mh_parser/vol_split/14 - 2Chronicles/Chapter 5.xml

<div2 id="iiCh.vi" n="vi" next="iiCh.vii" prev="iiCh.v" progress="80.38%" title="Chapter V">
<h2 id="iiCh.vi-p0.1">S E C O N D   C H R O N I C L E
S</h2>
<h3 id="iiCh.vi-p0.2">CHAP. V.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iiCh.vi-p1">The temple being built and furnished for God, we
have here, I. Possession given to him, by bringing in the dedicated
things (<scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.5.1" parsed="|2Chr|5|1|0|0" passage="2Ch 5:1">ver. 1</scripRef>), but
especially the ark, the token of his presence, <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.5.2-2Chr.5.10" parsed="|2Chr|5|2|5|10" passage="2Ch 5:2-10">ver. 2-10</scripRef>. II. Possession taken by him, in
a cloud, <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.5.11-2Chr.5.14" parsed="|2Chr|5|11|5|14" passage="2Ch 5:11-14">ver. 11-14</scripRef>. For
if any man open the door of his heart to God he will come in,
<scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.3.20" parsed="|Rev|3|20|0|0" passage="Re 3:20">Rev. iii. 20</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iiCh.vi-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.5" parsed="|2Chr|5|0|0|0" passage="2Ch 5" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iiCh.vi-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.5.1-2Chr.5.10" parsed="|2Chr|5|1|5|10" passage="2Ch 5:1-10" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.5.1-2Chr.5.10">
<h4 id="iiCh.vi-p1.7">The Ark Placed in the
Temple. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.vi-p1.8">b. c.</span> 1004.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCh.vi-p2">1 Thus all the work that Solomon made for the
house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.vi-p2.1">Lord</span> was finished: and
Solomon brought in <i>all</i> the things that David his father had
dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments,
put he among the treasures of the house of God.   2 Then
Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the
tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto
Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.vi-p2.2">Lord</span> out of the city of David, which <i>is</i>
Zion.   3 Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves
unto the king in the feast which <i>was</i> in the seventh month.
  4 And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up
the ark.   5 And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle
of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that <i>were</i> in
the tabernacle, these did the priests <i>and</i> the Levites bring
up.   6 Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel
that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and
oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude.   7
And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.vi-p2.3">Lord</span> unto his place, to the oracle of the
house, into the most holy <i>place, even</i> under the wings of the
cherubims:   8 For the cherubims spread forth <i>their</i>
wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark
and the staves thereof above.   9 And they drew out the staves
<i>of the ark,</i> that the ends of the staves were seen from the
ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without. And there it
is unto this day.   10 <i>There was</i> nothing in the ark
save the two tables which Moses put <i>therein</i> at Horeb, when
the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.vi-p2.4">Lord</span> made <i>a covenant</i> with
the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.vi-p3">This agrees with what we had <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.8.2-1Kgs.8.10" parsed="|1Kgs|8|2|8|10" passage="1Ki 8:2-10">1 Kings viii. 2</scripRef>, &amp;c., where an
account was given of the solemn introduction of the ark into the
new-erected temple. 1. There needed no great solemnity for the
bringing in of the dedicated things, <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.5.1" parsed="|2Chr|5|1|0|0" passage="2Ch 5:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. They added to the wealth, and
perhaps were so disposed as to add to the beauty of it; but they
could not add to the holiness, for it was the <i>temple that
sanctified the gold,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Matt.23.17" parsed="|Matt|23|17|0|0" passage="Mt 23:17">Matt. xxiii.
17</scripRef>. See how just Solomon was both to God and to his
father. Whatever David had dedicated to God, however much he might
have liked it himself, he would by no means alienate it, but put it
among the treasures of the temple. Those children that would
inherit their godly parents' blessing must religiously pursue their
pious intentions and not defeat them. When Solomon had made all the
vessels of the temple in abundance (<scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.18" parsed="|2Chr|4|18|0|0" passage="2Ch 4:18"><i>ch.</i> iv. 18</scripRef>), many of the materials
were left, which he would not convert to any other use, but laid up
in the treasury for a time of need. Dedicated things must not be
alienated. It is sacrilege to do it. 2. But it was fit that the ark
should be brought in with great solemnity; and so it was. All the
other vessels were made new, and larger, in proportion to the
house, than they had been in the tabernacle. But the ark, with the
mercy-seat and the cherubim, was the same; for the presence and the
grace of God are the same in little assemblies that they are in
large ones, in the poor condition of the church that they are in
its prosperous estate. Wherever two or three are gathered together
in Christ's name there is he as truly present with them as if there
were 2000 or 3000. The ark was brought in attended by a very great
assembly of the elders of Israel, who came to grace and solemnity;
and a very sumptuous appearance no doubt they made, <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.5.2-2Chr.5.4" parsed="|2Chr|5|2|5|4" passage="2Ch 5:2-4"><i>v.</i> 2-4</scripRef>. It was carried by the
priests (<scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.5.7" parsed="|2Chr|5|7|0|0" passage="2Ch 5:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>),
brought into the most holy place, and put under the wings of the
great cherubim which Solomon had set up there, <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p3.7" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.5.7-2Chr.5.8" parsed="|2Chr|5|7|5|8" passage="2Ch 5:7,8"><i>v.</i> 7, 8</scripRef>. <i>There they are unto this
day</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p3.8" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.5.9" parsed="|2Chr|5|9|0|0" passage="2Ch 5:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>), not
the day when this book was written after the captivity, but when
that was written out of which this story was transcribed. Or they
were there (so it might be read) unto this day, the day of
Jerusalem's desolations, that fatal day, <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p3.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.137.7" parsed="|Ps|137|7|0|0" passage="Ps 137:7">Ps. cxxxvii. 7</scripRef>. The ark was a type of Christ,
and, as such, a token of the presence of God. That gracious
promise, <i>Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the
world,</i> does in effect bring the ark into our religious
assemblies if we by faith and prayer put that promise in suit; and
this we should be most solicitous and earnest for. <i>Lord, if thy
presence go not up with us,</i> wherefore should we go up? The
temple itself, if Christ leave it, is a desolate place, <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p3.10" osisRef="Bible:Matt.23.38" parsed="|Matt|23|38|0|0" passage="Mt 23:38">Matt. xxiii. 38</scripRef>. 3. With the ark they
brought up the tabernacle and all the <i>holy vessels that were in
the tabernacle,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p3.11" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.5.5" parsed="|2Chr|5|5|0|0" passage="2Ch 5:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>. Those were not alienated, because they had been
dedicated to God, were not altered or melted down for the new work,
though there was no need of them; but they were carefully laid up
as monuments of antiquity, and probably as many of the vessels as
were fit for use were still used. 4. This was done with great joy.
They kept a holy feast upon the occasion (<scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p3.12" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.5.3" parsed="|2Chr|5|3|0|0" passage="2Ch 5:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), and <i>sacrificed sheep and oxen
without number,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p3.13" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.5.6" parsed="|2Chr|5|6|0|0" passage="2Ch 5:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>. Note, (1.) The establishment of the public worship of
God according to his institution, and with the tokens of his
presence, is, and ought to be, matter of great joy to any people.
(2.) When Christ is formed in a soul, the law written in the heart,
the ark of the covenant settled there, so that it becomes the
temple of the Holy Ghost, there is true satisfaction in that soul.
(3.) Whatever we have the comfort of we must, by the sacrifice of
praise, give God the glory of, and not be straitened therein;
<i>for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.</i> If God favour
us with his presence, we must honour him with our services, the
best we have.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiCh.vi-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.5.11-2Chr.5.14" parsed="|2Chr|5|11|5|14" passage="2Ch 5:11-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.5.11-2Chr.5.14">
<h4 id="iiCh.vi-p3.15">The Temple Filled with
Glory. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.vi-p3.16">b. c.</span> 1004.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCh.vi-p4">11 And it came to pass, when the priests were
come out of the holy <i>place:</i> (for all the priests <i>that
were</i> present were sanctified, <i>and</i> did not <i>then</i>
wait by course:   12 Also the Levites <i>which were</i> the
singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their
sons and their brethren, <i>being</i> arrayed in white linen,
having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of
the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding
with trumpets:)   13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters
and singers <i>were</i> as one, to make one sound to be heard in
praising and thanking the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.vi-p4.1">Lord</span>; and
when they lifted up <i>their</i> voice with the trumpets and
cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.vi-p4.2">Lord</span>, <i>saying,</i> For <i>he is</i> good; for
his mercy <i>endureth</i> for ever: that <i>then</i> the house was
filled with a cloud, <i>even</i> the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.vi-p4.3">Lord</span>;   14 So that the priests could not
stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.vi-p4.4">Lord</span> had filled the house of
God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.vi-p5">Solomon, and the elders of Israel, had done
what they could to grace the solemnity of the introduction of the
ark; but God, by testifying his acceptance of what they did, put
the greatest honour upon it. The cloud of glory that filled the
house beautified it more than all the gold with which it was
overlaid or the precious stones with which it was garnished; and
yet that was no glory in comparison with the glory of the gospel
dispensation, <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.8-2Cor.3.10" parsed="|2Cor|3|8|3|10" passage="2Co 3:8-10">2 Cor. iii.
8-10</scripRef>. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.vi-p6">I. How God took possession of the temple:
He <i>filled it with a cloud,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.5.13" parsed="|2Chr|5|13|0|0" passage="2Ch 5:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. 1. Thus he signified his
acceptance of this temple to be the same to him that the tabernacle
of Moses was, and assured them that he would be the same in it; for
it was by a cloud that he made his public entry into that,
<scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.40.34" parsed="|Exod|40|34|0|0" passage="Ex 40:34">Exod. xl. 34</scripRef>. 2. Thus he
considered the weakness and infirmity of those to whom he
manifested himself, who could not bear the dazzling lustre of the
divine light: it would have overpowered them; he therefore
<i>spread his cloud upon it,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.26.9" parsed="|Job|26|9|0|0" passage="Job 26:9">Job
xxvi. 9</scripRef>. Christ revealed things unto his disciples as
they were able to bear them, and in parables, which wrapped up
divine things as in a cloud. 3. Thus he would affect all that
worshipped in his courts with holy reverence and fear. Christ's
disciples were afraid when they entered into a cloud, <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Luke.9.34" parsed="|Luke|9|34|0|0" passage="Lu 9:34">Luke ix. 34</scripRef>. 4. Thus he would intimate
the darkness of that dispensation, by reason of which they could
not stedfastly look to the end of those things which were now
abolished, <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.13" parsed="|2Cor|3|13|0|0" passage="2Co 3:13">2 Cor. iii.
13</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.vi-p7">II. When he took possession of it. 1.
<i>When the priests had come out of the holy place,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.5.11" parsed="|2Chr|5|11|0|0" passage="2Ch 5:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. This is the way of
giving possession. All must come out, that the rightful owner may
come in. Would we have God dwell in our hearts? We must leave room
for him; let every thing else give way. We are here told that upon
this occasion the whole family of the priests attended, and not any
one particular course: <i>All the priests that were present were
sanctified</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.5.11" parsed="|2Chr|5|11|0|0" passage="2Ch 5:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>), because there was work enough for them all, when
such a multitude of sacrifices were to be offered, and because it
was fit that they should all be eye-witnesses of this solemnity and
receive the impressions of it. 2. When the singers and musicians
praised God, then the house was filled with a cloud. This is very
observable; it was not when they <i>offered sacrifices,</i> but
when they <i>sang the praises of God,</i> that God gave them this
token of his favour; for the sacrifice of praise <i>pleaseth the
Lord</i> better than that of <i>an ox or bullock,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.69.31" parsed="|Ps|69|31|0|0" passage="Ps 69:31">Ps. lxix. 31</scripRef>. All the singers and
musicians were employed, those of all the three families; and, to
complete the concert, 120 priests, with their trumpets, joined with
them, all standing at the east end of the altar, on that side of
the court which lay outmost towards the people, <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.5.12" parsed="|2Chr|5|12|0|0" passage="2Ch 5:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. And, when this part of the
service began, the glory of God appeared. Observe, (1.) It was when
they were unanimous, when they were as one, to make one sound. The
Holy God descended on the apostles when they met with one accord,
<scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Acts.2.1-Acts.2.4" parsed="|Acts|2|1|2|4" passage="Ac 2:1-4">Acts ii. 1-4</scripRef>. Where unity
is the Lord commands the blessing. (2.) It was when they were
lively and hearty, and <i>lifted up their voice to praise the
Lord.</i> Then we serve God acceptably when we are fervent in
spirit serving him. (3.) It was when they were, in their praises,
celebrating the everlasting mercy and goodness of God. As there is
one saying oftener repeated in scripture than this, <i>his mercy
endureth for ever</i> (twenty-six times in one psalm, <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.136.1-Ps.136.26" parsed="|Ps|136|1|136|26" passage="Ps 136:1-26">Ps. cxxxvi.</scripRef>, and often elsewhere),
so there is none more signally owned from heaven; for it was not
the expression of some rapturous flights that the priests were
singing when the glory of God appeared, but this plain song, <i>He
is good, and his mercy endureth for ever.</i> God's goodness is his
glory, and he is pleased when we give him the glory of it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.vi-p8">III. What was the effect of it. The
<i>priests themselves could not stand to minister, by reason of the
cloud</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.5.14" parsed="|2Chr|5|14|0|0" passage="2Ch 5:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>),
which, as it was an evidence that the law made men priests that had
infirmity, so (as bishop Patrick observes) it was a plain
intimation that the Levitical priesthood should cease, and stand no
longer to minister, when the Messiah should come, in whom <i>the
fulness of the godhead should dwell bodily.</i> In him the glory of
God dwelt among us, but covered with a cloud. The Word was made
flesh; and when he comes to his temple, like a refiner's fire,
<i>who may abide the day of his coming?</i> And <i>who shall stand
when he appeareth?</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.vi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Mal.3.1-Mal.3.2" parsed="|Mal|3|1|3|2" passage="Mal 3:1,2">Mal. iii. 1,
2</scripRef>.</p>
</div></div2>