209 lines
16 KiB
XML
209 lines
16 KiB
XML
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<div2 id="iiCh.ii" n="ii" next="iiCh.iii" prev="iiCh.i" progress="79.64%" title="Chapter I">
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<h2 id="iiCh.ii-p0.1">S E C O N D C H R O N I C L E
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S</h2>
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<h3 id="iiCh.ii-p0.2">CHAP. I.</h3>
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<p class="intro" id="iiCh.ii-p1">In the close of the foregoing book we read how God
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magnified Solomon and Israel obeyed him; God and Israel concurred
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to honour him. Now here we have an account, I. How he honoured God
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by sacrifice (<scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.1.1-2Chr.1.6" parsed="|2Chr|1|1|1|6" passage="2Ch 1:1-6">ver. 1-6</scripRef>)
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and by prayer, <scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.1.7-2Chr.1.12" parsed="|2Chr|1|7|1|12" passage="2Ch 1:7-12">ver. 7-12</scripRef>.
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II. How he honoured Israel by increasing their strength, wealth,
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and trade, <scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.1.13-2Chr.1.17" parsed="|2Chr|1|13|1|17" passage="2Ch 1:13-17">ver.
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13-17</scripRef>.</p>
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<scripCom id="iiCh.ii-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.1" parsed="|2Chr|1|0|0|0" passage="2Ch 1" type="Commentary"/>
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<scripCom id="iiCh.ii-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.1.1-2Chr.1.12" parsed="|2Chr|1|1|1|12" passage="2Ch 1:1-12" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.1.1-2Chr.1.12">
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<h4 id="iiCh.ii-p1.6">God's Goodness to Solomon. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.ii-p1.7">b. c.</span> 1015.)</h4>
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<p class="passage" id="iiCh.ii-p2">1 And Solomon the son of David was strengthened
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in his kingdom, and the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.ii-p2.1">Lord</span> his God
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<i>was</i> with him, and magnified him exceedingly. 2 Then
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Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of
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hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel,
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the chief of the fathers. 3 So Solomon, and all the
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congregation with him, went to the high place that <i>was</i> at
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Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God,
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which Moses the servant of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.ii-p2.2">Lord</span>
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had made in the wilderness. 4 But the ark of God had David
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brought up from Kirjath-jearim to <i>the place which</i> David had
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prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.
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5 Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri,
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the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.ii-p2.3">Lord</span>: and Solomon and the congregation
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sought unto it. 6 And Solomon went up thither to the brasen
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altar before the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.ii-p2.4">Lord</span>, which
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<i>was</i> at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a
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thousand burnt offerings upon it. 7 In that night did God
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appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.
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8 And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy
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unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.
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9 Now, <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.ii-p2.5">O Lord</span> God, let thy
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promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me
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king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.
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10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in
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before this people: for who can judge this thy people, <i>that is
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so</i> great? 11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was
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in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour,
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nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life;
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but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest
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judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: 12 Wisdom
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and knowledge <i>is</i> granted unto thee; and I will give thee
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riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had
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that <i>have been</i> before thee, neither shall there any after
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thee have the like.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiCh.ii-p3">Here is, I. Solomon's great prosperity,
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<scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.1.1" parsed="|2Chr|1|1|0|0" passage="2Ch 1:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. Though he had a
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contested title, yet, God being with him, he was <i>strengthened in
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his kingdom;</i> his heart and hands were strengthened, and his
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interest in the people. God's presence will be our strength.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiCh.ii-p4">II. His great piety and devotion. His
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father was a prophet, a psalmist, and kept mostly to the ark; but
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Solomon, having read much in his Bible concerning the tabernacle
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which Moses built and the altars there, paid more respect to them
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than, it should seem, David had done. Both did well, and let
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neither be censured. If the zeal of one be carried out most to one
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instance of religion, and of another to some other instance, let
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them not judge nor despise each other.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiCh.ii-p5">1. All his great men must thus far be good
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men that they must join with him in worshipping God. He spoke to
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the captains and judges, the governors and chief of the fathers, to
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go with him to Gibeon, <scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.1.2-2Chr.1.3" parsed="|2Chr|1|2|1|3" passage="2Ch 1:2,3"><i>v.</i> 2,
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3</scripRef>. Authority and interest are well bestowed on those
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that will thus use them for the glory of God, and the promoting of
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religion. It is our duty to engage all with whom we have influence
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in the solemnities of religion, and it is very desirable to have
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many join with us in those solemnities—the more the better; it is
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the more like heaven. Solomon began his reign with this public
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pious visit to God's altar, and it was a very good omen.
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Magistrates are then likely to do well for themselves and their
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people when they thus take God along with them at their setting
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out.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiCh.ii-p6">2. He offered abundance of sacrifices to
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God there (<scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.1.6" parsed="|2Chr|1|6|0|0" passage="2Ch 1:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>):
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1000 <i>burnt-offerings,</i> and perhaps a greater number of
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peace-offerings, on which he and his company <i>feasted before the
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Lord.</i> Where God sows plentifully he expects to reap
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accordingly. His father David had left him flocks and herds in
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abundance (<scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.27.29 Bible:1Chr.27.31" parsed="|1Chr|27|29|0|0;|1Chr|27|31|0|0" passage="1Ch 27:29,31">1 Chron. xxvii. 29,
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31</scripRef>), and thus he gave God his dues out of them. The ark
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was at Jerusalem (<scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.1.4" parsed="|2Chr|1|4|0|0" passage="2Ch 1:4"><i>v.</i>
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4</scripRef>), but the altar was at Gibeon (<scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.1.5" parsed="|2Chr|1|5|0|0" passage="2Ch 1:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>), and thither he brought his
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sacrifices; for <i>it is the altar that sanctifieth every
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gift.</i></p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiCh.ii-p7">3. He prayed a good prayer to God: this,
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with the answer to it, we had before, <scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.3.5-1Kgs.3.15" parsed="|1Kgs|3|5|3|15" passage="1Ki 3:5-15">1 Kings iii. 5</scripRef>, &c. (1.) God bade him
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ask what he would; not only that he might put him in the right way
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of obtaining the favours that were intended him (<i>Ask, and you
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shall receive, that your joy may be full</i>), but that he might
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try him, how he stood affected, and might discover what was in his
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heart. Men's characters appear in their choices and desires. What
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wouldst thou <i>have?</i> tries a man as much as, What wouldst thou
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<i>do?</i> Thus God tried whether Solomon was one of the
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<i>children of this world,</i> that say, <i>Who will show us any
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good,</i> or of the children of light, that say, <i>Lord, lift up
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the light of thy countenance upon us.</i> As we choose we shall
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have, and that is likely to be our portion to which we give the
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preference, whether the wealth and pleasure of this world or
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spiritual riches or delights. (2.) Like a genuine son of David, he
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chose spiritual blessings rather than temporal. His petition here
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is, <i>Give me wisdom and knowledge.</i> He owns those to be
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desirable gifts, and God to be the giver of them, <scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.2.6" parsed="|Prov|2|6|0|0" passage="Pr 2:6">Prov. ii. 6</scripRef>. God gave the faculty of
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understanding, and to him we must apply for the furniture of it.
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Two things are here pleaded which we had not in Kings:—[1.]
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<i>Thou hast made me reign in my father's stead,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.1.8" parsed="|2Chr|1|8|0|0" passage="2Ch 1:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. "Lord, thou hast put me
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into this place, and therefore I can in faith ask of thee grace to
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enable me to do the duty of it." What service we have reason to
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believe God calls us to we have reason to hope he will qualify us
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for. But that is not all. "Lord, thou hast put me into this place
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in the stead of David, the great and good man that filled it up so
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well; therefore give me wisdom, that Israel may not suffer damage
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by the change. Must I reign in my father's stead? Lord, give me my
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father's spirit." Note, The eminency of those that went before us,
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and the obligation that lies upon us to keep up and carry on the
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good work they were engaged in, should provoke us to a gracious
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emulation, and quicken our prayers to God for wisdom and grace,
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that we may do the work of God in our day as faithfully and well as
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they did in theirs. [2.] <i>Let thy promise to David my father be
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established,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.1.9" parsed="|2Chr|1|9|0|0" passage="2Ch 1:9"><i>v.</i>
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9</scripRef>. He means the promise of concerning his successor. "In
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performance of that promise, <i>Lord, give me wisdom.</i>" We do
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not find that wisdom was any of the things promised, but it was
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necessary in order to the accomplishment of what was promised,
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<scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.7.13-2Sam.7.15" parsed="|2Sam|7|13|7|15" passage="2Sa 7:13-15">2 Sam. vii. 13-15</scripRef>. The
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promise was, <i>He shall build a house for my name, I will
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establish his throne, he shall be my son,</i> and <i>my mercy shall
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not depart from him.</i> "Now, Lord, unless thou give me wisdom,
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thy house will not be built, nor my throne established; I shall
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behave in a manner unbecoming my relation to thee as a Father,
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shall forfeit thy mercy, and fool it away; therefore, <i>Lord, give
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me wisdom.</i>" Note, <i>First,</i> God's promises are our best
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pleas in prayer. <i>Remember thy word unto thy servant.
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Secondly,</i> Children may take the comfort of the promises of that
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covenant which their parents, in their baptism, laid claim to, and
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took hold of, for them. <i>Thirdly,</i> The best way to obtain the
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benefit of the promises and privileges of the covenant is to be
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earnest in prayer with God for wisdom and grace to do the duties of
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it.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiCh.ii-p8">4. He received a gracious answer to this
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prayer, <scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.1.11-2Chr.1.12" parsed="|2Chr|1|11|1|12" passage="2Ch 1:11,12"><i>v.</i> 11,
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12</scripRef>. (1.) God gave him the wisdom that he asked for
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because he asked for it. Wisdom is a gift that God gives as freely
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and liberally as any gift to those that value it, and wrestle for
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it; and will resolve to make use of it; and he upbraids not the
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poor petitioners with their folly, <scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Jas.1.5" parsed="|Jas|1|5|0|0" passage="Jam 1:5">James i. 5</scripRef>. God's grace shall never be wanting
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to those who sincerely desire to know and do their duty. (2.) God
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gave him the wealth and honour which he did not ask for because he
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asked not for them. Those that pursue present things most earnestly
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are most likely to miss of them; while those that refer themselves
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to the providence of God, if they have not the most of those
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things, have the most comfort in them. Those that make this world
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their end come short of the other and are disappointed in this too;
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but those that make the other world their end shall not only obtain
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that, and full satisfaction in it, but shall enjoy as much as is
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convenient of this world in their way.</p>
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</div><scripCom id="iiCh.ii-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.1.13-2Chr.1.17" parsed="|2Chr|1|13|1|17" passage="2Ch 1:13-17" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.1.13-2Chr.1.17">
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<p class="passage" id="iiCh.ii-p9">13 Then Solomon came <i>from his journey</i> to
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the high place that <i>was</i> at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before
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the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel.
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14 And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a
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thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen,
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which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at
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Jerusalem. 15 And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem
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<i>as plenteous</i> as stones, and cedar trees made he as the
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sycamore trees that <i>are</i> in the vale for abundance. 16
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And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the
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king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price. 17 And
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they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six
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hundred <i>shekels</i> of silver, and a horse for an hundred and
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fifty: and so brought they out <i>horses</i> for all the kings of
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the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiCh.ii-p10">Here is, 1. Solomon's entrance upon the
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government (<scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.1.13" parsed="|2Chr|1|13|0|0" passage="2Ch 1:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>):
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He came <i>from before the tabernacle, and reigned over Israel.</i>
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He would not do any acts of government till he had done his acts of
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devotion, would not take honour to himself till he had given honour
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to God—first the tabernacle, and then the throne. But, when he had
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obtained wisdom from God, he did not bury his talent, but as he
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received the gift ministered the same, did not give up himself to
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ease and pleasure, but minded business: he reigned over Israel. 2.
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The magnificence of his court (<scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.1.14" parsed="|2Chr|1|14|0|0" passage="2Ch 1:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>): <i>He gathered chariots and
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horsemen.</i> Shall we praise him for this? We praise him not; for
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the king was forbidden to multiply horses, <scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.17.16" parsed="|Deut|17|16|0|0" passage="De 17:16">Deut. xvii. 16</scripRef>. I do not remember that ever
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we find his good father in a chariot or on horseback; a mule was
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the highest he mounted. We should endeavor to excel those that went
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before us in goodness rather than in grandeur. 3. The wealth and
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trade of his kingdom. He made silver and gold very cheap and
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common, <scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.1.15" parsed="|2Chr|1|15|0|0" passage="2Ch 1:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. The
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increase of gold lowers the value of it; but the increase of grace
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advances its price; the more men have of that the more they value
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it. <i>How much better</i> therefore <i>is it to get wisdom than
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gold!</i> He opened also a trade with Egypt, whence he imported
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horses and linen-yarn, which he exported again to the kings of
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Syria, with great advantage no doubt, <scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.1.16-2Chr.1.17" parsed="|2Chr|1|16|1|17" passage="2Ch 1:16,17"><i>v.</i> 16, 17</scripRef>. This we had before,
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<scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.10.28-1Kgs.10.29" parsed="|1Kgs|10|28|10|29" passage="1Ki 10:28,29">1 Kings x. 28, 29</scripRef>. It
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is the wisdom of princes to promote industry and encourage trade in
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their dominions. Perhaps Solomon took the hint of setting up the
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linen-manufacture, bringing linen-yarn out of Egypt, working it
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into cloth, and then sending that to other nations, from what his
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mother taught when she specified this as one of the characteristics
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of the virtuous woman, <i>She maketh fine linen, and selleth it,
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and delivereth girdles</i> of it <i>to the merchant,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.ii-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:Prov.31.24" parsed="|Prov|31|24|0|0" passage="Pr 31:24">Prov. xxxi. 24</scripRef>. <i>In all labour
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there is profit.</i></p>
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</div></div2>
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