I love how the idea of dwelling is used consistently in 1 Chronicles 17 when God tells David that he would not build Him a permeant place to dwell. What does it mean for God to dwell? God is everywhere so when He dwells among us what is that saying? “Thus says the Lord, “You shall not build a house for Me to dwell in; for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from one dwelling place to another.” 1 Chronicles 17:4,5 The idea of God dwelling in one particular place confuses me since He is omnipresent. Is dwelling similar to the idea of abiding? God chose to dwell among the people of Israel. Do you sense the amazing reality of the fact that God chose to dwell among the Israelites. God didn’t need the Israelites because He needs nothing but He still desired them.
“When your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up one of your descendants after you, who will be of your sons; and I will established his kingdom. He shall build for me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father and he shall be My son; and I will not take My lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from him who was before you. But I will settle him in My house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.” 1 Chronicles 17:11-14 This promise God made to David foreshadows the coming of Jesus Christ the Son of God. David could not have fathomed what God had planned to redeem man from the bond of sin when he heard that one of his descendant would reign forever. “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house that you have brought me this far? This was a small thing in Your eyes, O God; but You have spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the standards of a man of high degree, O Lord God. What more can David still say to You concerning the honor bestowed on Your servant? For you know your servant. O Lord, for Your servant’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have wrought all this greatness, to make known all these great things.” 1 Chronicles 17:16-19
Do you see the connection between God’s dwelling with Israel, His promise to David, and our hope for tomorrow. Jesus Christ came to dwell among the sinful men and women He needed nothing from. God’s nature didn’t change from how He chose to dwell among the Israelites and how Jesus Christ came to dwell on earth. Jesus Christ then died on the cross for the people he came to dwell with. Words are useless to describe the beauty found in the love that Jesus Christ expressed to us. I wonder just as David as to why God would choose us. In disbelief I cry out in speechless thankfulness because I was chosen as a cherished treasure by God almighty.
