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- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
2 Sam. 7
David wanted to build a house for God. Instead, God promised to build a house for David. David knew, “this is a revelation for mankind” (from 2 Sam. 7:19). What an awesome thing it must have been for him to realize that he was such a pivotal part of God’s great plan for the world. Yet he responded with utter humility. He lowered himself, boasted in God, then prayed that God would fulfill His promise. Why did He ask God to do what He had just promised to do? I think it was both an acknowledgment that the work was the LORD’s and an expression of David’s desire to stay faithful to God.
1 Chron. 17
This passage, of course, is the same general story as the one we just read in 2 Samuel 7. The wording is very similar, though not verbatim. The change that stood out to me the most was the omission of Saul’s name. The Chronicler simply referred to, “the one who was before you.” (1 Chron. 17:13b). Given what I learned about the book of Chronicles the other day, I’d say this was part of the author’s effort to focus on David and the hope of God’s promise for the future.