1 Chronicles 17:3
But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying,
But that night

God promptly redirected Nathan’s earlier counsel to David, showing that the Lord was personally guiding the plans for Israel’s king.

1Ki 3:5 One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream,…
Num 22:20 That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men…
Gen 31:24 But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream…

the word of God came to Nathan,

As David’s prophet, Nathan received God’s instruction and was responsible to deliver it faithfully, even when it corrected what seemed appropriate to both king and prophet.

2Sa 7:4 But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying,
2Ch 11:2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God:
Jer 1:4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying:

saying,

God’s message would establish His purpose for David’s house and kingdom, including the promise of a lasting royal line ultimately fulfilled in the Messiah.

2Sa 7:5 Go and tell My servant David that this is what the LORD says:…
1Ch 28:3 But God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house…
1Ch 22:8 You are not to build a house for My Name…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Nathan
A prophet during the reign of King David, Nathan played a crucial role in communicating God's messages to David. He is known for his wisdom and courage in delivering God's word, even when it was challenging.

2. David
The King of Israel, known for his heart after God. In this chapter, David expresses his desire to build a temple for the Lord, which prompts God's response through Nathan.

3. God
The sovereign deity of Israel, who communicates His will and plans through His prophets. In this passage, God speaks to Nathan to convey a message to David.

4. The Word of God
Represents God's direct communication and revelation to His people, often delivered through prophets in the Old Testament.

5. The Night
Symbolically, night can represent a time of revelation and divine communication, as God often spoke to His prophets during the night.
Teaching Points
The Role of Prophets
Prophets are God's messengers, chosen to deliver His word to His people. Nathan's role reminds us of the importance of listening to God's voice and being obedient to His guidance.

God's Sovereignty in Communication
God chooses the time and manner in which He communicates with His people. His message to Nathan at night signifies that God is always at work, even when we are at rest.

The Importance of Divine Revelation
God's word is central to understanding His will and purpose. We should seek His revelation through prayer, scripture, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Obedience to God's Plan
David's desire to build a temple was noble, but God's plan was different. We must be willing to submit our desires to God's greater plan, trusting in His wisdom and timing.

The Continuity of God's Promises
The message to David through Nathan is part of God's unfolding plan of redemption, culminating in Jesus Christ. This reminds us of the faithfulness of God to His promises throughout history.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Nathan's role as a prophet in this passage encourage us to seek and listen to God's guidance in our own lives?

2. In what ways can we discern God's communication to us today, and how can we ensure we are receptive to His messages?

3. Reflect on a time when your plans differed from God's. How did you respond, and what did you learn about His sovereignty?

4. How does understanding the continuity of God's promises from David to Jesus strengthen your faith in His faithfulness?

5. What practical steps can you take to align your desires with God's will, especially when His plans differ from your own?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Samuel 7
This chapter parallels 1 Chronicles 17 and provides additional context to God's covenant with David, emphasizing the promise of an everlasting kingdom through David's lineage.

Psalm 89
This psalm reflects on God's covenant with David, highlighting the faithfulness and enduring nature of God's promises.

Hebrews 1:1-2
These verses discuss how God spoke to His people through prophets in the past and now speaks through His Son, Jesus Christ, connecting the role of prophets like Nathan to the ultimate revelation in Christ.
Truths Under the SurfaceW. Clarkson 1 Chronicles 17:1-6
David Forbidden to Build the TempleG. T. Coster.1 Chronicles 17:1-10
Our Inspirations Require to be RevisedJ. Parker, D. D.1 Chronicles 17:1-10
The King's ProposalJ. Wolfendale.1 Chronicles 17:1-10
God's Message to DavidF. Whitfield 1 Chronicles 17:3-15
People
David, Israelites, Nathan
Places
Egypt, Jerusalem
Topics
Nathan, Pass, Saying
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Chronicles 17:1-6

     5089   David, significance
     7306   ark of the covenant

Library
Amasiah
'Amasiah, the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the Lord.'--1 CHRON. xvii, 16. This is a scrap from the catalogue of Jehoshaphat's 'mighty men of valour'; and is Amasiah's sole record. We see him for a moment and hear his eulogium and then oblivion swallows him up. We do not know what it was that he did to earn it. But what a fate, to live to all generations by that one sentence! I. Cheerful self-surrender the secret of all religion. The words of our text contain a metaphor naturally
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Promise in 2 Samuel, Chap. vii.
The Messianic prophecy, as we have seen, began at a time long anterior to that of David. Even in Genesis, we perceived [Pg 131] it, increasing more and more in distinctness. There is at first only the general promise that the seed of the woman should obtain the victory over the kingdom of the evil one;--then, that the salvation should come through the descendants of Shem;--then, from among them Abraham is marked out,--of his sons, Isaac,--from among his sons, Jacob,--and from among the twelve sons
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Cavils of the Pharisees Concerning Purification, and the Teaching of the Lord Concerning Purity - the Traditions Concerning Hand-Washing' and Vows. '
As we follow the narrative, confirmatory evidence of what had preceded springs up at almost every step. It is quite in accordance with the abrupt departure of Jesus from Capernaum, and its motives, that when, so far from finding rest and privacy at Bethsaida (east of the Jordan), a greater multitude than ever had there gathered around Him, which would fain have proclaimed Him King, He resolved on immediate return to the western shore, with the view of seeking a quieter retreat, even though it were
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Divine Jesus.
Jehovah-Jesus: John 1:1-18. the intimacy of John, John 13:23. 19:26. 20:2. 21:7, 20. "with Jesus," John 18:15.--John writes of Jesus--- when he wrote--getting the range--his literary style--the beginning--the Word--this was Jesus--the tragic tone. God's Spokesman: the Creator was Jehovah--- Jehovah is Jesus--the Spokesman--Old Testament revelations, Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, the elders of Israel, Isaiah, Ezekiel,--Whom these saw--various ways of speaking--John's Gospel
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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