mh_parser/vol_split/14 - 2Chronicles/Chapter 7.xml

<div2 id="iiCh.viii" n="viii" next="iiCh.ix" prev="iiCh.vii" progress="80.88%" title="Chapter VII">
<h2 id="iiCh.viii-p0.1">S E C O N D   C H R O N I C L E
S</h2>
<h3 id="iiCh.viii-p0.2">CHAP. VII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iiCh.viii-p1">In this chapter we have God's answer to Solomon's
prayer. I. His public answer by fire from heaven, which consumed
the sacrifices (<scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.1" parsed="|2Chr|7|1|0|0" passage="2Ch 7:1">ver. 1</scripRef>),
with which the priests and people were much affected, <scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.2-2Chr.7.3" parsed="|2Chr|7|2|7|3" passage="2Ch 7:2,3">ver. 2, 3</scripRef>. By that token of God's
acceptance they were encouraged to continue the solemnities of the
feast for fourteen days, and Solomon was encouraged to pursue all
his designs for the honour of God, <scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.4-2Chr.7.11" parsed="|2Chr|7|4|7|11" passage="2Ch 7:4-11">ver. 4-11</scripRef>. II. His private answer by word
of mouth, in a dream or vision of the night, <scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.12-2Chr.7.22" parsed="|2Chr|7|12|7|22" passage="2Ch 7:12-22">ver. 12-22</scripRef>. Most of these things we had
before, <scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.8.1-1Kgs.9.66" parsed="|1Kgs|8|1|9|66" passage="1Ki 8:1-9:66">1 Kings viii. and
ix.</scripRef></p>
<scripCom id="iiCh.viii-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7" parsed="|2Chr|7|0|0|0" passage="2Ch 7" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iiCh.viii-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.1-2Chr.7.11" parsed="|2Chr|7|1|7|11" passage="2Ch 7:1-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.7.1-2Chr.7.11">
<h4 id="iiCh.viii-p1.8">God's Gracious Answer to
Solomon. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.viii-p1.9">b. c.</span> 1004.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCh.viii-p2">1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying,
the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and
the sacrifices; and the glory of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.viii-p2.1">Lord</span> filled the house.   2 And the priests
could not enter into the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.viii-p2.2">Lord</span>, because the glory of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.viii-p2.3">Lord</span> had filled the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.viii-p2.4">Lord</span>'s house.   3 And when all the children
of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.viii-p2.5">Lord</span> upon the house, they bowed themselves
with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped,
and praised the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.viii-p2.6">Lord</span>, <i>saying,</i>
For <i>he is</i> good; for his mercy <i>endureth</i> for ever.
  4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before
the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.viii-p2.7">Lord</span>.   5 And king Solomon
offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and a hundred
and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated
the house of God.   6 And the priests waited on their offices:
the Levites also with instruments of music of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.viii-p2.8">Lord</span>, which David the king had made to praise
the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.viii-p2.9">Lord</span>, because his mercy
<i>endureth</i> for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and
the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.
  7 Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that
<i>was</i> before the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.viii-p2.10">Lord</span>: for there he offered burnt offerings, and
the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which
Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and
the meat offerings, and the fat.   8 Also at the same time
Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very
great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river
of Egypt.   9 And in the eighth day they made a solemn
assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and
the feast seven days.   10 And on the three and twentieth day
of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad
and merry in heart for the goodness that the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.viii-p2.11">Lord</span> had showed unto David, and to Solomon, and
to Israel his people.   11 Thus Solomon finished the house of
the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.viii-p2.12">Lord</span>, and the king's house: and
all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.viii-p2.13">Lord</span>, and in his own house, he
prosperously effected.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.viii-p3">Here is, I. The gracious answer which God
immediately made to Solomon's prayer: The <i>fire came down from
heaven and consumed the sacrifice,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.1" parsed="|2Chr|7|1|0|0" passage="2Ch 7:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. In this way God testified his
acceptance of Moses (<scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.9.24" parsed="|Lev|9|24|0|0" passage="Le 9:24">Lev. ix.
24</scripRef>), of Gideon (<scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.6.21" parsed="|Judg|6|21|0|0" passage="Jdg 6:21">Judg. vi.
21</scripRef>), of David (<scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.21.26" parsed="|1Chr|21|26|0|0" passage="1Ch 21:26">1 Chron.
xxi. 26</scripRef>), of Elijah (<scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.18.38" parsed="|1Kgs|18|38|0|0" passage="1Ki 18:38">1
Kings xviii. 38</scripRef>); and, in general, to accept the
burnt-sacrifice is, in the Hebrew phrase, to turn it to ashes,
<scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.20.3" parsed="|Ps|20|3|0|0" passage="Ps 20:3">Ps. xx. 3</scripRef>. The fire came
down here, not upon the killing of the sacrifices, but the praying
of the prayer.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.viii-p4">1. This fire intimated that God was, (1.)
Glorious in himself; for <i>our God is a consuming fire,</i>
terrible even in his holy places. This fire, breaking forth (as it
is probable) out of the thick darkness, made it the more terrible,
as on Mount Sinai, <scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.24.16-Exod.24.17" parsed="|Exod|24|16|24|17" passage="Ex 24:16,17">Exod. xxiv. 16,
17</scripRef>. <i>The sinners in Sion</i> had reason to be
<i>afraid</i> at that sight, and to say, <i>Who among us shall
dwell near this devouring fire?</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.33.14" parsed="|Isa|33|14|0|0" passage="Isa 33:14">Isa. xxxiii. 14</scripRef>. And yet, (2.) Gracious to
Israel; for this fire, which might justly have consumed them,
fastened upon the sacrifice which was offered in their stead, and
consumed that, by which God signified to them that he accepted
their offerings and that his anger was turned away from them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.viii-p5">2. Let us apply this, (1.) To the suffering
of Christ. When it pleased the Lord to bruise him, and put him to
grief, in that he showed his good-will to men, having laid on him
the iniquity of us all. His death was our life, and he was made sin
and a curse that we might inherit righteousness and a blessing.
That sacrifice was consumed that we might escape. <i>Here am I, let
these go their way.</i> (2.) To the sanctification of the Spirit,
who descends like fire, burning up our lusts and corruptions, those
beasts that must be sacrificed or we are undone, and kindling in
our souls a holy fire of pious and devout affections, always to be
kept burning on the altar of the heart. The surest evidence of
God's acceptance of our prayers is the descent of the holy fire
upon us. <i>Did not our hearts burn within us?</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.24.32" parsed="|Luke|24|32|0|0" passage="Lu 24:32">Luke xxiv. 32</scripRef>. As a further evidence
that God accepted Solomon's prayer, still <i>the glory of the Lord
filled the house.</i> The heart that is thus filled with a holy awe
and reverence of the divine glory, the heart to which God manifests
himself in his greatness, and (which is no less his glory) in his
goodness, is thereby owned as a living temple.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.viii-p6">II. The grateful return made to God for
this gracious token of his favour.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.viii-p7">1. The people <i>worshipped and praised
God,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.3" parsed="|2Chr|7|3|0|0" passage="2Ch 7:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. When
they saw the fire of God come down from heaven thus they did not
run away affrighted, but kept their ground in the courts of the
Lord, and took occasion from it, (1.) With reverence to adore the
glory of God: <i>They bowed their faces to the ground and
worshipped,</i> thus expressing their awful dread of the divine
majesty, their cheerful submission to the divine authority, and the
sense they had of their unworthiness to come into God's presence
and their inability to stand before the power of his wrath. (2.)
With thankfulness to acknowledge the goodness of God; even when the
fire of the Lord came down they praised him, saying, <i>He is good,
for his mercy endureth for ever.</i> This is a song never out of
season, and for which our hearts and tongues should be never out of
tune. However it be, yet God is good. 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 in this God was good.
"<i>It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed,</i> but
the sacrifice in our stead, for which we are bound to be very
thankful."</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.viii-p8">2. The king and all the people offered
sacrifices in abundance, <scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.4-2Chr.7.5" parsed="|2Chr|7|4|7|5" passage="2Ch 7:4,5"><i>v.</i> 4,
5</scripRef>. With these they feasted this holy fire, and bade it
welcome to the altar. They had offered sacrifices before, but now
they increased them. Note, The tokens of God's favour to us should
enlarge our hearts in his service, and make us to abound therein
more and more. The king's example stirred up the people. Good work
is then likely to go on when the leaders of a people lead in it.
The sacrifices were so numerous that the altar could not contain
them all; but, rather than any of them should be turned back
(though we may suppose the blood of them all was sprinkled upon the
altar), the flesh of the burnt-offerings and the fat of the
peace-offerings were burnt <i>in the midst of the court</i>
(<scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.7" parsed="|2Chr|7|7|0|0" passage="2Ch 7:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>), which Solomon
either hallowed for that service or hallowed by it. In case of
necessity the pavement might be an altar.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.viii-p9">3. The priests did their part; they waited
on their offices, and the singers and musicians on theirs
(<scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.6" parsed="|2Chr|7|6|0|0" passage="2Ch 7:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>), with the
instruments that David made, and the <i>hymn that David had put
into their hand,</i> as some think it may be read (meaning that
<scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.16.7" parsed="|1Chr|16|7|0|0" passage="1Ch 16:7">1 Chron. xvi. 7</scripRef>), or, as we
read it, <i>when David praised by their ministry.</i> He employed,
directed, and encouraged them in this work of praising God; and
therefore their performances were accepted as his act, and he is
said <i>to praise by their ministry.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.viii-p10">4. The whole congregation expressed the
greatest joy and satisfaction imaginable. They kept the feast of
the dedication of the altar seven days, from the second to the
ninth; the tenth day was the day of atonement, when they were to
afflict their souls for sin, and that was not unseasonable in the
midst of their rejoicings; on the fifteenth day began the feast of
tabernacles, which continued to the twenty-second, and they did not
separate till the twenty-third. We must never grudge the time that
we spend in the worship of God and communion with him, nor think it
long, or grow weary of it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.viii-p11">5. Solomon went on in his work, and
prosperously effected all he designed for the adorning both of
God's house and his own, <scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.11" parsed="|2Chr|7|11|0|0" passage="2Ch 7:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>. Those that 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, and it was by the
grace of God that he prospered in it.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiCh.viii-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.12-2Chr.7.22" parsed="|2Chr|7|12|7|22" passage="2Ch 7:12-22" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.7.12-2Chr.7.22">
<h4 id="iiCh.viii-p11.3">God's Promises to Solomon. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.viii-p11.4">b. c.</span> 1004.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCh.viii-p12">12 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.viii-p12.1">Lord</span>
appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy
prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for a house of
sacrifice.   13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or
if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send
pestilence among my people;   14 If my people, which are
called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my
face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from
heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
  15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto
the prayer <i>that is made</i> in this place.   16 For now
have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there
for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
  17 And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David
thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded
thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments;   18
Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have
covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee
a man <i>to be</i> ruler in Israel.   19 But if ye turn away,
and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set
before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;
  20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land
which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified
for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it <i>to
be</i> a proverb and a byword among all nations.   21 And this
house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that
passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.viii-p12.2">Lord</span> done thus unto this land, and unto this
house?   22 And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.viii-p12.3">Lord</span> God of their fathers, which
brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other
gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he
brought all this evil upon them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.viii-p13">That God accepted Solomon's prayer appeared
by the fire from heaven. But a prayer may be accepted and yet not
answered in the letter of it; and therefore God appeared to him in
the night, as he did once before (<scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.1.7" parsed="|2Chr|1|7|0|0" passage="2Ch 1:7"><i>ch.</i> i. 7</scripRef>), and after a day of sacrifice
too, as then, and gave him a peculiar answer to his prayer. We had
the substance of it before, <scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.2-1Kgs.9.9" parsed="|1Kgs|9|2|9|9" passage="1Ki 9:2-9">1 Kings
ix. 2-9</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.viii-p14">I. He promised to own this house for <i>a
house of sacrifice to Israel</i> and a <i>house of prayer for all
people</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.56.7" parsed="|Isa|56|7|0|0" passage="Isa 56:7">Isa. lvi. 7</scripRef>):
<i>My name shall be there for ever</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.12 Bible:2Chr.7.16" parsed="|2Chr|7|12|0|0;|2Chr|7|16|0|0" passage="2Ch 7:12,16"><i>v.</i> 12, 16</scripRef>), that is, "There will I
make myself known, and there will I be called upon."</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.viii-p15">II. He promised to answer the prayers of
his people that should at any time be made in that place, <scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.13-2Chr.7.15" parsed="|2Chr|7|13|7|15" passage="2Ch 7:13-15"><i>v.</i> 13-15</scripRef>. National
judgments are here supposed (<scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.13" parsed="|2Chr|7|13|0|0" passage="2Ch 7:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>), famine, and pestilence, and perhaps war, for by the
locusts devouring the land meant enemies as greedy as locusts, and
laying all waste. 2. National repentance, prayer, and reformation,
are required, <scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.14" parsed="|2Chr|7|14|0|0" passage="2Ch 7:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>.
God expects that his people who are called by his name, if they
have dishonoured his name by their iniquity, should honour it by
accepting the punishment of their iniquity. They must humble
themselves under his hand, must pray for the removal of the
judgment, must seek the face and favour of God; and yet all this
will not do unless they turn from their wicked ways, and return to
the God from whom they have revolted. 3. National mercy is then
promised, that God will forgive their sin, which brought the
judgment upon them, and then heal their land, redress all their
grievances. Pardoning mercy makes ways for healing mercy, <scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.3 Bible:Matt.9.2" parsed="|Ps|103|3|0|0;|Matt|9|2|0|0" passage="Ps 103:3,Mt 9:2">Ps. ciii. 3; Matt. ix. 2</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.viii-p16">III. He promised to perpetuate Solomon's
kingdom, upon condition that he persevered in his duty, <scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.17-2Chr.7.18" parsed="|2Chr|7|17|7|18" passage="2Ch 7:17,18"><i>v.</i> 17, 18</scripRef>. If he hoped for
the benefit of God's covenant with David, he must imitate the
example of David. But he set before him death as well as life, the
curse as well as the blessing. 1. He supposed it possible that
though they had this temple built to the honour of God, yet they
might be drawn aside to worship other gods, <scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.19" parsed="|2Chr|7|19|0|0" passage="2Ch 7:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. He knew their proneness to
backslide into that sin. 2. He threatened it as certain that, if
they did so, it would certainly be the ruin of both church and
state. (1.) It would be the ruin of their state, <scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.20" parsed="|2Chr|7|20|0|0" passage="2Ch 7:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>. "Though they have taken deep
root, and taken root long, in this good land, yet I will pluck them
up by the roots, extirpate the whole nation, pluck them up as men
pluck up weeds out of their garden, which are thrown to the
dunghill." (2.) It would be the ruin of their church. This
sanctuary would be no sanctuary to them, to protect them from the
judgment of God, as they imagined, saying, <i>The temple of the
Lord are we,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.7.4" parsed="|Jer|7|4|0|0" passage="Jer 7:4">Jer. vii.
4</scripRef>. "This house which is high, not only for the
magnificence of its structure, but for the designed ends and uses
of it, shall be an astonishment, it shall come down wonderfully
(<scripRef id="iiCh.viii-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:Lam.1.9" parsed="|Lam|1|9|0|0" passage="La 1:9">Lam. i. 9</scripRef>), to the amazement
of all the neighbours."</p>
</div></div2>