BibleWare/BibWare.bin/bibref/mhc.exe/2CH.TXT

Text File | 1996-06-12 | 52KB | 969 lines

$-$-$- 2CH:1

* Solomon's choice of wisdom, His strength and wealth.

- SOLOMON began his reign with a pious, public visit to God's
altar. Those that pursue present things most eagerly, are likely
to be disappointed; while those that refer themselves to the
providence of God, if they have not the most, have the most
comfort. Those that make this world their end, come short of the
other, and are disappointed in this also; but those that make
the other world their end, shall not only obtain that, and full
satisfaction in it, but shall have as much of this world as is
good for them, in their way. Let us then be contented, without
those great things which men generally covet, but which commonly
prove fatal snares to the soul.
$-$-$- 2CH:2

* Solomon's message to Huram respecting the temple, His treaty
with Huram.

- Solomon informs Huram of the particular services to be
performed in the temple. The mysteries of the true religion,
unlike those of the Gentile superstitions, sought not
concealment. Solomon endeavoured to possess Huram with great and
high thoughts of the God of Israel. We should not be afraid or
ashamed to embrace every opportunity to speak of God, and to
impress others with a deep sense of the importance of his favour
and service. Now that the people of Israel kept close to the law
and worship of God, the neighbouring nations were willing to be
taught by them in the true religion, as the Israelites had been
willing in the days of their apostacy, to be infected with the
idolatries and superstitions of their neighbours. A wise and
pious king is an evidence of the Lord's special love for his
people. How great then was God's love to his believing people,
in giving his only-begotten Son to be their Prince and their
Saviour.
$-$-$- 2CH:3

* The building of the temple.

- There is a more particular account of the building of the
temple in #1Ki 6|. It must be in the place David had prepared,
not only which he had purchased, but which he had fixed on by
Divine direction. Full instructions enable us to go about our
work with certainty and to proceed therein with comfort. Blessed
be God, the Scriptures are enough to render the man of God
thoroughly furnished for every good work. Let us search the
Scriptures daily, beseeching the Lord to enable us to
understand, believe, and obey his word, that our work and our
way may be made plain, and that all may be begun, continued, and
ended in him. Beholding God, in Christ, his true Temple, more
glorious than that of Solomon's, may we become a spiritual
house, a habitation of God through the Spirit.
$-$-$- 2CH:4

* The furniture of the temple.

- Here is a further account of the furniture of God's house.
Both without doors and within, there was that which typified the
grace of the gospel, and shadowed out good things to come, of
which the substance is Christ. There was the brazen altar. The
making of this was not mentioned in the book of Kings. On this
all the sacrifices were offered, and it sanctified the gift. The
people who worshipped in the courts might see the sacrifices
burned. They might thus be led to consider the great Sacrifice,
to be offered in the fulness of time, to take away sin, and put
an end to death, which the blood of bulls and goats could not
possibly do. And, with the smoke of the sacrifices, their hearts
might ascend to heaven, in holy desires towards God and his
favour. In all our devotions we must keep the eye of faith fixed
upon Christ. The furniture of the temple, compared with that of
the tabernacle, showed that God's church would be enlarged, and
his worshippers multiplied. Blessed be God, there is enough in
Christ for all.
$-$-$- 2CH:5

* The ark placed in the temple. (1-10) The temple filled with
glory. (11-14)

#1-10 The ark was a type of Christ, and, as such, a token of the
presence of God. That gracious promise, Lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world, does, in effect, bring the ark
into our religious assemblies, if we by faith and prayer plead
that promise; and this we should be most earnest for. When
Christ is formed in a soul, the law written in the heart, the
ark of the covenant settled there, so that it becomes the temple
of the Holy Ghost, there is true satisfaction in that soul.

#11-14 God took possession of the temple; he filled it with a
cloud. Thus he signified his acceptance of this temple, to be
the same to him that the tabernacle of Moses was, and assured
his people that he would be the same in it. Would we have God
dwell in our hearts, we must leave room for him; every thing
else must give way. The Word was made flesh; and when he comes
to his temple, like a refiner's fire, who may abide the day of
his coming? May he prepare us for that day.
$-$-$- 2CH:6

* Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple.

- The order of Solomon's prayer is to be observed. First and
chiefly, he prays for repentance and forgiveness, which is the
chief blessing, and the only solid foundation of other mercies:
he then prays for temporal mercies; thereby teaching us what
things to mind and desire most in our prayers. This also Christ
hath taught us in his perfect pattern and form of prayer, where
there is but one prayer for outward, and all the rest are for
spiritual blessings. The temple typified the human nature of
Christ, in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
The ark typified his obedience and sufferings, by which
repenting sinners have access to a reconciled God, and communion
with him. Jehovah has made our nature his resting-place for
ever, in the person of Emmanuel, and through him he dwells with,
and delights in his church of redeemed sinners. May our hearts
become his resting-place; may Christ dwell therein by faith,
consecrating them as his temples, and shedding abroad his love
therein. May the Father look upon us in and through his
Anointed; and may he remember and bless us in all things,
according to his mercy to sinners, in and through Christ.
$-$-$- 2CH:7

* God's answer to Solomon's prayer.

- God gave a gracious answer to Solomon's prayer. The mercies of
God to sinners are made known in a manner well suited to impress
all who receive them, with his majesty and holiness. The people
worshipped and praised God. When he manifests himself as a
consuming Fire to sinners, his people can rejoice in him as
their Light. Nay, they had reason to say, that God was good in
this. It is of the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, but the
sacrifice in our stead, for which we should be very thankful.
And whoever beholds with true faith, the Saviour agonizing and
dying for man's sin, will, by that view, find his godly sorrow
enlarged, his hatred of sin increased, his soul made more
watchful, and his life more holy. Solomon prosperously effected
all he designed, for adorning both God's house and his own.
Those who begin with the service of God, are likely to go on
successfully in their own affairs. It was Solomon's praise, that
what he undertook, he went through with; it was by the grace of
God that he prospered in it. Let us then stand in awe, and sin
not. Let us fear the Lord's displeasure, hope in his mercy, and
walk in his commandments.
$-$-$- 2CH:8

* Solomon's buildings and trade.

- It sometimes requires more wisdom and resolution to govern a
family in the fear of God, than to govern a kingdom with
reputation. The difficulty is increased, when a man has a
hinderance instead of a help meet in the wife of his bosom.
Solomon kept up the holy sacrifices, according to the law of
Moses. In vain had the altar been built, in vain had fire come
down from heaven, if sacrifices had not been constantly brought.
Spiritual sacrifices are required of us, which we are to bring
daily and weekly; it is good to be in a settled method of
devotion. When the service of the temple was put into good
order, it is said, The house of the Lord was perfected. The work
was the main matter, not the place; the temple was unfinished
till all this was done. Canaan was a rich country, and yet must
s