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a permanent house for Yahveh

1 Chronicles 17:1-27

1 Chronicles 17:1 When David had settled into his palace, he said to the prophet Nathan, “Look! I am living in a cedar house while the ark of Yahveh’s covenant is under tent curtains.”
1 Chronicles 17:2 So Nathan told David, “Do all that is on your mind, for God is with you.”
1 Chronicles 17:3 But that night the word of God came to Nathan:
1 Chronicles 17:4 “Go to David my servant and say, ‘This is what Yahveh says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in.
1 Chronicles 17:5 From the time I brought Israel out of Egypt until today, I have not dwelt in a house; instead, I have moved from one tent site to another and from one tabernacle location to another.
1 Chronicles 17:6 In all my journeys throughout Israel, have I ever spoken a word to even one of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, asking: Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar? ‘
1 Chronicles 17:7 “So now this is what you are to say to my servant David: ‘This is what Yahveh of Armies says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel.
1 Chronicles 17:8 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a name for you like that of the greatest on the land.
1 Chronicles 17:9 I will designate a place for my people Israel and plant them, so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they have done
1 Chronicles 17:10 ever since the day I ordered judges to be over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies. ” ‘Furthermore, I declare to you that Yahveh himself will build a house for you.
1 Chronicles 17:11 When your time comes to be with your fathers, I will raise up after you your descendant, who is one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.
1 Chronicles 17:12 He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.
1 Chronicles 17:13 I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will not remove my faithful love from him as I removed it from the one who was before you.
1 Chronicles 17:14 I will appoint him over my house and my kingdom forever and his throne will be established forever.'”
1 Chronicles 17:15 Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David.
1 Chronicles 17:16 Then King David went in, sat in Yahveh’s presence, and said, Who am I, Yahveh God, and what is my house that you have brought me this far?
1 Chronicles 17:17 This was a little thing to you, God, for you have spoken about your servant’s house in the distant future. You regard me as a man of distinction, Yahveh God.
1 Chronicles 17:18 What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? You know your servant.
1 Chronicles 17:19 Yahveh, you have done this whole great thing, making known all these great promises for the sake of your servant and according to your will.
1 Chronicles 17:20 Yahveh, there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, as all we have heard confirms.
1 Chronicles 17:21 And who is like your people Israel? God, you came to one nation on the land to redeem a people for yourself, to make a name for yourself through great and awesome works by driving out nations before your people you redeemed from Egypt.
1 Chronicles 17:22 You made your people Israel your own people forever, and you, Yahveh, have become their God.
1 Chronicles 17:23 Now, Yahveh, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and his house be confirmed forever, and do as you have promised.
1 Chronicles 17:24 Let your name be confirmed and magnified forever in the saying, “Yahveh of Armies, the God of Israel, is God over Israel.” May the house of your servant David be established before you.
1 Chronicles 17:25 Since you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house, your servant has found courage to pray in your presence.
1 Chronicles 17:26 Yahveh, you indeed are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.
1 Chronicles 17:27 So now, you have been pleased to bless your servant’s house that it may continue before you forever. For you, Yahveh, have blessed it, and it is blessed forever.

a permanent house for Yahveh

On this last day of the year, many will evaluate their year’s activities and determine that something was lacking, resolving to do something more or to stop doing something they regret.
Such thoughts were in David’s heart as he noticed that he was living in a fine cedar house, but the presence of the Yahveh (as symbolized by the ark) was residing in a tent. David wanted to build a more permanent structure for the ark. He would learn that it would not be him, but one of his sons who would build a temple. Another of David’s descendants (Jesus) would build a permanent house for God’s presence on earth. David’s desire reflected the desire of the ages.

Yahveh, build a permanent house for yourself in our hearts.