David's Desire - Davidic Covenant I Chronicles 17

I Chronicles 17:1 "Now it came to pass as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains."

v11 "And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. v12 He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever."

David has just brought back the ark and placed it in a tabernacle (tent). He has set up 68 people to attend to it and commanded that songs of praise and worship be sung. After this time of rejoicing, he returned to his house of cedar and was talking with Nathan the prophet. It dawned on him that he had a fine house but the ark was out there in a tent. So he decided he would like to build a house for the LORD.

The LORD's response: v5 "For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another."

In this passage, the LORD tells David through Nathan that David is the first to mention building a house and also that the LORD had not asked for one. I think it is a touching response to David's desire to build. I take it as 'you are the first to think of that'. But David would not get to build the house (temple) but did gather some material for that purpose.

Under the great covenant of David, the LORD talks to him about where he found him as a shepherd boy and how he had made him a renown king. He told David how he had been with him every step of the way in his life. It is a wonderful exchange.

This covenant of David has far reaching implications. It reaches down through the ages to Jesus Christ who will one day sit on the throne of David.

v16 "And David the king came and sat before the LORD and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?"

David is not talking to Nathan the prophet now. He has humbled himself before the LORD and offers a long prayer to him. He recognized the promise the LORD made and in this prayer agreed and prayed that it be so established.

v27 "Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever, for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever."

A good chapter to remember. We will see this promise fulfilled when Jesus rules from Jerusalem and the throne of David.

Revelation 21:5 "And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write; for these words are true and faithful. v6 And he said unto me: It is done, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."

Keywords: David, covenant, Chronicles, ark. David wants to build the LORD's house, receives the Davidic Covenant.