How does the promise that God made to David in 1st Chronicles 17 relate today? I am at a loss for an answer.
Answer
Normally I would say that it doesn’t apply to today, if the chapter had not been quoted in Revelation 21:7. It is basic that a prophecy only applies to the time it is given unless it is generally accepted by Jewish scholars as applying to Messiah or unless it is quoted later by an inspired writer who says that it has a different meaning. This latter is the case with 1 Chronicles 17.
On the face of it, God is promising David that his son, Solomon, will build a temple and establish a lasting rule. Luke says that the Messiah, Jesus, of David’s line, was to establish an everlasting kingdom, as promised in verse 12. “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:32-33)
Verse 13 says, “I will be his father, and he shall be my son.” Some people might think that this also applies to the Messiah. However, in Revelation 21:7 John says it applies to all people in the church, or in heaven if that is what you believe Revelation 21 is about. It applies to “He that overcometh.” The book of the Revelation is a promise to Christians that they will overcome, so 1 Corinthians 17:13 is promising David that there will come a time (and that time is now) that God will call all who obey him his sons.
Thus the inspired writers of the New Testament took God’s promises to David in 1 Chronicles 17 to be predictions also of Messiah and his church.