Lord's promise to David

I Chronicles Chapter 17

When David was settled in his palace, he told Nathan the prophet that here he was living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of the Lord's covenant was in a tent. Nathan told the king that he should go ahead with whatever he had in mind for the Ark, because the Lord was with him.

But that night the Lord came to Nathan and told him to relay the message to David that he was not the one who would build a temple for the Ark. The Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt but his home had always been in a tent and moved from one place to another.
The Lord told Nathan to go to his servant David and tell him that he was chosen when he was just a shepherd boy and the Lord had always been with him and helped him destroy all his enemies. Now the Lord would make David's name famous throughout the earth, and he provided a place for the people of Israel where they will never be disturbed. In their own land, wicked nations would not oppress them. Further, the Lord said that when David died, he would raise up one of David's sons and he would be the one to build a temple for the Lord and his throne would be established forever.

Nathan told all this to David who then sat and prayed before the Lord and asked questions that showed his humility. Then he asked God to establish his dynasty forever and grant him eternal blessings.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Clearly God did not want a warrior to build his Temple and David had shed much blood in unifying the nation. So the honor of building the Temple would go to his son Solomon. The promise of God had two parts. 1. as long as David's descendants followed God's laws and honored him, they would be continually be on the throne of Israel. 2. the second part was unconditional. A son of David would occupy the throne forever. This was Jesus Christ.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Most important was the message that David's son would occupy the throne through a Messiah (to come). This foreshadows the birth of Jesus in the lineage of David's house. How fortunate we are to be able to see the plans of God come together and form his son, our savior.

David was disturbed that the Ark sat in a tent, while he lived in a beautiful palace. But his timing was wrong and God did not want him to build a Temple. David was humble and willing to wait. How about you in your time? Do you live in luxury while God's work, house or ministers are lacking? Perhaps God wants you to change the situation. But like David, you must be willing to do it according to God's timetable. Think about this.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents. especially her mother whose cancer has returned, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. She will require long therapy and insurance may soon be a problem since her job was not held for her.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues..
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
Pray for the speedy recovery of Sandy in Minnesota who underwent successful brain surgery for a tumor recently.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.