1 Chronicles 17:22

For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God.

For thy people {H5971} Israel {H3478} didst thou make {H5414} thine own people {H5971} for {H5704} ever {H5769}; and thou, LORD {H3068}, becamest their God {H430}.

For you made your people Isra'el your people forever; and you, ADONAI, became their God.

For You have made Your people Israel Your very own forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God.

For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, Jehovah, becamest their God.

Context

This verse is part of King David's prayer of thanksgiving, recorded in 1 Chronicles 17:16-27, following the prophet Nathan's delivery of God's momentous covenant promise to David. This divine promise, detailed earlier in 1 Chronicles 17:1-15, assured David of an enduring dynasty and cemented God's eternal relationship with Israel. David's prayer reflects his profound understanding and gratitude for this unbreakable bond, acknowledging God's sovereign choice and faithfulness.

Key Themes

  • Divine Election and Possession: The phrase "For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever" highlights God's sovereign act of choosing Israel. It emphasizes that God actively and purposefully established Israel as His unique possession, a people set apart for His purposes. This election was not temporary but declared to be "for ever," underscoring the eternal nature of God's covenant with His chosen nation. This concept of God's choice is foundational, as seen in Deuteronomy 7:6.
  • Covenant Relationship and Faithfulness: The second part, "and thou, LORD, becamest their God," affirms the reciprocal and intimate relationship established by the covenant. It speaks to God's unwavering faithfulness and commitment to Israel, fulfilling His promise to be their God, a declaration made repeatedly throughout the Old Testament, such as in Exodus 6:7. This divine commitment provides security, identity, and purpose for the nation of Israel.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "make" (שׂוּם, sum) implies a deliberate act of establishing or appointing, signifying God's purposeful action in forming Israel as His own. The term "for ever" (לְעוֹלָם, l'olam) emphasizes perpetuity and eternity, underscoring the enduring nature of this divine bond. The use of "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH), God's personal covenant name, reinforces the intimate and relational aspect of this declaration, highlighting His active involvement in Israel's history and destiny.

Practical Application

While this verse specifically addresses God's covenant with ancient Israel, its underlying principles resonate deeply with believers today. It reminds us of God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises and His desire for an eternal relationship with His people. Through the new covenant in Christ, believers are now called into a spiritual relationship with God, becoming His "peculiar people" (1 Peter 2:9), assured of His unwavering presence and commitment. This verse offers profound assurance that God's plans and promises are eternal and trustworthy, providing a foundation for faith and hope.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Exodus 19:5

    Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth [is] mine:

  • Exodus 19:6

    And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These [are] the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

  • 1 Peter 2:9

    But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

  • Deuteronomy 7:6

    For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that [are] upon the face of the earth.

  • Deuteronomy 7:8

    But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

  • Romans 9:25

    ¶ As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

  • Romans 9:26

    And it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said unto them, Ye [are] not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
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