of the greatest men on earth .

v. 9: God promises to provide a secure place for Israel, planting them so they will have their own land and not be disturbed anymore. Wicked people will not oppress them as they did before .

v. 10: God reminds David that since the time of the judges, He has protected Israel. God also says He will subdue David’s enemies and, most importantly, “the Lord

v. 11: God says that after David’s life ends, He will raise up one of David’s own sons to succeed him and will establish his kingdom .

v. 12: This son will build a house for God, and God will make his throne last forever . This promise points first to Solomon, but also to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.

v. 13: God says, “I will be his father, and he shall be my son. I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him who was before you” , meaning Saul. God’s love and promise will remain with David’s line.

v. 14: God promises to settle this son in His house and kingdom forever, and that his throne will be established forevermore . This is a prophecy about the everlasting kingdom of Christ.

v. 15: Nathan tells David everything God revealed to him in this vision . Nathan is faithful to communicate God’s instructions and promises exactly as he received them.

David′s Grateful AcknowledgmentThis section records David’s humble and thankful prayer to God after receiving God’s promises about his family and kingdom. David accepts God’s promises with faith, just like the patriarchs did (These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, Hebrews 11:13 ). He shows deep humility, praises God’s greatness, and trusts fully in God’s word. David’s prayer is an example of how we should pray—with humility, faith, and strong desire for God’s blessings. This passage highlights some differences from the similar prayer in 2 Samuel 7 .

v. 17: Here, David does not ask, “Is this the manner of men, O Lord God?” as in Samuel, but instead says, You have regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree. David recognizes that God has made him great and treated him with special honor. God lifts up those He chooses and treats them as people of importance, even if they seem unworthy. Some people understand this verse as pointing to the Messiah, saying, You have made me to see according to the form of a man the majesty of the Lord God. David, like Abraham, saw the coming of Christ by faith (Abraham rejoiced to see my day, John 8:56 ). He saw Christ as both truly human and truly glorious (the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, John 1:14 ; crowned with glory and honor, Hebrews 2:6-7 ).

v. 18: After saying, What can David say more unto thee?, David adds, for the honour of thy servant? He realizes that the honor God gives His servants by bringing them into a close relationship with Himself is greater than anything they could ever wish for. God’s promises are more than enough to satisfy and honor His people.

v. 19: In Samuel, it says God does this for thy word’s sake, but here it says for thy servant’s sake. Jesus Christ is both the Word of God (Revelation 19:13 ) and the servant of God (Isaiah 42:1 ). All God’s promises are given and fulfilled because of Christ. Through Him, believers receive all the blessings of God (all the promises of God in him are yes, and in him Amen, 2 Corinthians 1:20 ). These are the true riches of Christ, and we should praise God for them.

v. 24: In Samuel, God is called the God over Israel, but here He is called the God of Israel, even a God to Israel. This means God is not just called their God, but He truly acts as their God and cares for them. Other nations had gods in name only, but the Lord

v. 27: Samuel ends with David’s prayer, With thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed forever. Here, David’s faith is even stronger: For thou blessest, O Lord