171 And it came about, when David dwelt in his house , that David said to Nathan the prophet , "Behold , I am dwelling in a house of cedar , but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under curtains ." 2 Then Nathan said to David , "Do all that is in your heart , for God is with you." 3 It came about the same night that the word of God came to Nathan , saying , 4 "Go and tell David My servant , 'Thus says the Lord , " You shall not build a house for Me to dwell in; 5 for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day , but I have gone from tent to tent and from one dwelling place to another. 6 "In all places where I have walked with all Israel , have I spoken a word with any of the judges of Israel , whom I commanded to shepherd My people , saying , 'Why have you not built for Me a house of cedar ?' "' 7 "Now , therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David , 'Thus says the Lord of hosts , "I took you from the pasture , from following the sheep , to be leader over My people Israel . 8 "I have been with you wherever e you have gone , and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a name like the name of the great ones who are in the earth . 9 "I will appoint a place for My people Israel , and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and not be moved again ; and the wicked e will not waste them anymore as formerly , 10 even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel . And I will subdue all your enemies . Moreover, I tell you that the Lord will build a house for you.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 17:1-10
Chapter Contents
David's purposes; God's gracious promises.
This chapter is the same as Isaiah 42:1; and it is for his sake, upon account of his mediation, that the promises are made good to all believers; it is in him, that they are yea and amen. For His sake it is done, for his sake it is made known; to him we owe all this greatness, from him we are to expect all these great things. They are the unsearchable riches of Christ, which, if by faith we see in themselves, and see in the Lord Jesus, we cannot but magnify as the only true greatness, and speak honourably of them. For this blessedness may we look amidst the trials of life, and when we feel the hand of death upon us; and seek it for our children after us.