JESUS’ KINGDOM WILL BE ESTABLISHED FOREVER

1Chronicles 17

Key verse 17:14

14 I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.' "

Have you ever received a gift that you totally didn’t expect and totally felt was more than you deserved?  I have.  Today’s passage is a story of David receiving such grace from the LORD.

Why are we studying this passage?

This passage is very related to Christmas.

The promises mentioned here were fulfilled through Jesus’ first coming; and His coming into the world we call Christmas.

I say promises because there’s actually more than one here.

Last week God promised Abraham, “Through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed.”

Today’s passage consists of the promises given to David.  Essentially it’s a more detailed version of the promise given to Abraham.

I pray your heart may be filled with grace as you realize just how much God has done for you and given to you in sending Jesus at Christmastime.

I. David wants to build God a house.

Look at verses 1-6. (I’ll read them for you.)

1 After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent." 2 Nathan replied to David, "Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you." 3 That night the word of God came to Nathan, saying: 4 "Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. 5 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another. 6 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders ^{[ HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Chronicles%2017&version=31" \l "fen-NIV-10870a" \o "See footnote a" a]} whom I commanded to shepherd my people, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" ' 

A. Who was David?

As a young boy he lived as a shepherd working hard, faithfully taking care of his father’s flock of sheep.

In his youth, he was a soldier and military commander.

David and Goliath.

At 30, he became king.

He is pretty much unanimously Israel’s most successful and just king in all their history.  And not just Israel, but any nation for that matter.  It’s because he ruled more like a shepherd than a king.  He was truly “for the people”.

He was also the great Psalmist and musician who composed the majority of the psalms we enjoy today.

To summarize all this, we can say that David was a man of noble character who has noble desires. One of these desires was to build God a house, a temple, in order to honor Him. He felt it wasn’t right that the Ark of the Covenant, which was a sign of God’s dwelling, should be under a tent while he is living in a palace.

David felt so blessed by God and that God is so good that he really wanted to do something for God. God’s response was that David didn’t need to do anything for Him. god then took the opportunity to remind David that it was God in the first place who made David who he was. Look at verses 7-8. (Explain.)

7 "Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel. 8 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men of the earth.

I think that David was really sobered by hearing this. Yes, God uses people to accomplish His work, as he had graciously done with David. But God doesn’t really “need” anybody. So God didn’t want David to build him anything. But God was so happy and pleased with David not so much because of David’s desire to build him a house, but because of his fundamental faith in God.  He was so pleased that He turned the tables on David and promised to do something for him and his people; and this something wasn’t small at all.

II. God promises to build a house for David.

What would God do? In verses 8-10, we see five things that God promised to do.

8 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men of the earth.

9 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 10 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies.  " 'I declare to you that the LORD will build a house for you: 

“I will make your name like the greatest men of the earth.”

“I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so they can have a home of their won and no longer be disturbed.”

“Wicked people will not oppress them anymore.”

“I will also subdue all your enemies.”

And here’s the big reversal the Lord plays on David, “I will build a house for you.”

So what is this house all about that God promised to build for David? Look at verses 11-14. I’ll read them.

11 When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. 14 I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.' " 

To many, it seemed like this house that God would build for David would be though his son Solomon. Solomon was David’s son and he succeeded David as king. He also built a house, so to speak, for God. The problem was that his kingdom and throne didn’t last forever as had been promised. Solomon died. The kingdom was invaded by the Babylonians and the people were taken into exile. And the temple was destroyed in the process. It looked like God’s promises had failed. There was nothing eternal about this kingdom, this house (temple), or the one who ruled over them. But God’s promises had not failed. God’s promises never fail. Solomon was not the One promised. He and his kingdom were only a foreshadow at best. The promises were really fulfilled through Jesus. 

The Lord established Jesus’ throne and kingdom by sending Him into the world to die on the cross and opening up the kingdom of God to all who would believe. His is an everlasting kingdom. Unlike all kingdoms in this world, all businesses, nations, you name it (which rise and fall), this kingdom is forever, FOREVER AND EVER. And Jesus is ruling as a gentle shepherd-like King over it, FOREVER!

But what about house? Verse 12 says, “He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.” How did Jesus build God a house? In this world, this doesn’t really happen. Most people in places of authority are looking out for their own interests. In some sense, house and kingdom are one in the same. But a house or home is more than an environment. It is a place where people live. It consists of people. So this house that Jesus would build also consists of people. In fact, 1Peter 2:4-5 tells us clearly as well.

“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

The house Jesus is building is a spiritual house consisting of people like you and me. And that is really what makes our dwelling in heaven so great; not just the environment, but the people. You know you may have a big mansion, but if the people there are a bunch of jerks, it is not going to be a fun place to live.

You know this Christmastime is a time of many family gatherings.  Some find it a joyful time but others find it one of the most tortuous times of the year.  This is especially the case for those from broken families or parents going through a divorce.  Oftentimes there’s more yelling and screaming at these family gatherings than any other time.  But the household Jesus is building is much different.  The house Jesus is building consists of holy people, people who have been washed in Jesus’ blood and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. They are noble people, holy people, righteous and pleasant people to be around. We may enjoy each other’s company now, (and sometimes not), but in heaven, we will really enjoy each other’s company. One of the greatest features of this home I think is in verse 9, which we read earlier.

“9 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning.” 

God’s people will have a home of their own and will no longer be disturbed or oppressed by wicked people. A home of their own. No longer disturbed. Ahhhhh.  Not only will we be free from all our own burdens and sins, but we’ll be free from other’s sins too.  No more having to deal with rude people, unbelieving people, or those who are just plain wicked and bother us constantly. It will truly be home, with people we can relate to, who worship and serve the same Lord and King Jesus Christ.

We thank God for giving to us so much and for sending His son Jesus to make this all possible. It is truly God’s grace to us. When David thought aabout all that God had done for him and though him and now learned that God would do even more, his heart was filled with grace. He couldn’t help but praise and worship God for this. He prayed, Yes Lord, “do as you promised.” Let’s close by reading verses 16 and 17 together. 

16 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said:  "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 17 And as if this were not enough in your sight, O God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men, O LORD God.”

I pray your heart would be filled with the same grace this Christmastime in view of what God has done for you through Jesus.

---