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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T C H R O N I C L E S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXVIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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The account we have of David's exit, in the beginning of the first book
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of Kings, does not make his sun nearly so bright as that given in this
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and the following chapter, where we have his solemn farewell both to
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his son and his subjects, and must own that he finished well. In this
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chapter we have,
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I. A general convention of the states summoned to meet,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:1">ver. 1</A>.
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II. A solemn declaration of the divine entail both of the crown and of
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the honour of building the temple upon Solomon,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:2-7">ver. 2-7</A>.
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III. An exhortation both to the people and to Solomon to make religion
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their business,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:8-10">ver. 8-10</A>.
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IV. The model and materials delivered to Solomon for the building of
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the temple,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:11-19">ver. 11-19</A>.
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V. Encouragement given him to undertake it and proceed in it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:20,21">ver. 20, 21</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="1Ch28_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch28_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>David's Charge to the People.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1015.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of
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the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to
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the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and
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captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the
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substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the
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officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men,
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unto Jerusalem.
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2 Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear
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me, my brethren, and my people: <I>As for me,</I> I <I>had</I> in mine
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heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready
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for the building:
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3 But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build a house for my
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name, because thou <I>hast been</I> a man of war, and hast shed blood.
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4 Howbeit the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of Israel chose me before all the house
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of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen
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Judah <I>to be</I> the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of
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my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make
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<I>me</I> king over all Israel:
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5 And of all my sons, (for the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath given me many sons,)
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he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the
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kingdom of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> over Israel.
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6 And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house
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and my courts: for I have chosen him <I>to be</I> my son, and I will
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be his father.
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7 Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be
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constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.
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8 Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all
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the commandments of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> your God: that ye may possess this
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good land, and leave <I>it</I> for an inheritance for your children
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after you for ever.
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9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father,
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and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the
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imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found
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of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
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10 Take heed now; for the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath chosen thee to build an
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house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do <I>it.</I>
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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A great deal of service David had done in his day, had <I>served his
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generation according to the will of God,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:36">Acts xiii. 36</A>.
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But now the time draws night that he must die, and, as a type of the
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Son of David, the nearer he comes to his end the more busy he is, and
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does his work with all his might. He is now a little recovered from the
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indisposition mentioned
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+1:1">1 Kings i. 1</A>,
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when they covered him with clothes, and he got no heat: but was cure is
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there for old age? He therefore improves his recovery, as giving him an
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opportunity of doing God and his country a little more service.</P>
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<P>
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I. He summoned all the great men to attend him, that he might take
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leave of them all together,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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Thus Moses did
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+31:28">Deut. xxxi. 28</A>),
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and Joshua,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:2,24:1"><I>ch.</I> xxiii. 2; xxiv. 1</A>.
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David would not declare the settlement of the crown but in the
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presence, and to the satisfaction, of those that were the
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representatives of the people.</P>
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<P>
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II. He addressed them with a great deal of respect and tenderness. He
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not only exerted himself to rise from his bed, to give them the meeting
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(the occasion putting new spirits into him), but he rose out of his
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chair, and <I>stood up upon his feet</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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in reverence to God whose will he was to declare, and in reverence to
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this solemn assembly of the Israel of God, as if he looked upon
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himself, though <I>major singulis</I>--<I>greater than any individual
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among them,</I> yet <I>minor universis</I>--<I>less than the whole of
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them together.</I> His age and infirmities, as well as his dignity,
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might well have allowed him to keep his seat; but he would show that he
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was indeed humbled for the pride of his heart both in the numbers of
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his people and his dominion over them. It had been too much his
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pleasure that they were all his <I>servants</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+21:3"><I>ch.</I> xxi. 3</A>),
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but now he calls them his <I>brethren,</I> whom he loved, his people,
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whom he took care of, not his servants, whom he had command of: <I>Hear
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me, my brethren, and my people.</I> It becomes superiors thus to speak
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with affection and condescension even to their inferiors; they will not
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be the less honoured for it, but the more beloved. Thus he engages
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their attention to what he was about to say.</P>
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<P>
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III. He declared the purpose he had formed to build a temple for God,
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and God's disallowing that purpose,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:2,3"><I>v.</I> 2, 3</A>.
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This he had signified to Solomon before,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+22:7,8"><I>ch.</I> xxii. 7, 8</A>.
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<I>A house of rest for the ark</I> is here said to be <I>a house of
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rest for the footstool of our God;</I> for heaven is his throne of
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glory; the earth, and the most magnificent temples that can be built
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upon it, are but his footstool: so much difference is there between the
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manifestations of the divine glory in the upper and lower world. Angels
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surround his throne,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+6:1">Isa. vi. 1</A>.
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We poor worms do but <I>worship at his footstool</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+99:5,123:7">Ps. xcix. 5; cxxxii. 7</A>.
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As an evidence of the sincerity of his purpose to build the temple, he
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tells them that he had made ready for it, but that God would not suffer
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him to proceed because he had appointed other work for him to do, which
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was enough for one man, namely, the managing of the wars of Israel. He
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must serve the public with the sword; another must do it with the line
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and plummet. Times of rest are building times,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+9:31">Acts ix. 31</A>.</P>
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<P>
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IV. He produced his own title first, and then Solomon's, to the crown;
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both were undoubtedly <I>jure divino</I>--<I>divine.</I> They could make
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out such a title as no monarch on earth can; the Lord God of Israel
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chose them both immediately, by prophecy, not providence,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>.
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No right of primogeniture is pretended. <I>Detur digniori, non
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seniori</I>--<I>It went by worth, not by age.</I>
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1. Judah was not the eldest son of Jacob, yet God chose that tribe to
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be the ruling tribe; Jacob entailed the sceptre upon it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+49:10">Gen. xlix. 10</A>.
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2. It does not appear that the family of Jesse was the senior house of
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that tribe; from Judah it is certain that it was not, for Shelah was
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before Pharez; whether from Nahshon and Salmon is not certain. Ram, the
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father of Nahshon, had a elder brother,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+2:9">1 Chron. ii. 9</A>.
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Perhaps so had Boaz, Obed, and Jesse. Yet "<I>God chose the house of my
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father.</I>"
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3. David was the youngest son of Jesse, yet God liked him to make him
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king; so it seemed good unto him. God takes whom he likes, and likes
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whom he makes like himself, as he did David, a man after his own heart.
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4. Solomon was one of the youngest sons of David, and yet God chose him
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to sit upon the throne, because he was the likeliest of them all to
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build the temple, the wisest and best inclined.</P>
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<P>
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V. He opened to them God's gracious purposes concerning Solomon
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:6,7"><I>v.</I> 6, 7</A>):
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<I>I have chosen him to be my son.</I> Thus he declares the decree,
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that the Lord had said to Solomon, as a type of Christ, <I>Thou art my
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son</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+2:7">Ps. ii. 7</A>),
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the son of my love; for he was called <I>Jedidiah,</I> because the Lord
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loved him, and Christ is his beloved Son. Of him God said, as a figure
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of him that was to come,
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1. <I>He shall build my house.</I> Christ is both the founder and the
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foundation of the gospel temple.
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2. <I>I will establish his kingdom for ever.</I> This must have its
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accomplishment in the kingdom of the Messiah, which shall continue in
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his hands through all the ages of time
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:7,Lu+1:33">Isa. ix. 7; Luke i. 33</A>)
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and shall then be delivered up to God, even the Father, yet perhaps to
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be delivered back to the Redeemer for ever. As to Solomon, this promise
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of the establishment of his kingdom is here made conditional: <I>If he
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be constant to do my commandments, as at this day.</I> Solomon was now
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very towardly and good: "If he continue so, his kingdom shall continue,
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otherwise not." Note, If we be constant to our duty, then, and not
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otherwise, we may expect the continuance of God's favour. Let those
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that are well taught, and begin well, take notice of this--if they be
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constant, they are happy; perseverance wears the crown, though it wins
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it not.</P>
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<P>
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VI. He charged them to adhere stedfastly to God and their duty,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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Observe,
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1. The matter for this charge: <I>Keep, and seek for all the
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commandments of the Lord your God.</I> The Lord was their God; his
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commandments must be their rule; they must have respect to them all,
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must make conscience of keeping them, and, in order thereunto, must
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seek for them, that is, must be inquisitive concerning their duty,
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search the scriptures, take advice, seek the law at the mouth of those
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whose lips were to keep this knowledge, and pray to God to teach and
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direct them. God's commandments will not be kept without great care.
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2. The solemnity of it. He charged them in the sight of all Israel,
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who would all have notice of this public charge, and in the audience of
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their God. "God is witness, and this congregation is witness, that they
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have good counsel given them, and fair warning; if they do not take it,
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it is their fault, and God and man will be witnesses against them." See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+5:21,2Ti+4:1">1 Tim. v. 21; 2 Tim. iv. 1</A>.
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Those that profess religion, as they tender the favour of God and their
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reputation with men, must be faithful to their profession.
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3. The motive to observe this charge. It was the way to be happy, to
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have the peaceable possession of this good land themselves and to
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preserve the entail of it upon their children.</P>
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<P>
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VII. He concluded with a charge to Solomon himself,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:9,10"><I>v.</I> 9, 10</A>.
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He was much concerned that Solomon should be religious. He was to be a
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great man, but he must not think religion below him--a wise man, and
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this would be his wisdom. Observe,</P>
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<P>
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1. The charge he gives him. He must look upon God and the God of his
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father, his good father, who had devoted him to God and educated him
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for God. He was born in God's house and therefore bound in duty to be
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his, brought up in his house and therefore bound in gratitude. <I>Thy
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own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not.</I> He must know God
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and serve him. We cannot serve God aright if we do not know him; and in
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vain do we know him if we do not serve him, serve him with heart and
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mind. We make nothing of religion if we do not mind it, and make
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heart-work of it. Serve him with a perfect, that is, an upright heart
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(for sincerity is our gospel perfection), and with a willing mind, from
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a principle of love, and as a willing people, cheerfully and with
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pleasure.</P>
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<P>
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2. The arguments to enforce this charge.</P>
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<P>
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(1.) Two arguments of general inducement:--
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[1.] That the secrets of our souls are open before God; he searches all
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hearts, even the hearts of kings, which to men are unsearchable,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+25:3">Prov. xxv. 3</A>.
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We must <I>therefore</I> be sincere, because, if we deal deceitfully,
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God sees it, and cannot be imposed upon; we must <I>therefore</I>
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employ our thoughts, and engage them in God's service, because he fully
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understands all the imaginations of them, both good and bad.
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[2.] That we are happy or miserable here, and for ever, according as we
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do, or do not, serve God. <I>If we seek him diligently, he will be
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found of us,</I> and that is enough to make us happy,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+11:6">Heb. xi. 6</A>.
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If we forsake him, desert his service and turn from following him, he
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will cast us off for ever, and that is enough to make us miserable.
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Note, God never casts any off till they have first cast him off. Here
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is,</P>
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<P>
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(2.) One argument peculiar to Solomon
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
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"<I>Thou art to build a house for the sanctuary;</I> therefore seek and
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serve God, that that work may be done from a good principle, in a right
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manner, and may be accepted."</P>
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<P>
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3. The means prescribed in order hereunto, and they are prescribed to
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us all.
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(1.) Caution: <I>Take heed;</I> beware of every thing that looks like,
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or leads to, that which is evil.
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(2.) Courage: <I>Be strong, and do it.</I> We cannot do our work as we
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should unless we put on resolution, and fetch in strength from divine
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grace.</P>
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<A NAME="1Ch28_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch28_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch28_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch28_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch28_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch28_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch28_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch28_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch28_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch28_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch28_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>David's Charge to Solomon.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1015.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch,
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and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of
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the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof,
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and of the place of the mercy seat,
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12 And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the
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courts of the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and of all the chambers round
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about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the
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treasuries of the dedicated things:
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13 Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for
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all the work of the service of the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and for all
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the vessels of service in the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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14 <I>He gave</I> of gold by weight for <I>things</I> of gold, for all
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instruments of all manner of service; <I>silver also</I> for all
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instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every
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kind of service:
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15 Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their
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lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps
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thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, <I>both</I> for
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the candlestick, and <I>also</I> for the lamps thereof, according to
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the use of every candlestick.
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16 And by weight <I>he gave</I> gold for the tables of showbread,
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for every table; and <I>likewise</I> silver for the tables of silver:
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17 Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the
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cups: and for the golden basons <I>he gave gold</I> by weight for
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every bason; and <I>likewise silver</I> by weight for every bason of
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silver:
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18 And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and
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gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread
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out <I>their wings,</I> and covered the ark of the covenant of the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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19 All <I>this, said David,</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> made me understand in
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writing by <I>his</I> hand upon me, <I>even</I> all the works of this
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pattern.
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20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good
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courage, and do <I>it:</I> fear not, nor be dismayed: for the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
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God, <I>even</I> my God, <I>will be</I> with thee; he will not fail thee,
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nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the
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service of the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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21 And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites,
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<I>even they shall be with thee</I> for all the service of the house
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of God: and <I>there shall be</I> with thee for all manner of
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|
workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service:
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also the princes and all the people <I>will be</I> wholly at thy
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|
commandment.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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As for the general charge that David gave his son to seek God and serve
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|
him, the book of the law was, in that, his only rule, and there needed
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|
no other; but, in building the temple, David was now to give him three
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|
things:--
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1. A model of the building, because it was to be such a building as
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|
neither he nor his architects ever saw. Moses had a pattern of the
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|
tabernacle shown him in the mount
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:5">Heb. viii. 5</A>),
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so had David of the temple, by the immediate hand of God upon him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
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It was given him in writing, probably by the ministry of an angel, or
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as clearly and exactly represented to his mind as if it had been in
|
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writing. But it is said
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
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|
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|
<I>He had this pattern by the Spirit.</I> The contrivance either of
|
|
David's devotion or of Solomon's wisdom must not be trusted to in an
|
|
affair of this nature. The temple must be a sacred thing and a type of
|
|
Christ; there must be in it not only convenience and decency, but
|
|
significancy: it was a kind of sacrament, and therefore it must not be
|
|
left to man's art or invention to contrive it, but must be framed by
|
|
divine institution. Christ the true temple, the church the gospel
|
|
temple, and heaven the everlasting temple, are all framed according to
|
|
the divine councils, and the plan laid in the divine wisdom, ordained
|
|
before the world for God's glory and ours. This pattern David gave to
|
|
Solomon, that he might know what to provide and might go by a certain
|
|
rule. When Christ left with his disciples a charge to build his gospel
|
|
church he gave them an exact model of it, ordering them to observe
|
|
that, and that only, which he commanded. The particular models are here
|
|
mentioned, of the porch, which was higher than the rest, like a
|
|
steeple,--then the houses, both the holy place and the most holy, with
|
|
the rooms adjoining, which were for treasuries, chambers, and
|
|
parlours,--especially <I>the place of the mercy-seat</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),--
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|
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|
of the courts likewise, and the chambers about them, in which the
|
|
dedicated things were laid up. Bishop Patrick supposes that, among
|
|
other things, the tabernacle which Moses reared and all the utensils of
|
|
it, which there was now no further occasion for, were laid up here,
|
|
signifying that in the fulness of time all the Mosaic economy, all the
|
|
rites and ceremonies of that dispensation, should be respectfully laid
|
|
aside, and something better come in their room. He gave him a table of
|
|
the courses of the priests, patterns of the vessels of service
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
and a pattern of the chariot of the cherubim,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
Besides the two cherubim over the mercy-seat, there were two much
|
|
larger, whose wings reached from wall to wall
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+6:23-28">1 Kings vi. 23</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c.), and of these David here gave
|
|
Solomon the pattern, called a <I>chariot;</I> for the angels are the
|
|
chariots of God,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+68:17">Ps. lxviii. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. Materials for the most costly of the utensils of the temple. That
|
|
they might not be made any less than the patterns, he weighed out the
|
|
exact quantity for each vessel both of gold and silver,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
In the tabernacle there was but one golden candlestick; in the temple
|
|
there were ten
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:49">1 Kings vii. 49</A>),
|
|
|
|
besides silver ones, which, it is supposed, were hand-candlesticks,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
In the tabernacle there was but one table; but in the temple, besides
|
|
that on which the show-bread was set, there were ten others for other
|
|
uses
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+4:8">2 Chron. iv. 8</A>),
|
|
|
|
besides silver tables; for, this house being much larger than that, it
|
|
would look bare if it had not furniture proportionable. The gold for
|
|
the altar of incense is particularly said to be <I>refined gold</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
purer than any of the rest; for that was typical of the intercession of
|
|
Christ, than which nothing is more pure and perfect.
|
|
|
|
3. Directions which way to look for help in this great undertaking.
|
|
"Fear not opposition; fear not the charge, care, and trouble; fear not
|
|
miscarrying in it, as in the case of Uzza; fear not the reproach of the
|
|
foolish builder, that began to build and was not able to finish. Be not
|
|
dismayed.
|
|
|
|
(1.) God will help thee, and thou must look up to him in the first
|
|
place
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The Lord God, even my God,</I> whom I have chosen and served, who
|
|
has all along been present with me and prospered me, and to whom, from
|
|
my own experience of his power and goodness, I recommend thee, he will
|
|
be with thee, to direct, strengthen, and prosper thee; he will not fail
|
|
thee nor forsake thee." Note, We may be sure that God, who owned our
|
|
fathers and carried them through the services of their day, will, in
|
|
like manner, if we be faithful to him, go along with us in our day, and
|
|
will never leave us, while he has any work to do in us or by us. The
|
|
same that was Joshua's encouragement
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+1:5">Josh. i. 5</A>),
|
|
|
|
and Solomon's, is given to all believers,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+13:5">Heb. xiii. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>He will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.</I> God never leaves any
|
|
unless they first leave him.
|
|
|
|
(2.) "Good men will help thee,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
The priests and Levites will advise thee, and thou mayest consult them.
|
|
Thou hast good workmen, who are both willing and skilful;" and these
|
|
are two very good properties in a workman, especially in those that
|
|
work at the temple. And, <I>lastly,</I> "The princes and the people
|
|
will be so far from opposing or retarding the work that they will be
|
|
wholly at thy command, every one in his place ready to further it."
|
|
Then good work is likely to go on when all parties concerned are hearty
|
|
in it, and none secretly clog it, but all drive on heartily in it.</P>
|
|
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