PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles
Philip Chapman Barker [d.1904] · 415,586 words · 458 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 241
three such incentives a! these together, and they will rarely fail to find their converts of some amongst a number. Moreover, great as is the contagion of evil, as seen when the multitude ~ill flock together to do evil, yet, on the other hand, correspondingly great is the attraction of goodness. The multitude of those …
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. l.-.A place for the ark. The ancient tabernacle remained r.t Gibeon, and was there at the accession of Solomon. But the ark was brought up to Jerusalem. It was natural and right that David, having made a capital for his kingdom, should wish the city his own right hand had won to be…
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Ver. 13.-" Due order." David explained the failure of the former attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem, by a reference to the neglect by himself and his people of the regulations divinely prescribed and applicable to such a case. In directing the Levites to prepare for their proper service, he acknowledged that, when h…
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Vers. 2-15.-Three valuable virtues: rectification, admonition, obedience. We have- I. A ROYAL RECTIFICATION. We have the useful fiction in England that "the king can do no wrong." It has been too often assumed by the potentates of the earth that they could not be mistaken-, and need not return on their way, David was…
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they have themselves reason to desire all possible elemency to be shown; ( 4) who must not shun to declare the whole counsel of God. And on such occasions we should, when ourselves admonished, receive the admonition as those (I) who are likely enough to have erred; (2) who are prepared to be reproved by those who are i…
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Vers. 16-29 (vers. 16, 25, 26, 28, see preceding homily).-The service of the Lord, This passage is instructive, as conveying some valuable lessons universally and abidingly applicable, respecting our service of the Supreme. We lea;n- I. THAT WE SHOULD CHEERFULLY RENDER SUCH SERVICE AS WE ARE FITTED TO BRING. In thi…
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of Obed-edom during the time it had been there, David arranges that the ark should be borne only by Levites, for them only had the Lord chosen to carry it. By this arrangement it is expressly acknowledged that it "'was contrary to law to place it on a cart. The heads of the priests and Levites are summoned to take the …
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Vers. 2, 12, 13.-Learning the lessons of God's judgments. We are not left in any doubt as to the national lesson intended to be taught by the Divine judgment on Uzza. David came to see that "none ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites" ( comp. Numb. i. 50; iv. 15 ; vii. 9 ; x. 17). The judgment showed that God b…
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Vere. 12-14.-Due preparation for Divine service. Not only was David on this occasion careful to employ the proper persons, but he was anxious that they should be properly prepared and fitted for their solemn duty. He commands them to "sanctify themselves," that is, to go through the ceremonies by which the Mosaic pries…
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Vers. 16-24.-Music and song consecrated to God's service. For traces of singin" in connection with religions ceremonies, see Exod. xv. 21; Judg, v. 1; eh. xiii, 8. It seems to have been cultivated in the "schools of the prophets" (1 Sam. x. 5). From the time of David's appointment of these Levites to this special depar…
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EXPOSITION. branches interwoven (Lev. uiii. 34, 40, CHAPTER XVL 42; Deut. xvi. 13). The Jil~t? (tl\bernacle) was the dwelling-place or pavilion, which Vera. 1-8.-These three verses rather owned to the ten inner ourte.ins as well as the belong to the olose of the last chapter, and outer covering and the fmmowork (Ex…
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Solomon (1 Kings viii. 14) the king realized parallel places. But here the Septuagint far more closely the idea of the patern&l reads tipTov lva &.pT01<0,r11<~v 1<al .¼.,uoplT71v as relation to the people tba.u had ever been the whole account of the loaf, the good piece since the time of the patriarchs of the elder of …
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who in eh. xv. 24 is coupled as priest with which (vers. 8-22) the people are reminded Benaiah, should stand in the place of this of their past history anrl of the me.rvellou< name or else vice versti. providence which had governed their career Ver. 7.-The rendering should run, On from Abraham to the time they were se…
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Levites, to minister a.nd to attend to the Ver. 89.-Whi!e those above-mentioned service of praise before the a.rk. And the were to officiate before the ark on Zion those first of them ma.y be considered to mark a.n mentioned in this and following vers~s are important step in advance in the crystal- the officiating staf…
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ever, when men could be numbered only by the score, it was manifestly impossible for religion to exhibit the "effects" which it does in the time of David. Nay, of ages after- wards it were, of course, true to say the same thing, and to add this also, that when, so far as numbers were concerned, it became possible, stil…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 2.-Sacrifice and blessing. The manner in which David celebrated the reception of the ark into its appointed tent on the height of his city was thoroughly character- istic. He acted as a king, and as a kind of royal mediator between the God of heaven and the chosen people Israel. I. H…
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hundr<'d and seventh, and hundred and sixth psalms. Taken as we here find it, it contains- I. AK ADMOlIITION AND SUMMONS TO PRAISE THE LORD. This is nddressed to r>ature (vers. 30---33), to mankind in general (ver. 28), especially to Israel (ver. 13). H. A RECORD OF Goo's GOODNESS. And this both to the patriarchs (ve…
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Vers. 4-7, 36-43.-Regular Divine service. These verses may snggest to us whole- some truths respecting the constant worship of God as distinguished from acts of exceptional devotion. L THAT DEVOTION HUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO EVAPORATE IN TEMPORARY EXCITEMENT. David was wise in not sending the people home (ver. 43) until …
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power as displayed in the creation and sustenance of our own spirit and our own human life, his handiwork in the providential ordering of the world. lf. A SENSE OF HIS INTIMATE DIVINE RELATION TO US AND TO THE WHOLE WORLD, (Vcrs. 13, 14.) As the children of Israel felt that they were chosen of God, having received …
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Vers. 23-36.-The broader aspect of Hebrew piety. It canne,t be denied that there was an aspect of exclusiveness in the religion of Jewry, as seen in the days of our Lord. But it is a question bow far this was a lawful and how far an unlawful develop- ment of the teaching which had come from above. To some extent it was…
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Ver. 1.-The ark and the tabernacle. "So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God." The incident of Uzza has distracted the attention due to the return of the ark. The preacher has laboured to justify …
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some disciples had been baptized who did not so much as know there was e. Holy Ghost.. Whe~ th? Church went in for ~ore order, the lack of the power and the charity of earher times beca.me more conspicuous. Churches that have retained more of external unity have lacked vitality; and Christian communities which have …
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more; arranging for the services of the sanctuary, he gave a liturgy for the closet. While in the sacrifices men found the proper form for approaching God, in the psalter they caught the proper spirit. In my judgment the stronger grip that Judah took of the Law of God than Israel; hor greater wealth in saintly kings an…
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of offering embodied the general idea of sacrifice, and in a sense represented tho wholo sacrificial institute. "The peace offering" was presented upon the acceptance of any special Divine mercies, and portions of the victim were restored to the offerer, who, with his family and friends, feasted on them. "This sacrific…
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the lark, who tunes hie cheerful carol as he salutes the rising sun, the whole creation sends up one grand chorus of praise to the throne of God." The sincere heart will ever feel disposed to sing- " rn praise my Maker with my breath ; And when my voice is Jost in death, Praise shall employ my nobler powers: My de.…
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"strength," comp. 1 Sam. xv. 29; Ps. xxvii. 1; xxix. 1; Job ix. 19; Pa. xlvi. 1; l:s:ii._ 11; lxvi!)· 34; lxxiii. 26, etc.; Isa. xxvi. 4; xlv. 24. For "face," comp. Pa. xxx1. 16; l.x:vn. 1, etc. I. Gon's STRENGTH STRENGTHENETH '.MAN. Open and explain that man's physical energy depends upon his vital, force, and his…
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have raised, on which we have inscribed our "Ebenezer "-" Hitherto the Lord bath he! ped us ; " and at any time we should be able to look back and bid these pillars remind us of the " wonderful works that he bath done." II. IT HOLDS TEE RACE-MEMORIALS OF GoD'S GOODNESS. Scripture tells us of God's dealings with men, b…
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Vers. 23-25.-0hristian joy a witness. These verses reappear in Ps. xcvi. In that psalm the sacred nation is charged to praise Jehovah, and to spread the good tidings in all places. Such praise is fitting, seeing that all other deities are nothing, and Jehovah is God alone. Calvin, writing on this psalm, says, "It is a…
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Ver. 29.-The claims of God to the worship and homage of his creatures. What I have to demonstrate is: 1. That God is entitled to the homage of his creatures, and claims it as proptir and right. 2. That these claims aro made upon us, his intelligent creatures. It will therefore be necessary to show that we are capable o…
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Ver. 33.-God always coming to ;'udge. "Judgment" is, in Scripture, a large and comprehensive term. It is sometimes synonymous with" rule," or" government," because in ancient monarchies actual magistracy-due personal consideration and decision of rival claims, or accusations of crimes-took a prominent place, Sometimes …
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CHAPTER XVII. kingdom in his line. The interest of this chapter is heightened, as will be seen, by This chapter is paralleled by 2 Sam. vii. the aspects of royal "home" life and peace 1-29; and tile parallel is for tile most part which it presents. very close. The purport of the two accounts Ver. 1.-We may easily ima…
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nppear eit~e~ here or in the parallel place, wilh the bro.mble uncl reach high up to thnse In the opmton of some, an iuclication of cedo.r~ (in Jotham's parable, Judg. ix. 15), some interval having elapsed is found in the o.nd (m the parable of Joash, King of Israel, words (2 Sam. vii. 1), "'l'he Lord hod given to A…
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Dadd how surely and faithfully he had Ver. 10.-This verse should read on con- shared the pilgrim lot and unsettledness of tinuously with the preceding, as far as ta his people. Whe.t most holy the tabernacle the word " enemies." 'fhe time here de- contained was herein a type of the bodily noted will stretch from the…
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. . . hast regarded me aooording to the estate first occunence of the word " servant" in of a man of high degree; i.e. thou bast the previous verse might not be similarly treated me, or dee.It with me, in this promise explained. The similarity of the characters na though I had been of high rank indeed. of the words …
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not greatly assisted to learn his own character, and to seo, plain as a sunbeam, his life's duty, or wha_t remain~ of it. The chapter e~hibits a parable truo in large part of it of many a life, yet m a very great proportion of those lives true still only like a 11arable, unknown, unacknowledged, while life's best pa…
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with his gladness in his God, the incomparable God of Israel, Lord of hosts, to whom there is none like for "greatness," for " terribleness," for "goodness," and for the "eternal blessedness" of his "blessing." Such was the course, such the fulfilment, such the final "manifestation," in that early "day of revelation," …
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absolutely so their own, that to think of others is only to think that they are without part or lot in the matter. They owe none of it to God's gift. They owe none of it to man's help. They have gained and they have risen, all thanks and all credit only to themselves. And ail that they have and all that they are is to …
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the worship of practical piety. I, who have received all, and am but what God has given and God made me, dwell in a house of cedar, while the ark of hie covenant remaineth under curtains I LESSONS. 1. There is doubtless no position in human life but has sufficient cause of tha~ulness to stir up men of grateful heart t…
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C:ipt~in, has for ages and generations shared the pilgrim lot of his people. If they havo ,wt had a fixed home, so has it been with him also. If they have travelled from placo t-0 place, so bas he also. 2. That he has shared this pilgrim lot of the people without a murmur, without a reproach, a request, or even a sugge…
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Ver. 17.-The last glory of God's goodness to his serva11tsfound in the distant horizon he offers to their vision. This verse contains a part of David's response to the com- munication which had been made to him. That communication had contained a refusal, and one which under most circumstances would have been felt to b…
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WHICH APPEARS TO TAKE NOW SUCH A HOLD ON DAVID. Very true it is that the indi- cations are many, and scarcely mistakable, of sense pressing heavy on patriarch and priest, king and prophet, of Old Testament history. Some striking exceptions, however, there are to the contrary. And perhaps, in almost all cases, there a.r…
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is never better employed than in advancing the glory of God. This may be done not merely by what are distinctively termed religious acts, but by deeds of benevolence and philanthropy, animated by the love of Christ. II. A PBOPBET'B EN0OURAGEJIIENT. David unfolded to his counsellor, Nathan the prophet, the generous int…
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Vers. 7, S.-God in individual hi-story. In what way the Lord communicated with Nathan we do not know; but 1.he sacred history represents him as choosing the prophet as the means of making known to the king his holy will. On this occasion, Nathan was directed to preface his divinely given instructions by the remarkable…
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promise: "I will establish his throne for ever." Our calling, our circumstances, differ from those of Israel's king. Yet there is a certain appropriateness in this Ian.snrn"e, as applied to all the people of God, The blessings of spiritual strength, stability, am! peace, are assured by a gracious and covenant God to al…
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I. Otrn UNWORTHINESS AND ILL DESERT. " Who am I . . . that thou hast brought me hitherto?" It is an unwonted attitude for many minds. Men are so prone to regard their own fancied excellences, that language of humiliation and contrition is often suspected of insincerity. Yet, in the presence of him who is at once the pe…
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Ver. 27.-.Afather's prayer, Thie was a prayer founded upon a promise. God had declared his purposes towards the seed of his servant David, and David was honouring God's faithfulness, as well as expressing his own heart's desire, when he thus solemnly and confidently invoked the blessing of the Giver of all good upon hi…
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Vers. 7-15.-Three spiritual necessities. The message which Na.than was charged to deliver to David calls before us three necessities of our spiritual nature, which apply to all men everywhere, in every position, and in all ages. We have need of- I. .AN OPEN lllIND TO RECEIVE Goo's SPECIAL TEACHING, Natha.u was famil…
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more than a view of past mercies: we may require a prospect of good tbin"'S to come. God graciously provided David with both. He intimated to him throuih Nathan that he was intending to do great things for him. He would (1) con~lidate the k!ngd?m of Isr~el BO t~at it should become str~mg ~nd safe (ver. 9); (2) multiply…
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Vers. 19--24.-Pleas in prayer. David was plea.ding with God, and, in asking him to con.firm and establish his word of promise, he ma.de reference to four grounds of appeal. These we may substantially adopt, adding another " all-prevailing plea" which David could not introduce. I. GoD's LOVE TO us AS INDIVIDUAL SOULS. …
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reason why we should-not why we should not-ask him to give it to 1.1s. He has promised to supply all who love him with all needful things (Matt. vi. 32, 33; Phil. iv. 19). But this does not countermand the injunction to pray for our daily bread (Matt. vi. 11). There are many promises of the gift of the Holy Spirit; we …
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nnd thnt :mother should have the honour! This is often hard to bear, Nothing but the grace of God ruling in a man's heart can enable him to do this. Moses endured forty years' trial and hardship in leading God's people out of Egypt, and yet just as he gets in sight of the promised land all his brightest anticipations …
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he so understood them, especially when he speaks of God havincr0 regarded him "accord- ing to the estate of a man of high degree."-W. Vera. 16-27.-David'a prayer. God's great and precious promises to David drew forth from his heart this prayer. It is so at all times. 'fhe constra.ining motive of prayer, praise, and th…
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Ver. 4.-UnfUness for some parts 'If God's work. God sent a distinct refusal of David's request by the Prophet Nathan. "Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in." But this refusal may not be regarded as an act of mere sovereignty; it was based upon the Divine recognition of the unfitness of David as the instrumen…
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Vern. 6, 6.-God's earthly dwelling-p«ue a ta,berna,cle, not II hmue. In the Divine reply sent to David it is made an important point that God had hitherto dwelt in a tent, and had expressed no desire for a more permanent form of habitation. As the message is given in 2 Sam. vii. 6, God bad "walked in a tent and in a ta…
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,lcsigned to be imprcssi,e illustrations of great principles which are surely workinl?, t.hough not so manifestly working, in the smaller and the quieter spheres. The" great" is never set before us for its own sake, but always (1) to show us what "almighty grace can do;" and (2) to make solemn the possibilities of our …
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influence and spoils our work. Man can scarcely say a thing that hurts him more in the saying than this, "My purposes are broken off." What is called/ame may be won by but the few among even good men; but every true-hearted and earnest servant of God may be sure that his personal impress is an abiding one; it will g…
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Vers. 20, 21.-The uniqueness of the Divine dealings. David saw plainly a. truth which seems equally plain to us from the records given in the Scriptures, that God's ways of dealing with the nation of Israel had been throughout sincrula.r, unique, aml surprisingly gracious. A few illustrative instances from the histo~y …
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terity that will never be extinguished; and the first idea we should attach to the promise is that David and his descendants' empire should be of long duration, and of a stable character. It is a further truth, embodied in the expression, that the material kingdom of David should by-and-by pass into the spiritual kingd…
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Lord, art God"- there is bis rest. It is mucb t.o have received a gracious promise, but it is much more to have, and to trust, a "faithful Promiser." Tbe promises help and comfort us; but we want to rise above even the promises, and find the" eternal life," and deep "heart-rest" of knowing God, and being able to say to…
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ditions, and finds and adapts grace precisely to their needs; and that whatsoever he does for them turns out to be for their ultirnate good. We have corne to use the terrn without due consideration, and as a mere formality. It often hides the fact that we have no precise petitions to pr~sent; and so we fall. back upon…
865 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.