Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Chronicles 17

1 NOw it came to pass as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord remaineth under curtains.

This whole Chapter is explained, 2 Sam. 7. where the same things are recorded with very little variation of the Words; which also hath been considered in my Notes upon that Chapter; to which I refer the Reader, taking notice here but of some very few things.

Marginal references: 2 [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] &c.

9 Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more, neither shall the children of wickedness wast them any more: (as at the beginning,

Such as are devoted and wholly given up to Wickedness, elsewhere called Children of B[illegible: 1+ letters]lial.

14 But I will settle him in mine house , and in my Kingdom for ever, and his throne shall be established for evermore.

In my Dwelling-place, either 1. in Ierusalem, the place where God had put his Name for ever, 2 King. 21. 4, 7. 2 Chron. 6. 5, 6. Compare 1 King. 11. 36. & 15. 4. Or, 2. In the Temple, which is more properly and constantly called Gods House; and so this Expression agrees but very imperfectly with Solomon, or his Successors, who might be said to be settled in Gods House, because they were settled near it, and in some sort set over it, because they were to take care that the Prie[illegible: 1+ letters]ts and others should perform their Offices and Gods Service in it; but strictly and properly agrees onely to Christ, to whom alone that Promise also of an Everlasting Establishment in this Kingdom belongs, as was noted on 2 Sam. 7. And this Expression seems to be most emphatically added to signifie that that person in whom all those Promises should be fully and perfectly accomplished, to wit, the Messias, should be settled not onely in the Kings Throne, as others of Davids Successors were, but also in Gods House or Temple; and consequently that he should be a Priest as well as a King; which Mystery was more clearly revealed to David, Psal. 110. 1, 2, 4. and may be intimated though obscurely (as was fit and usual in that State of the Church) in these words.

Either 1. In the Kingdom of Israel, which God calls his Kingdom, because he was in a special manner their King and Governour, having raised them up and formed them into a Kingdom, and given them that Protection and Assistance which Kings owe to their Kingdoms; and because he expected and required from them, what Kings do from their people, that they should be wholly governed by his Laws and devoted to his Service. Or 2. In Gods Kingdom in a more large and general Sence. And this as well as the former Phrase may seem singularly to belong to the Messiah, who was not onely to be the King of Israel, but also of all Nations, as was foretold even in the Old Testament, as Psal. 2. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. & 22. 27, 28. & 72. 11. Isa. 2. 4. Hagg. 2, 7. And so this may be an Intimation of that great Mystery which is more fully revealed in the New Testament, to wit, that Christ is the Head, or King, or Governour of all Gods Church consisting of Jews and Gentiles, and of all Nations, and indeed of all Creatures, the Angels not excepted; all which is Gods Kingdom and by him given to his Son our Blessed Lord Christ. And for the signification of these great things there is so great and remarkable an alteration of the Phrase here from what it is in 2. Sam. 7. where speaking to David he constantly calls it his (i. e. Davids) Kingdom, and his House v. 12, 13, 16, 19, 25, 27. for which he here saith my House, and my Kingdom, which also he distinguisheth from his Throne, which is mentioned in the next Clause of this Verse, and in v. 11, 12. But these things I submit to the Judicious Reader.

16 And David the king came, and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

Which may note either his Gesture; or his Continuance there till he had finished this following Prayer.

17 And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God, for thou hast also spoken of thy servants house for a great while to come, and hast regarded m[illegible: 1+ letters] according to the estate or a man of high degree, O LORD God .

i. e. Thou hast treated me as if I had been born the Son [illegible: 1 word] Great Monarch, and not a poor Shepheard, as indeed I was, [illegible: 1 word] Lord God. Oth. Thus, Thou hast regarded or [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] Type or Figure, or according to the Rank or [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] Man, or Man of high Degree who is also [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] God, i. e. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] Messiah, who is God-man. i. e. Thou hast given to me and my House an Everlasting Kingdom, which is the peculiar Priviledge of that Great Person the Messiah, Dan. 2. 44. & 7. 13, 14.

19 O LORD for thy servants sake , and according to thine own heart hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.

In 2 Sam. 7. 21. it is for thy words [illegible: 1 word], i. e. for the sake of thy Word and Promise made to thy Servant; as that Phrase, for Davids sake, is oft thus understood, for Gods Covenants sake made with David.

Marginal references: Heb. greatnesses.

24 Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel , and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.

Or, The Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, is a God to Israel, i. e. He is really to his People that which he hath stiled himself, their God, having taken such Care of them and shewed such Mercy and Truth to them, as did fully answer that Title.