1 Chronicles 17:19

Freely and according to the purpose of thy will, without any deserving.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(19) O Lord.—Not in Samuel. Probably belongs to end of last verse.

For thy servant’s sake.—Comp. Psa_132:10; 2Ch_6:42. Samuel has the more original “for thy word’s sake.” (Comp. 1Ch_17:23, and 1Ch_16:15.)

Heart—i.e., purpose, intent.

In making known all these great things. (greatnesses).—The repetition “greatness . . . greatnesses” is probably a scribe’s error. Samuel has the right text: “Thou hast done all this greatness” (work of power, δύναμις), viz., informing Thy servant of what shall be hereafter. Isaiah makes the miracle of prediction a special difference between the true God and idols (Isa_41:21-29; Isa_45:11; Isa_45:21).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

19. for thy servant’s sake] 2Sa_7:21, for thy word’s sake, a better reading.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For thy servant’s sake; in 2Sa 7:21, it is, for thy word’s sake, i.e. for the sake of thy word and promise made to thy servant; as that phrase, for David’s sake, is oft thus understood, for God’s covenant’s sake made with David.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

For thy servant"s sake. The parallel place reads, "For thy word"s sake." This reading is superior, and well suits the connection, suggesting also whether the first occurrence of the word "servant" in the previous verse might not be similarly explained. The similarity of the characters of the words in the Hebrew would render easy the exchange of the one word for the other.

Vers. 19-24.

Pleas in prayer.

David was pleading with God, and, in asking him to confirm and establish his word of promise, he made reference to four grounds of appeal. These we may substantially adopt, adding another "all-prevailing plea" which David could not introduce.

I GOD"S LOVE TO US AS INDIVIDUAL SOULS. "Thy servant"s sake" (ver. 19). At other times we read, "For thy servant David"s sake;" i.e. for the love which God bore to this servant and son of his. We may ask God to help us because we know he loves us; because he pities us who fear; (Psa_103:13) because he remembers us in our low estate, and counts our tears, and desires our happiness and well-being.

II HIS OWN DIVINE BENIGNITY AND HONOUR. (Vers. 19, 20, 24.) "According to thine own heart;" that he may act like himself, with the boundless grace and goodness which belong to his Divine nature. "That thy Name may be magnified for ever," etc. (ver. 24); that all nations may know that thou art a faithful God, continuing thy loving-kindnesses, and redeeming thy word to the land that is so peculiarly thine own. We may well plead the nature of God as a very strong reason why he should bless us. If he grant our request "according to his own heart," if he fill our treasury and satisfy our want in accordance with the tenderness of his heart, the strength and bounty of his hand, and to the glory of his Name, we shall be enriched indeed.

III HIS CARE FOR HIS CHURCH. (Vers. 21, 22.) As David prayed God to fulfil all the good pleasure of his will on account of Israel, whom he had redeemed and attached to himself by his special mercies, so may we ask for all great things to be done for us on account of that Church for which the Son of God suffered and died, which he "redeemed with his precious blood.

IV THE DIVINE PROMISE. "The thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant," etc. We have great promises to plead with God, based on his own inviolable word; and there can be no more solid ground on which to build our hope in prayer to God. There is one additional plea with which we are familiar, but which the King of Israel lived far too soon to urge. (see Luk_10:24) We plead with God

V THE NAME AND WORK OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. For the sake of him who loved us and gave himself for us, who lived and died on our behalf, we ask for all those blessings we need; for mercy, for acceptance and sonship, for Divine guidance and protection along the path of life, for the indwelling Spirit, for help and blessing in Christian work, for an abundant entrance into the kingdom of heaven. C.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Servant's sake - In 2 Sam. vii, 21, it is, for thy words sake, for the sake of thy promise made to thy servant.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Connecting Statement:

David continues to speak to Yahweh.

your servant's sake

Here David refers to himself as "your servant." This can be stated in first person. AT: "my sake" or "my benefit" (See: First, Second, or Third Person)

to fulfill your own purpose

"to accomplish what you planned to do"

there is none like you, and there is no God besides you

These phrases have similar meaning and are repeated for emphasis. (See: Parallelism)

as we have always heard

Here "we" refers to David and the nation of Israel. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive "We")

what nation on earth ... by great and awesome deeds?

This question expects a negative answer to make the point that there was no other nation like Israel. It can be translated as a statement. AT: "there is no nation on earth ... by great and awesome deeds." (See: Rhetorical Question)

you rescued from Egypt

The implied information is that they were rescued from slavery. AT: "you rescued from slavery in Egypt" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

to make a name for yourself

Here "name" represents Yahweh's reputation. AT: "to make all people know who you are" (See: Metonymy)

You drove out nations

Here "nations" represents the people groups that were living in Canaan. (See: Metonymy)

translationWords

reveal

works

nation

earth

Israel

Egypt

name

awe

cast out

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

O Lord, for the sake of Your servant This is connected to the preceding verse, as follows: And You did so much to let me know of all this greatness that You let me know, and all was from the desire of Your heart. Therefore...

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.