Bible Commentaries

1 CHRONICLES CHAPTER 17.

David, deigning to build God a house, Nathan at first approveth of it; after, by the word of God, forbiddeth him 1 Chronicles 17:1-10; promising him blessings and benefits in his seed, 1 Chronicles 17:11-15. David’s prayer and thanksgiving, 1 Chronicles 17:16-27.

This whole chapter is explained, 2Sa 7, where the same things are recorded with very little variation of the words; which also hath been considered in my notes upon that chapter; to which I refer the reader, taking notice here but of some very few things.

The children of wickedness; such as are devoted and wholly given up to wickedness; elsewhere called children of Belial.

In mine house; in my dwelling-place; either,

1. In Jerusalem, the place where God had put his name for ever, 2 Kings 21:4,7 2 Chronicles 6:5,6: compare 1 Kings 11:36 15:4. Or,

2. In the temple, which is more properly and constantly called God’s house; and so this expression agrees but very imperfectly with Solomon, or his successors, who might be said to be settled in God’s house, because they were settled near it, and in some sort set over it, because they were to take care that the priests and others should perform their offices and God’s service in it; but strictly and properly agrees only to Christ, to whom alone that promise also of an everlasting establishment in this kingdom belongs, as was noted on 2Sa 7. And this expression seems to be most emphatically added, to signify that that person in whom all those promises should be fully and perfectly accomplished, to wit, the Messias, should be settled not only in the king’s throne, as others of David’s successors were, but also in God’s house or temple; and consequently, that he should be a Priest as well as a King; which mystery was more clearly revealed to David, Psalms 110:1,2,4, and may be intimated, though obscurely, (as was fit and usual in that state of the church,) in these words.

In my kingdom; either,

1. In the kingdom of Israel, which God calls his kingdom, because he was in a special manner their King and Governor, having raised them up and formed them into a kingdom, and given them that protection and assistance which kings owe to their kingdoms; and because he expected and required from them what kings do from their people, that they should be wholly governed by his laws, and devoted to his service. Or,

2. In God’s kingdom in a more large and general sense. And this, as well as the former phrase, may seem singularly to belong to the Messiah, who was not only to be the King of Israel, but also of all nations, as was foretold even in the Old Testament, as Psalms 2:6-12 22:27,28 72:11 Isaiah 2:4 Haggai 2:7; and so this may be an intimation of that great mystery which is more fully revealed in the New Testament, to wit, that Christ is the Head, or King, or Governor of all God’s church, consisting of Jews and Gentiles, and of all nations, and indeed of all creatures, the angels not excepted; all which is God’s kingdom, and by him given to his Son, our blessed Lord Christ. And for the signification of these great things, there is so great and remarkable an alteration of the phrase here from what it is in 2Sa 7, where, speaking to David, he constantly calls it his (i.e. David’s) kingdom, and his house, 2 Samuel 7:12,13,2 Samuel 7:16,19,25,27, for which he here saith my house, and my kingdom, which also he distinguisheth from his throne, which is mentioned in the next clause of this verse, and in 1 Samuel 7:11,12. But these things I submit to the judicious reader.

Sat before the Lord; which may note either his gesture, or his continuance there till he had finished this following prayer.

i.e. Thou hast treated me as if I had been born the son of a great monarch, and not a poor shepherd, as indeed I was, O Lord God. Otherwise thus, Thou hast regarded or respected me as the type or figure, or according to the rank or order of that excellent man, or man of high degree, who is also the Lord God, i.e. of the Messiah, who is God-man, i.e. Thou hast given to me and my house an everlasting kingdom, which is the peculiar privilege of that great person the Messiah, Daniel 2:44 7:13,14.

For thy servant’s sake; in 2 Samuel 7:21, it is, for thy word’s sake, i.e. for the sake of thy word and promise made to thy servant; as that phrase, for David’s sake, is oft thus understood, for God’s covenant’s sake made with David.

Or, The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, is a God to Israel, i.e. he is really to his people that which he hath styled himself, their God, having taken such care of them, and showed such mercy and truth to them, as did fully answer that title.