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1 CHR ONICL ES 17
page 371
be done each day. 38 This group included Obededom (son of Jeduthun), Hosah, and sixty-eight
other Levites as gatekeepers.
39 Meanwhile, David stationed Zadok the
priest and his fellow priests at the Tabernacle
of the Lord at the place of worship in Gibeon,
where they continued to minister before the
Lord. 40 They sacrificed the regular burnt offerings to the Lord each morning and evening
on the altar set aside for that purpose, obeying
everything written in the Law of the Lord, as
he had commanded Israel. 41 David also appointed Heman, Jeduthun, and the others
chosen by name to give thanks to the Lord, for
“his faithful love endures forever.” 42 They used
their trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments
to accompany their songs of praise to God.*
And the sons of Jeduthun were appointed as
gatekeepers.
43 Then all the people returned to their homes,
and David turned and went home to bless his
own family.
The LORD’s Covenant Promise to David
When David was settled in his palace, he
summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,”
David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace,* but the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant is out
there under a tent!”
2 Nathan replied to David, “Do whatever you
have in mind, for God is with you.”
3 But that same night God said to Nathan,
17
4 “Go
and tell my servant David, ‘This is
what the Lord has declared: You are not
the one to build a house for me to live in.
5 I have never lived in a house, from the day
I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until
this very day. My home has always been
a tent, moving from one place to another
in a Tabernacle. 6 Yet no matter where I
have gone with the Israelites, I have never
once complained to Israel’s leaders, the
shepherds of my people. I have never asked
them, “Why haven’t you built me a beautiful
cedar house?”’
7 “Now go and say to my servant David,
‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
has declared: I took you from tending sheep
in the pasture and selected you to be the
leader of my people Israel. 8 I have been
with you wherever you have gone, and I
have destroyed all your enemies before
your eyes. Now I will make your name as
famous as anyone who has ever lived on the
earth! 9 And I will provide a homeland for
my people Israel, planting them in a secure
place where they will never be disturbed.
Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve
16:42 Or to accompany the sacred music; or to accompany
singing to God. 17:1 Hebrew a house of cedar. 17:17 The
meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
done in the past, 10 starting from the time I
appointed judges to rule my people Israel.
And I will defeat all your enemies.
“‘Furthermore, I declare that the Lord
will build a house for you—a dynasty of
kings! 11 For when you die and join your
ancestors, I will raise up one of your
descendants, one of your sons, and I will
make his kingdom strong. 12 He is the one
who will build a house—a temple—for me.
And I will secure his throne forever. 13 I will
be his father, and he will be my son. I will
never take my favor from him as I took it
from the one who ruled before you. 14 I will
confirm him as king over my house and my
kingdom for all time, and his throne will be
secure forever.’”
15 So
Nathan went back to David and told him
everything the Lord had said in this vision.
David’s Prayer of Thanks
16 Then King David went in and sat before the
Lord and prayed,
“Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my
family, that you have brought me this far?
17 And now, O God, in addition to everything
else, you speak of giving your servant a
lasting dynasty! You speak as though I were
someone very great,* O Lord God!
18 “What more can I say to you about the
way you have honored me? You know what
your servant is really like. 19 For the sake of
your servant, O Lord, and according to your
will, you have done all these great things
and have made them known.
20 “O Lord, there is no one like you. We
have never even heard of another God like
you! 21 What other nation on earth is like
your people Israel? What other nation,
O God, have you redeemed from slavery
to be your own people? You made a great
name for yourself when you redeemed your
people from Egypt. You performed awesome
miracles and drove out the nations that
stood in their way. 22 You chose Israel to be
your very own people forever, and you,
O Lord, became their God.
23 “And now, O Lord, I am your servant;
do as you have promised concerning me
and my family. May it be a promise that
will last forever. 24 And may your name be
established and honored forever so that
everyone will say, ‘The Lord of Heaven’s
Armies, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God!’
And may the house of your servant David
continue before you forever.
25 “O my God, I have been bold enough
to pray to you because you have revealed
to your servant that you will build a house
for him—a dynasty of kings! 26 For you are