1 Chronicles 17:1-17 ▼

1 After David had settled down to live in his palace, he spoke with the prophet Nathan. |Look, here I am living in this cedar palace, but the ark of the LORD's covenant remains surrounded by curtains!|

2 |Do everything you have in mind,| Nathan replied to David, |because God is with you.|

3 But later that same night, this message came to Nathan from God:

4 |Go tell David, my servant, 'This is what the Lord says: |'|You won't be building a house for me to inhabit, will you?

5 After all, I haven't lived in a house from the day I brought out Israel until today. Instead, I've lived from tent to tent and from one place to another.

6 Wherever I've moved within all of Israel, did I ever ask even one judge of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people, 'Why haven't you built me a cedar house?'|'

7 |Now therefore this is what you are to tell my servant David: 'This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: |I took you from the pasture myself—from tending sheep—to become Commander-in-Chief over my people Israel.

8 |'|Furthermore, I have remained with you everywhere you have gone, annihilating all your enemies right in front of you. I will make your reputation great, like the reputation of the great ones who have lived on earth.

9 I will establish a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure location where they will never be disturbed anymore. Wicked people will not oppress them as happened in the past,

10 during the time I had commanded judges to administer my people Israel. I'll also grant you deliverance from all your enemies. |'|I'm also announcing to you that the LORD also will himself build a house for you.

11 It will come about that when your life is complete and you go to join your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who is related to one of your sons, and I will fortify his kingdom.

12 He will build a temple dedicated to me, and I will make his throne last forever.

13 I will be a father to him and he will be a son to me. I will never remove my gracious love from him as I did from the one who preceded you.

14 I will confirm him in my Temple and in my kingdom forever, and his throne will remain secure forever.|'|

15 Using precisely these words, Nathan communicated this complete oracle to David.

16 Then King David went in, sat down in the presence of the LORD, and said: |Who am I, LORD God, and what is my household, since you have brought me to this?

17 Furthermore, this is a small thing to you, God, and yet you have spoken concerning your servant's household for a great while to come, and you have seen in me the fulfillment of man's purpose, LORD God.