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494 lines
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [First Chronicles, Chapter XVII].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC13016.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC13018.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T C H R O N I C L E S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XVII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This excellent chapter is the same with
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+7:1-29">2 Sam. vii.</A>
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It will be worth while to look back upon what was there said upon it.
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Two things in general we have in it:--
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I. God's gracious acceptance of David's purpose to build him a house,
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and the promise he made thereupon,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+17:1-15">ver. 1-15</A>.
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II. David's gracious acceptance of God's good promise to build him a
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house, and the prayer he made thereupon,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+17:16-27">ver. 16-27</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>God's Promise to David.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1042.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David
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said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in a house of cedars,
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but the ark of the covenant of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> <I>remaineth</I> under
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curtains.
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2 Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that <I>is</I> in thine heart;
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for God <I>is</I> with thee.
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3 And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came
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to Nathan, saying,
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4 Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, Thou shalt
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not build me a house to dwell in:
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5 For I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought
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up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and
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from <I>one</I> tabernacle <I>to another.</I>
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6 Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to
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any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people,
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saying, Why have ye not built me a house of cedars?
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7 Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus
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saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, <I>even</I>
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from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my
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people Israel:
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8 And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and
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have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made
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thee a name like the name of the great men that <I>are</I> in the
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earth.
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9 Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will
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plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be
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moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste
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them any more, as at the beginning,
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10 And since the time that I commanded judges <I>to be</I> over my
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people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies.
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Furthermore I tell thee that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> will build thee a house.
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11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that
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thou must go <I>to be</I> with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy
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seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish
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his kingdom.
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12 He shall build me a house, and I will stablish his throne
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for ever.
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13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not
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take my mercy away from him, as I took <I>it</I> from <I>him</I> that was
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before thee:
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14 But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for
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ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.
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15 According to all these words, and according to all this
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vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Let us observe here,</P>
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<P>
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I. How desirous and solicitous good people should be to serve the
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interests of God's kingdom in the world, to the utmost of their
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capacity. David could not be easy in a house of cedar while the ark was
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lodged within curtains,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+17:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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The concerns of the public should always be near our hearts. What
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pleasure can we take in our own prosperity if we see not the good of
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Jerusalem? When David is advanced to wealth and power see what his
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cares and projects are. Not, "What shall I do for my children to get
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portions for them? What shall I do to fill my coffers and enlarge my
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dominions?" But, "What shall I do for God, to serve and honour him?"
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Those that are contriving where to bestow their fruits and their good
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would do well to enquire what condition the ark is in, and whether some
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may not be well bestowed upon it.</P>
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<P>
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II. How ready God's prophets should be to encourage every good purpose.
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Nathan was no sooner aware of David's good design than he bade him
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<I>go and do all that was within his heart</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+17:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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for he had no reason to doubt but that God was with him in it.
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Ministers should stir up the gifts and graces that are in others as
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well as in themselves.</P>
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<P>
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III. How little God affects external pomp and splendour in his service.
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His ark was content with a tabernacle
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+17:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>)
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and he never so much as mentioned the building of a house for it; no,
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not when he had fixed his people in great and goodly cities which they
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builded not,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+6:10">Deut. vi. 10</A>.
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He commanded the judges to <I>feed his people,</I> but never bade them
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<I>build him a house,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+17:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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We may well be content awhile with mean accommodations; God's ark was
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so.</P>
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<P>
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IV. How graciously God accepts his people's good purposes, yea, though
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he himself prevents the performance of them. David must not <I>build
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this house,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+17:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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He must prepare for it, but not do it; as Moses must bring Israel
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within sight of Canaan, but must them leave it to Joshua to put them in
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possession of it. It is the prerogative of Christ to be both the author
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and finisher of his work. Yet David must not think that, because he was
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not permitted to build the temple,
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1. His preferment was in vain; no, "<I>I took thee from the
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sheep-cote,</I> though not to be a builder of the temple, yet to be
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<I>ruler over my people Israel;</I> that is honour enough for thee;
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leave the other to one that shall come after thee,"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+17:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Why should one man think to engross all the business and to bring every
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good work to perfection? Let something be left for those that succeed.
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God had given him victories, and made him a name
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+17:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
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and, further, intended by him to establish his people Israel and secure
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them against their enemies,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+17:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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That must be <I>his</I> work, who is a man of war and fit for it, and
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he must let the building of churches be left to one that was never cut
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out for a soldier. Nor,
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2. Must he think that his good purpose was in vain, and that he should
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lose the reward of it; no, it being God's act to prevent the execution
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of it, he shall be as fully recompensed as if he had done it; "<I>The
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Lord will build thee a house,</I> and annex the crown of Israel to it,"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+17:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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If there be a willing mind, it shall not only be accepted, but thus
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rewarded. Nor,
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3. Must he think that because <I>he</I> might not do this good work
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therefore it would never be done, and that it was in vain to think of
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it; no, <I>I will raise up thy seed, and he shall build me a house,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+17:11,12"><I>v.</I> 11, 12</A>.
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God's temple shall be built in the time appointed, though we may not
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have the honour of helping to build it or the satisfaction of seeing it
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built. Nor,
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4. Must he confine his thoughts to the temporal prosperity of his
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family, but must entertain himself with the prospect of the kingdom of
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the Messiah, who should descend from his loins, and whose throne should
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be <I>established for evermore,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+17:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
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Solomon was not himself so settled in God's house as he should have
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been, nor was his family settled in the kingdom: "But there shall one
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descend from thee whom I will settle in my house and in my kingdom,"
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which intimates that he should be both a high priest over the house of
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God and should have the sole administration of the affairs of God's
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kingdom among men, all power both in heaven and in earth, in the house
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and in the kingdom, in the church and in the world. He shall be <I>a
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priest upon his throne,</I> and <I>the counsel of peace shall be
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between them both,</I> and <I>he shall build the temple of the
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Lord,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+6:12,13">Zech. vi. 12, 13</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_24"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_25"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_26"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch17_27"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>David's Grateful Acknowledgment.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1042.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>16 And David the king came and sat before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and said,
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Who <I>am</I> I, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God, and what <I>is</I> mine house, that thou hast
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brought me hitherto?
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17 And <I>yet</I> this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for
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thou hast <I>also</I> spoken of thy servant's house for a great while
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to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of
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high degree, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God.
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18 What can David <I>speak</I> more to thee for the honour of thy
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servant? for thou knowest thy servant.
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19 O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own
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heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all
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<I>these</I> great things.
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20 O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, <I>there is</I> none like thee, neither <I>is there any</I>
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God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our
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ears.
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21 And what one nation in the earth <I>is</I> like thy people
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Israel, whom God went to redeem <I>to be</I> his own people, to make
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thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations
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from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?
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22 For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for
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ever; and thou, L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, becamest their God.
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23 Therefore now, L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, let the thing that thou hast spoken
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concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established
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for ever, and do as thou hast said.
|
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24 Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified
|
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for ever, saying, The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> of hosts <I>is</I> the God of Israel,
|
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<I>even</I> a God to Israel: and <I>let</I> the house of David thy servant
|
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<I>be</I> established before thee.
|
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25 For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt
|
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build him a house: therefore thy servant hath found <I>in his
|
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|
heart</I> to pray before thee.
|
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26 And now, L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness
|
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|
unto thy servant:
|
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|
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27 Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy
|
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|
servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest,
|
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O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and <I>it shall be</I> blessed for ever.
|
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</FONT></P>
|
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|
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|
<P>
|
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|
||
|
|
We have here David's solemn address to God, in answer to the gracious
|
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|
|
message he had now received from him. By faith he receives the
|
||
|
|
promises, embraces them, and is persuaded of them, as the patriarchs,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+11:13">Heb. xi. 13</A>.
|
||
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|
||
|
|
How humbly does he here abase himself, and acknowledge his own
|
||
|
|
unworthiness! How highly does he advance the name of God and admire his
|
||
|
|
condescending grace and favour! With what devout affections does he
|
||
|
|
magnify the God of Israel and what a value has he for the Israel of
|
||
|
|
God! With what assurance does he build upon the promise, and with what
|
||
|
|
a lively faith does he put it in suit! What an example is this to us of
|
||
|
|
humble, believing, fervent prayer! The Lord enable us all thus to seek
|
||
|
|
him! These things were largely observed,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+7:1-29">2 Sam. vii.</A>
|
||
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|
||
|
|
We shall therefore here observe only those few expressions in which the
|
||
|
|
prayer, as we find it here, differs from the record of it there, and
|
||
|
|
has something added to it.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. That which is there expressed by way of question (<I>Is this the
|
||
|
|
manner of men, O Lord God?</I>) is here an acknowledgment: "<I>Thou
|
||
|
|
hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree.</I>
|
||
|
|
Thou hast made me a great man, and then treated me accordingly." God,
|
||
|
|
by the covenant-relations into which he admits believers, the titles he
|
||
|
|
gives them, the favours he bestows on them, and the preparations he has
|
||
|
|
made for them, regards them according to the estate of men of high
|
||
|
|
degree, though they are mean and vile. Having himself distinguished
|
||
|
|
them, he treats them as persons of distinction, according to the
|
||
|
|
quality he has been pleased to put upon them. Some give these words
|
||
|
|
here another reading: "<I>Thou hast looked upon me in the form of a man
|
||
|
|
who art in the highest, the Lord God;</I> or, <I>Thou hast made me to
|
||
|
|
see according to the form of a man the majesty of the Lord God.</I>"
|
||
|
|
And so it points at the Messiah; for, as Abraham, so David, saw his day
|
||
|
|
and was glad, saw it by faith, saw it in <I>fashion as a man, the Word
|
||
|
|
made flesh,</I> and yet saw his <I>glory as</I> that <I>of the
|
||
|
|
only-begotten of the Father.</I> And this was that which God spoke
|
||
|
|
concerning his house for a great while to come, the foresight of which
|
||
|
|
affected him more than any thing. And let it not be thought strange
|
||
|
|
that David should speak so plainly of the two natures of Christ who in
|
||
|
|
spirit called him <I>Lord,</I> though he knew he was to be his
|
||
|
|
<I>Son</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+110:1">Ps. cx. 1</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and foresaw him <I>lower than the angels</I> for a little while, but
|
||
|
|
afterwards <I>crowned with glory and honour,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:6,7">Heb. ii. 6, 7</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. After the words <I>What can David say more unto thee,</I> it is
|
||
|
|
here added, <I>for the honour of they servant?</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+17:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Note, The honour God puts upon his servants, by taking them into
|
||
|
|
covenant and communion with himself, is so great that they need not,
|
||
|
|
they cannot, desire to be more highly honoured. Were they to sit down
|
||
|
|
and wish, they could not speak more for their own honour than the word
|
||
|
|
of God has spoken.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. It is very observable that what in Samuel is said to be <I>for thy
|
||
|
|
word's sake</I> is here said to be <I>for thy servant's sake,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+17:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Jesus Christ is both <I>the Word of God</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+19:13">Rev. xix. 13</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and <I>the servant of God</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+42:1">Isa. xlii. 1</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and it is for his sake, upon the score of his meditation, that the
|
||
|
|
promises are both made and made good to all believers; it is in him
|
||
|
|
that they are <I>yea and amen.</I> For his sake is all kindness done,
|
||
|
|
for his sake it is made known; to him we owe all this greatness and
|
||
|
|
from him we are to expect all these great things; they are <I>the
|
||
|
|
unsearchable riches of Christ,</I> which, if by faith we see in
|
||
|
|
themselves and see in the hand of the Lord Jesus, we cannot but magnify
|
||
|
|
as great things, the only true greatness, and speak honourably of
|
||
|
|
accordingly.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IV. In Samuel, the Lord of hosts is said to be the <I>God over
|
||
|
|
Israel;</I> here he is said to be <I>the God of Israel, even a God to
|
||
|
|
Israel,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+17:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
His being the God <I>of</I> Israel bespeaks his having the name of
|
||
|
|
<I>their God</I> and so calling himself; his being a God <I>to</I>
|
||
|
|
Israel bespeaks his answering to the name, his filling up the relation,
|
||
|
|
and doing all that to them which might be expected from him. There were
|
||
|
|
those that were called <I>gods</I> of such and such nations, gods of
|
||
|
|
Assyria and Egypt, gods of Hamad and Arpad; but they were no gods to
|
||
|
|
them, for they stood them in no stead at all, were mere ciphers,
|
||
|
|
nothing but a name. But <I>the God of Israel</I> is a <I>God to
|
||
|
|
Israel;</I> all his attributes and perfections redound to their real
|
||
|
|
benefit and advantage. <I>Happy therefore, thrice happy, is the people
|
||
|
|
whose God is Jehovah;</I> for he will be a God to them, a God
|
||
|
|
all-sufficient.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
V. The closing words in Samuel are, <I>With thy blessing let the house
|
||
|
|
of thy servant be blessed forever.</I> That is the language of a holy
|
||
|
|
desire. But the closing words here are the language of a most holy
|
||
|
|
faith: <I>For thou blessest, O Lord! and it shall be blessed for
|
||
|
|
ever,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+17:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. He was encouraged to beg a blessing because God had intimated to him
|
||
|
|
that he had blessings in store for him and his family: "<I>Thou
|
||
|
|
blessest, O Lord!</I> and therefore unto thee shall all flesh come for
|
||
|
|
a blessing; unto thee do I come for the blessing promised to me."
|
||
|
|
Promises are intended to direct and excite prayer. Has God said, <I>I
|
||
|
|
will bless?</I> Let our hearts answer, <I>Lord, bless me,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He was earnest for the blessing because he believed that those whom
|
||
|
|
God blesses are truly and eternally blessed: <I>Thou blessest, and it
|
||
|
|
shall be blessed.</I> Men can but <I>beg</I> the blessing; it is God
|
||
|
|
that <I>commands</I> it. What he designs he effects; what he promises
|
||
|
|
he performs; saying and doing are not two things with him. Nay, <I>it
|
||
|
|
shall be blessed for ever.</I> His blessings shall not be revoked,
|
||
|
|
cannot be opposed, and the benefits conferred by them are such as will
|
||
|
|
survive time and days. David's prayer concludes as God's promise did
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+17:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
with that which is <I>for ever.</I> God's word looks at things eternal,
|
||
|
|
and so should our desires and hopes.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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