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David's Kingdom Established (1 Chronicles 17-20)The Davidic Covenant (Chapter 17)Nathan's Dream (17:1-15)Now that the ark had been moved to Jerusalem , the next logical step was to build a permanent home for the ark. So long as the ark remained in a tent, it seemed as though the presence of God amongst the Israel ites was temporary. Clearly, if the covenant was everlasting, then the presence of God in the land should have a more lasting structure than at tent. So David begins efforts to build a temple to the Lord. David announces his intention to the prophet Nathan (17:1), who at first agrees that this is a good idea. However, that night, Nathan has a dream where God tells him that David is not to build the temple (17:3). However, just because God desires for his ark to remain in a tent doesn't mean his promise to Israel is temporary. Indeed, God affirms to David (through Nathan) that he has appointed this land for Israel (17:9), that they will not be moved, and that the wicked will not push them around anymore (17:9). Even if God's house is not permanent, His promise to establish Israel is. God's promise then becomes more personal. While David is not allowed to build a house for God, God will build a house for David (17:10b). God promises David that He will establish David's son as king and that his son will build the temple ( 17:11 -12). Furthermore, when God takes up residence in the new temple, it will be a sign that God's kingdom will last forever with the descendents of David ruling forever ( 17:14 ). Messianic Aspect of the Davidic CovenantThis is a Messianic prophesy, demonstrating that the Messiah would come and rule as king over Israel forever. God himself would descend and come as a descendent of David and establish and rule over His kingdom forever. The temple becom es an important symbol of the rule of the Messiah. The temple represen ts the dwelling of God amongst His people. However after the coming of Jesus, the Messiah the Jewish temple is destroyed in AD 70, as is predicted by the prophet Daniel (Daniel 9:26 ). That does not mean that God no longer dwells among His people. Indeed, with the coming of the Holy Spirit which indwells all believers, God continues to live with and in the church of God . For this reason both the church and our bodies are called by the apostle Paul as temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16 -17, 6:19 ) [1]. David's Response ( 17:16 -27)David responds to the promise of God with humility:
David is overwhelmed by God's lovingkindness towards him. He is amazed that God has brought him this far, let alone promise to establish him as a dynasty forever. David then praises God, proclaiming there is none like God ( 17:20 ). Furthermore, there is no other nation like Israel ( 17:21 ), for God has redeemed His people from Egypt and now He will establish Israel forever ( 17:22 ). David proclaims that Yahweh, the Lord of hosts, is the God of Israel and that his throne and Israel will be established forever and ever ( 17:24 ). Even though God had temporarily removed the kingdom from Israel , now the chronicler is reminding the returning exiles that they are part of this on-going covenant. David's kingdom is eternal and as long as the people worship Yahweh, the God of Israel, they will be able to partake in this covenant. The returning exiles belong to God and will be established by God even in the midst of their current difficulties. For the promise of God is eternal! David's Military Victories (1 Chronicles 18-20)God will not allow David to build the temple because he is a man of war, and he has blood on his hands (1 Chronicles 22:8). The chronicler must establish this, however. So chapters 18-20 recount David's conquering of the neighboring nations. His military victories extended his kingdom as far as the Euphrates River to the north. The chronicler spends an entire chapter retelling David's war with the nation of Ammon. This war came as a result of an insult to David's emissaries. David soundly defeats the Ammonites and their allies. The chronicler highlights this war, for the Ammonites continued to harass Israel in the time of Nehemiah. In fact, Nehemiah's chief nemesis, Tobiah, is an Ammonite (Nehemiah 2:10 ). Finally, the chronicler completes his recounting of David's victories with a summary of the great battles against Israel 's chief oppressor, the Philistines (chapter 20). This includes some wonderful stories including the defeat of Goliath's brother and a giant with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. Preparation for the Building of the Temple (1 Chronicles 21-29)Sin of the Census (1 Chronicles 21)Chronicles skips over nearly all of David's weaknesses. In Samuel, David's faults are laid bare, including his adultery with Bathsheba and the rebellion of his son Absalom. However, one sin is recorded by the chronicler: taking a census. This sin has to be brought up because it is through David's repentance of this sin that he finds the location on which the temple will be built. God had given David's kingdom peace and prosperity. So much so, that by the end of David's life he starts becoming proud over all his accomplishments. To quantify these accomplishments, David takes a census of Israel . The results of the census are that there are over 1 million men who could draw the sword in Israel , with 470,000 in Judah alone (21:5). This show of arrogance, however, was a sin against the Lord. By checking to see the size of an army he could muster, he was showing that his confidence was in himself and in the might of Israel rather than in God. As a result, God punishes David by sending a plague in which 70,000 people are killed ( 21:14 ). David repents before the Lord and asks that his people be spared, for it was his sin, not the people's ( 21:17 ). God responds to David through the prophet Gad. David is to erect an altar on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. David goes to purchase the land from Ornan, but Ornan offers to donate it to the king ( 20:23 ). The king insists, however, on purchasing it. David is recognizing that the king is not above the law, for he could have demanded the land himself. Instead he insists on purchasing it, for then the altar becomes an act of his sacrifice ( 21:24 ). There David builds and altar and prays to the Lord. The Lord is pleased by this sign of humility and the he stops the plague affecting Israel . Normally David would have to go to the tabernacle to make a sacrifice unto God. The tabernacle, at this time, was in Gibeon . But David was afraid to go to Gibeon for fear that the angel of the Lord would kill him ( 21:30 ). But the fact that God would accept his sacrifice on the threshing floor of Ornan revealed to David that this place was as sacred as the tabernacle in Gibeon . As a result, David declares that this will be the place where the temple is to be build (22:1) David Prepares the Temple (1 Chronicles 22)David is not allowed to build the temple because of the wars he has waged (22:8). His son Solomon will be left with the task of actually building the temple (22:9). But that doesn't' mean David can't get everything ready for the temple to be built. Indeed, Solomon was young and inexperienced, so David wants to make sure everything is ready for Solomon so the building can take place as soon as David dies (22:5) David orders for all the building material to be delivered, including the stones, iron nails, and timbers. He provides the money for the construction. He organizes the work parties. Finally he charges the leaders of Israel to assist Solomon. After all, because God has established Israel in the land, the least they can do is show their thanksgiving to God by providing a place for the ark of the Lord ( 22:18 -19) David Organizes the Levites (1 Chronicles 23-26)After preparing for the construction of the temple, David then organizes the Levites to be the stewards of this temple. First, he counts the Levites so he knows who he has (23:3-5). Then he divides them according to their ancestry: the descendents of Gershon, Kohath and Merari (23:6). The Levites has to be reorganized because up to now, much of their duties had been defined by the mobile nature of the tabernacle. In the book of Leviticus, Moses outlined for the Levites who was responsible for what in the disassembly and reassembly of the tent of meeting. Certain Levites would be responsible for carrying various parts of the tabernacle. However, the Levites would no longer need to carry the tabernacle and its related utensils ( 23:26 ). For the Lord God had given rest to the people, and God would now dwell in Jerusalem forever ( 23:25 ). The sons of Aaron were the priests of God, responsible for offering the sacrifices. David divided them into groups of twenty-four (24:7-18) and each group would be responsible for specific shifts at the temple. The sons of Asaph and Heman would be responsible for the temple musicia ns. They arranged for a choir of 288 people, consisting of 24 divisions of 12 people each (25:7-31). Other Levites would be responsible to be the gatekeepers, and these were placed into division to guard the various gates of Jerusalem (26:1-19). Finally some of the Levites were charged with keeping the treasures inside the temple saf e (26:20-28). These same responsibilities remain with the Levites in the days of the Ezra and Nehemiah. Ezra appointed the Levites in his day to be priests and gatekeepers and singers as well in accordance with the command of David (Nehemiah 12:45 ). Chronicles serves as the template for the organization of the Levitical administration in the post exilic period. David's Final Charge to Solomon (1 Chronicles 27-29)As David nears his death, he assembles all his officials, princes, commanders and overseers in Jerusalem (28:1). In the previous chapter, the names and duties of these official has been detailed. Now he gives them one final charge: build the temple. The charge to Solomon and His officials (1 Chronicles 28)David recounts the events that have led them to this moment. He had intended to build the temple so that God would have a permanent home (28:2). But God prohibited him from doing so (28:3). Nonetheless God, in his graciousness had established David's house as the royal line for Israel , and specifically he has chosen Solomon to replace him (28:4-5). Now he was calling on all his leadership to courageously take up the challenge and help Solomon build the temple. David charges Solomon to be strong and courageous and follow through (28:20). The call to contribute (29:1-22a)David finishes the speech to the assembly with a capital pledge campaign. He begins by showing what his pledge isnamely gold, silver, iron, and precious stones. In all David is giving 3,000 talents of gold and 7,000 talents of silver. He then asks, who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the Lord. In other words, who else is going to contribute (29:5)? The leadership steps up and give generously to the temple projec t (29:6-9). This heartens David and he blesses the Lord. He declares that God rules over all and controls everything (29:10-13). Therefore the generosity of the people really amounts to nothing. The things they gave already belonged to God. He gave them these things, and they were merely returning to God what was already His (29:13). Previously Israel had been wanderers in the earth with no hope (29:15). Now, they had been established in peace and prosperity, and from this prosperity the people had decided to build the temple, giving back that which was from the Lord (29:16). Following this assembly, they offered sacrifices to God and had a celebration (29:21). Epilogue (29:22b-30)In the epilogue, to the party, Solomon is made king with all the officials pledging their support (29:22b-25). David dies at a ripe old age, having reigned for 40 years over Israel (29:26-30). Footnotes
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