Nathan first approving the purpose of David to build God a house, 1, 2, and afterward forbids him by the word of God, 3-10. He promises him blessings and benefits in his offspring, 11-15. David's prayer and thanksgiving, 16-27.
1 Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, "Behold, I dwell in a house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remains under curtains." 2 Then Nathan said to David, "Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you."
3 And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4 "Go and tell David my servant, 'Thus says the LORD: "You shall not build me a house to dwell in, 5 For I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, but have gone from tent to tent and from one tabernacle to another. 6 Wherever I have walked with all Israel, have I spoken a word to any of the judges of Israel whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, 'Why have you not built me a house of cedars?'"' 7 Now therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David: 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheep-fold, even from following the sheep, so that you should be ruler over my people Israel. 8 And I have been with you wherever you have walked, have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a name like the name of the great men who are in the earth. 9 Also, I will ordain a place for my people Israel and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place and shall no longer be moved, neither shall the children of wickedness waste them anymore, as at the beginning, 10 Since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover, I will subdue all your enemies. Furthermore, I tell you that the LORD will build you a house. 11 And it shall come to pass, when your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall be of your sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. And I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him who was before you, 14 But I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forevermore."'" 15 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
16 And David the king came and sat before the LORD and said, "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house that you have brought me thus far? 17 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O God, for you have also spoken of your servant's house for a great while to come and have regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God. 18 What can David speak more to you for the honor of your servant? For you know your servant. 19 O LORD, for your servant's sake and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness in making known all these great things. 20 O LORD, there is no one like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 21 And what one nation in the earth is like your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make you a name of greatness and awesomeness, by driving out nations from before your people, whom you have redeemed out of Egypt? 22 For you made your people Israel your own people forever, and you, LORD, became their God.
23 "And now, LORD, let the thing that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as you have said. 24 Let it even be established so that your name may be magnified forever, saying, 'The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel. And let the house of David your servant be established before you.' 25 For you, O my God, have told your servant that you will build him a house. Therefore, your servant has found in his heart to pray before you. 26 And now, LORD, you are God and have promised this goodness to your servant. 27 Now therefore, let it please you to bless the house of your servant so that it may be before you forever, for you bless, O LORD, and it shall be blessed forever."
Matthew Henry Commentary - 1st Chronicles, Chapter 17[➚]
[v.13] - Quoted in Hebrews 1:5.