The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 84

III. The greatest distinction and privilege of Judah was this: FROM THIS TRIBE SPRANG THE Jl.1EssIAH. Jesus, the Son of David, was a descendant from Judah. This was the true "Lion of the tribe of Judah." _PRACTICAL LESSONS. 1. Mark the hand of God in family history. Providence raises up one house and sets down another. Families are sometimes selected to fulfil high purposes; and when they are found faithful to their vocation honour is put upon them by ~i~ who says," Them that honour me I will honour." 2. Remember your accouutab1hty to God for family advantages. If God has given much, he will require the more.-T. Vers. ~8-22.- Victor~ and vanquished. The two tribes and a half who occupied the provmce east of the Jordan were naturally regarded with hostility or jealousy by their Arab neighbours. Conflicts arose, having reference especially to the possession of the rich pasture-lands. In the time of Saul, and apparently under a later king, there was war between the trans-Jordanic tribes and the Hagarites, an Ishmaelitish race. These verses record the war and its result, namely, the defeat of the Hagarites and the possession of the land by the Israelites until the time of the Captivity. Observe- !. THE INSTRUMENTALITY OF THE VICTORY. 'fhe warriors engaged on behalf of Israel were numerous, amounting to forty-four thousand men. '!'hey were not only numerous, but valiant, well armed, and trained to fight. II. THE EXPLANATION OF VICTORY. The chronicler gives this account of the matter: " The war was of God ; " " They cried to God in the battle, and he was entreated of them." AU strength and valour are from God, and in this respect we are justified in ascribing victory unto him. It is not, however, every just cau3e that triumphs, and defeat is sometimes the lot of the innocent and those who contend for their rights and liberty. It is a consolation to know that, in any case, what happens is permitted by Providence and is overruled by Providence for good. The King of Sweden, before the great battle of Lutzen, prayed, "Jesus, vouchsafe this day to be my strong Helper, and give me courage to fight for the honour of thy Name I" III. THE FRUITS OF VICTORY. There were immediat.e fruits in the vast spoil and booty taken by the conquerors (ver. 21), and abiding fruits in the lands which tho tribes won and possessed and inhabited for generations. PRACTICAL LESSONS. 1. Trace the hand of God even in human wars. 2. Con- cerning wars in which both parties profess to fight for justice, let nations a~custom themselves deliberately to ask, "ls the war of God?" If men would be guided by the answer to this question, many wars would be checked and prevented, and the blessings of peace would oftener be secured.-'!'. Vers. 25, 26.-Jir,dgment a11d retribution. History is something more than a mere record of events. Chronicles, strictly speaking, are the materials only of history. But this book contains, again and again, the Divine philosophy of hi_story. It exh)bits th~ action of the moral the riahLeous Ruler of Israel and of mankmd. In tho history ot the trans-Jordanic tribes :e have an illustration of the working of great principled of Divine government. I. 'l'HE OCCASION AND REASON OF THE DIVINE DIBPJ,EASURE.' Surrounded by heathen, they themselves largely lapsed into heathenism. This _was all the more t.!iscreditablo in them because they forsook Jehovah, the God of their fathers, who had done great thincrs for their nation, and because they attachct.! themselves to the worship of tho deiLi:s of the very people over whom their God had given them victory and rulo • .A.ccordino-ly their conduct is represented ns spiritual fornication, or ndultery. ll. Tui INSTRUMENTS OF THE DIVINE IJl~.l'LEAijURE, Under Di vino provitlence, l'ul Oil, V, 1-26.] 'l'HE FIRST IlOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 75