1 Chronicles 17 Explained - 5 Minute Bible Study

1 Chronicles 17 Short Summary:

In 1 Chronicles 17, David resolved to build a house for the Lord and the Ark of the Covenant, but God sent Nathan, the prophet, to David to tell him He had other plans. Rather than David building God a house, God was going to make David a great “house,” by blessing his family and his kingdom. God promised David his throne would be established forever.

What is 1 Chronicles 17 About?

WHEN:

• The Book of 1 Chronicles was written several hundred years after King David’s reign.  

• David became king of Judah in approximately 1055 B.C, the year Saul died. David’s reign spanned approximately 40 years (1055-1015 B.C.). He reigned over Judah for 7 years and 6 months, before becoming king over all Israel. His reign over all Judah and Israel lasted 33 years.

CHARACTERS:

• David – David was the 2nd king over all Israel and Judah.

• Nathan – A prophet of God who had several interactions with David.

WHERE:

• David’s house and the Ark of the Covenant were in Jerusalem.

OUTLINE:

• *2 Samuel 7 is a parallel to this chapter.

• GOD PROMISES TO BUILD DAVID A HOUSE AND BLESS HIS DESCENDANTS (17:1-15):

  • David felt bad that God’s Ark of the Covenant was kept in a tent, but he had a splendid house of cedar.

  • He suggested to Nathan the prophet that something needed to be done to remedy this problem.

  • That night, God spoke to Nathan and gave him a message for David.

  • God did not need a physical house for Himself. Not once, in all the time Israel had lived in the Promised Land, had He commanded one to be built.

  • Rather than David building God a house, God promised to build David a “house.”

  • In fact, God was already in the process of doing it. He reminded David how he took him from pasture of his father and elevated him to be king in Israel.

  • God promised to bless the nation of Israel and “plant” them securely in their homeland, safe from the oppression of violent nations.

  • These promises were to extend past the lifetime of David. God would continue to bless David’s “house” and his children would sit on his throne.

  • God promised David that he would have a son who would build a house for the Lord.

  • God further promised that David’s throne would be established “forever.”

  • Nathan told David all the words of the Lord.

• DAVID’S GRATITUDE TO GOD FOR HIS PROMISES (7:16-27):

  • David’s prayer of thanksgiving to God is recorded in the second half of the chapter.

  • David was amazed that God chose him, a man of humble beginnings, to receive such a great blessing.

  • He praised God, saying, “There is none like you, O LORD, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears” (17:20).

  • He thanked God for making Israel special among the nations and showing His greatness by saving them from Egypt and their enemies.

  • David welcomed God’s promises over his life. He was excited that God was going to use his house/family for the glory of His name. 

APPLICATION:

• Often, our vision of what we hope to accomplish in God’s kingdom is different from the plans God has for us.

• David probably thought the most meaningful and lasting thing He could do for the Lord was to build Him a house, some kind of physical structure.

• But God had a more important role for David to play. God had plans to establish David’s family, and ultimately to bring about the savior of the world, the Messiah, through David’s descendants.

• We need to remain open to the possibility that our vision for our lives may not match God’s vision.

• If we are determined only to serve God in the ways we’ve envisioned, we may miss out on a greater purpose God could have used us for.

• God knows best what His kingdom needs at any given time, give the direction of your life over to Him and remain open to His leading. You may find yourself a part of something bigger than you could have ever imagined.