1 Chronicles 17

What’s Happening?

King David has just finished building his royal palace in his newly established capital, Jerusalem. David has also placed God’s ark, the holy object where God speaks and guides David, in the capital. But David isn’t satisfied. The tabernacle, the holy place commissioned by Moses where Israel offered sacrifices, is nothing but a tent. David wants to relocate God’s tent to Jerusalem and build a grand house for God that matches the palace and city God has already given to David (1 Chronicles 17:1-2).

But God tells David that he has never asked any of Israel’s previous leaders for a more impressive building. He has always been content moving with his people in his tent (1 Chronicles 17:3-6). But in response to David’s good desire to build God a house, God says he will build David a house; a dynasty through which all God’s people will know perfect provision and peace (1 Chronicles 17:7-10). God promises one of his sons will build the temple David has asked to construct. God promises that David’s son will be his son and that he will establish his kingdom forever (1 Chronicles 17:11-15). David’s desire to do something great for God is far overshadowed by what God wants to do for him.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, David approaches God’s ark. It’s the first time he’s been this close to God’s presence since he mishandled the ark and one of his men died (1 Chronicles 17:16-17; 13:10-12). He gives praise that God is unlike any other god he has heard of. No other god has chosen to rescue an enslaved people and make them the center of an eternal Kingdom (1 Chronicles 17:18-22). In light of his past mistakes, David admits he’s been afraid to approach God’s ark. But God’s incredibly gracious promises have given him courage to approach God once again and receive what’s been promised to him. Now that he’s here, all he asks is that God will continue to be faithful and do all he has promised (1 Chronicles 17:25-27).

Where is the Gospel?

When David first tried to bring God’s ark into Jerusalem, he broke one of God’s laws and one of his men died as a result. From that moment on David was afraid to get too close to God’s ark. David did a lot of great things for God: he prepared priests, made sacrifices, brought God’s ark into Jerusalem, and even wanted to build God a temple. But underneath all these good actions was a fear that God was still angry with him and he was not worthy to get close to the God he wronged. 

But David’s fear was unnecessary. God was planning something far greater for David than David could ever build for God. God wanted to promise David an eternal dynasty in which one of his sons would rule forever. David probably assumed God was talking about his son Solomon and that this “eternal” dynasty would be an unbroken string of sons on the throne of Israel. But God never says Solomon is the son he’s referring to, or that by “eternal” he meant an unbroken line of kings. What God says is that David’s son would be God’s son, and that this divine and Davidic son would rule forever (1 Chronicles 17:13). God was telling David about Jesus. And while David might not have fully grasped this, God’s promise overrode his fear, and David walked into God’s presence once again. 

Even more than David, we don’t have to be afraid that our past mistakes prevent us from being close to God. Despite our mistakes, the son God promised David has come near to us in Jesus. Jesus took responsibility for the ways we have broken God’s commands. He died separated from God, like we should be. But Jesus rose from the dead and now sits on a throne in heaven. And from his throne he offers us something far greater than we could ever earn with a lifetime of obedience—unbreaking and unafraid closeness with God. 

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who makes and keeps his promises to David. And may you see Jesus as the son of David who brings us close to God forever.