mh_parser/vol_split/13 - 1Chronicles/Chapter 14.xml

<div2 id="iCh.xv" n="xv" next="iCh.xvi" prev="iCh.xiv" progress="76.09%" title="Chapter XIV">
<h2 id="iCh.xv-p0.1">F I R S T   C H R O N I C L E
S</h2>
<h3 id="iCh.xv-p0.2">CHAP. XIV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iCh.xv-p1">In this chapter we have, I. David's kingdom
established, <scripRef id="iCh.xv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.14.1-1Chr.14.2" parsed="|1Chr|14|1|14|2" passage="1Ch 14:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>.
II. His family built up, <scripRef id="iCh.xv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.14.3-1Chr.14.7" parsed="|1Chr|14|3|14|7" passage="1Ch 14:3-7">ver.
3-7</scripRef>. III. His enemies, the Philistines, routed in two
campaigns, <scripRef id="iCh.xv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.14.8-1Chr.14.17" parsed="|1Chr|14|8|14|17" passage="1Ch 14:8-17">ver. 8-17</scripRef>.
This is repeated here from <scripRef id="iCh.xv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.5.11-2Sam.5.25" parsed="|2Sam|5|11|5|25" passage="2Sa 5:11-25">2 Sam.
v. 11</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="iCh.xv-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.14" parsed="|1Chr|14|0|0|0" passage="1Ch 14" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iCh.xv-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.14.1-1Chr.14.7" parsed="|1Chr|14|1|14|7" passage="1Ch 14:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Chr.14.1-1Chr.14.7">
<h4 id="iCh.xv-p1.7">David's Kingdom Established. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xv-p1.8">b. c.</span> 1045.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iCh.xv-p2">1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to
David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build
him a house.   2 And David perceived that the <span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xv-p2.1">Lord</span> had confirmed him king over Israel, for his
kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel.  
3 And David took more wives at Jerusalem: and David begat more sons
and daughters.   4 Now these <i>are</i> the names of
<i>his</i> children which he had in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab,
Nathan, and Solomon,   5 And Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpalet,
  6 And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,   7 And Elishama,
and Beeliada, and Eliphalet.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.xv-p3">We may observe here, 1. There is no man
that has such a sufficiency in himself but he has need of his
neighbours and has reason to be thankful for their help: David had
a very large kingdom, Hiram a very little one; yet David could not
build himself a house to his mind unless Hiram furnished him with
both workmen and materials, <scripRef id="iCh.xv-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.14.1" parsed="|1Chr|14|1|0|0" passage="1Ch 14:1"><i>v.</i>
1</scripRef>. This is a reason why we should despise none, but, as
we have opportunity, be obliging to all. 2. It is a great
satisfaction to a wise man to be settled, and to a good man to see
the special providences of God in his settlement. The people had
made David king; but he could not be easy, nor think himself happy,
till he perceived that <i>the Lord had confirmed him king over
Israel,</i> <scripRef id="iCh.xv-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.14.2" parsed="|1Chr|14|2|0|0" passage="1Ch 14:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>.
"Who shall unfix me if God hath fixed me?" 3. We must look upon all
our advancements as designed for our usefulness. <i>David's kingdom
was lifted up on high,</i> not for his own sake, that he might look
great, but <i>because of his people Israel,</i> that he might be a
guide and protector to them. We are blessed in order that we may be
blessings. See <scripRef id="iCh.xv-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.12.2" parsed="|Gen|12|2|0|0" passage="Ge 12:2">Gen. xii. 2</scripRef>.
We are not born, nor do we live, for ourselves. 4. It is difficult
to thrive without growing secure and indulgent to the flesh. It was
David's infirmity that when he settled in his kingdom <i>he took
more wives</i> (<scripRef id="iCh.xv-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.14.3" parsed="|1Chr|14|3|0|0" passage="1Ch 14:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>), yet the numerous issue he had added to his honour
and strength. Lo, <i>children are a heritage of the Lord.</i> We
had an account of David's children, not only in Samuel, but in this
book (<scripRef id="iCh.xv-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.3.1-1Chr.3.9" parsed="|1Chr|3|1|3|9" passage="1Ch 3:1-9"><i>ch.</i> iii. 1</scripRef>,
&amp;c.) and now here again; for it was their honour to have such a
father.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iCh.xv-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.14.8-1Chr.14.17" parsed="|1Chr|14|8|14|17" passage="1Ch 14:8-17" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Chr.14.8-1Chr.14.17">
<h4 id="iCh.xv-p3.7">The Defeat of the
Philistines. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xv-p3.8">b. c.</span> 1045.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iCh.xv-p4">8 And when the Philistines heard that David was
anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek
David. And David heard <i>of it,</i> and went out against them.
  9 And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the
valley of Rephaim.   10 And David enquired of God, saying,
Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them
into mine hand? And the <span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xv-p4.1">Lord</span> said
unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand.   11
So they came up to Baal-perazim; and David smote them there. Then
David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like
the breaking forth of waters: therefore they called the name of
that place Baal-perazim.   12 And when they had left their
gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with
fire.   13 And the Philistines yet again spread themselves
abroad in the valley.   14 Therefore David enquired again of
God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from
them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.   15
And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops
of the mulberry trees, <i>that</i> then thou shalt go out to
battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the
Philistines.   16 David therefore did as God commanded him:
and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to
Gazer.   17 And the fame of David went out into all lands; and
the <span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xv-p4.2">Lord</span> brought the fear of him
upon all nations.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.xv-p5">This narrative of David's triumph over the
Philistines is much the same with that, <scripRef id="iCh.xv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.5.17-2Sam.5.25" parsed="|2Sam|5|17|5|25" passage="2Sa 5:17-25">2 Sam. v. 17</scripRef>, &amp;c. 1. Let the attack
which the Philistines made upon David forbid us to be secure in any
settlement or advancement, and engage us to expect molestation in
this world. When we are most easy something or other may come to be
a terror or vexation to us. Christ's kingdom will thus be insulted
by the serpent's seed, especially when it makes any advances. 2.
Let David's enquiry of God, once and again, upon occasion of the
Philistines' invading him, direct us in all our ways to acknowledge
God—in distress to fly to him, when we are wronged to appeal to
him, and, when we know not what to do, to ask counsel at his
oracles, to put ourselves under his direction, and to beg of him to
show us the right way. 3. Let David's success encourage us to
resist our spiritual enemies, in observance of divine directions
and dependence on divine strength. Resist the devil, and he shall
flee as the Philistines did before David. 4. Let the sound of the
going in the tops of the mulberry trees direct us to attend God's
motions both in his providence and in the influences of his Spirit.
When we perceive God to go before us let us gird up our loins, gird
on our armour, and follow him. 5. Let David's burning the gods of
the Philistines, when they fell into his hands, teach us a holy
indignation against idolatry and all the remains of it. 6. Let
David's thankful acknowledgment of the hand of God in his successes
direct us to bring all our sacrifices of praise to God's altar.
<i>Not unto us, O Lord! not unto us, but to thy name give
glory.</i> 7. Let the reputation which David obtained, not only in
his kingdom, but among his neighbours, be looked upon as a type and
figure of the exalted honour of the Son of David (<scripRef id="iCh.xv-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.14.17" parsed="|1Chr|14|17|0|0" passage="1Ch 14:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>): <i>The fame of David
went out into all lands;</i> he was generally talked of, and
admired by all people, and <i>the Lord brought the fear of him upon
all nations.</i> All looked upon him as a formidable enemy and a
desirable ally. Thus has God highly exalted our Redeemer, and given
him a name above every name.</p>
</div></div2>