The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 271

CHAPTER XVII. kingdom in his line. The interest of this chapter is heightened, as will be seen, by This chapter is paralleled by 2 Sam. vii. the aspects of royal "home" life and peace 1-29; and tile parallel is for tile most part which it presents. very close. The purport of the two accounts Ver. 1.-We may easily imagine how tho may be said to be identical, while the varia- excitement, though not the deeper interest, tions of some few words and sentences just attending the removr,.l of the ark and thu suffice to indicate the somewhat different festival on occo.sion of its safe establishmeu t objects of the two writers, and the very on Zion had now subsided. Do.vid's thoughts different time when our compiler was having respecting the honour due to God and to thu ark of tile coveuo.nt had time to grow into recouroe to the common authority. The convictions, and they were greatly and "good" purpose which was in David's rightly stimulo.ted by reflection on his own heart is, like many other good purposes, surroundings of comfort, of safety, of stability obBtructed by the will and providence of and splendour. He revolves the possiblo God himself. It is not one of that otller methods and the right methods of showi11g- tbat honour due. 'rho completion of Ilia kind of "good Intentions," with which the own house, one presumo.bly fit for the per- way to hell is so often paved, when tile manent abode of the King of Israol(ch. xiv. man who forms the resolution aud entertains 1) is the clear demonstration to him tho.t the intention is he who of his own choice, th~ urk should not dwell in a mere tent. It or fickleness, or indifference, breaks it. It is o. true touch of life, when it is written tho.t as David sat in his house thcso thoughts is acknowledged, therefore, and meets in fact possessed him, and so ~trongly, 'rho oxnct with o. large and gracious reward, in being time, however, hero dcs1gnod, uud the exact ma,le the occasion of thu distinct revela.tion occasion of his rovwliug the thoughts tbo.t t,o David of a lastiu~ house and perpetuated Imme,! witllin llim, to Nuthan, do not on. xvn, 1-27.] THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 26\J