The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 85

was permitted to mo.ke war upon the idolatrous tribes and lay them under tribnte, and afterwards Tilgath-pilneser was permitted to carry the people away captive into Assyria. God always has instruments to effect his purposes; even the wicked are used by him to chasten and punish the disobedient and rebellious, III. TnE CONSEQUENCES OF THE D1vINE DISPLEASURE. It would be an interesting subject of inquiry why God thus chastened his chosen people again and again hy way of captivity. This we know, that the exile in the East was the means of confirming the Hebrews in their monotheism, and that never again did they lapse into idolatry. PRACTICAL LESSONS. I. As to sin, we are taught that its root, its essence, is in departing from God. 2. As to the Divine government, we are taught that God "will not clear the guilty," and that "the way of transgressors is hard." 3. And we have suggested to us the mercy of God in his provision of reconciliation and acceptance upon repentance, faith, and return to himself.-'r. Vers. 1-17.-The three threads of destiny. "That is rny destiny" is the creed of a foolish fatalism or else the half-hearted excuse of a soul sadly conscious of sin and failure. The full truth respecting a man's or a nation's destiny is that it depends on three factors-circumstance, the Divine will, and character. This is well illustrated here. I. Cmcu:MSTANCE. Mention is made of the birthright (ver. 1). Usually the eldest son enjoyed this, and, with this, dominion and a double share in the division of the estate. Through all the tribes of Israel, for succeeding generations, the authority and the pos- sessions of individual men depended on their birth-whose children they were and whether they were the firstborn or not. In the case of Joseph's sons (ver. 1), Manasseh and Ephraim had the headship of a. most powerful tribe, because they were the sons of the estimable and beloved sons of Joseph. "The sons of Reuben" (ver. 3) took their share of honour and estate, whatever may have been left them by their father, etc. 80 with us in every age and land. What our fortune and future will be, in what society we shall move, what consideration we shall enjoy, etc.,-this depends largely on what men call "the accident of birth," the parentage from which we spring, on tl.ie circum- stances in which we enter the world and in which we pass our earlier years. Circum- stance is one thread of destiny. The fact is a reason why we should not pride ourselves on our good position ; 11lso why we should not despise others in J!OSitions much lower than our own. II. 'rHE DIVINE WILL. "Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler" (ver. 2). And how came Judah to prevail'? W11s it not chiefly, if not wholly, by the distinguishing grace of God? He chose David to be the ruler, to be King of Israel, to be the ancestor of the Messiah (see Gen. xlix. 8: Judg. i. 1, 2; eh. xxviii. 4). Our heritaie here is, in part, chosen for us of God (Ps. xlvii. 4). Ho determines our portion by (1) the mental faculties and moral dispositions with which ho endows us; (2) the providential openings he provides for us; (3) the direct Divino promptings with which he inspires us. And since God has so much to do with our fortnnes in this world, we should (1) be humble in prosperity; (2) bo contented in low- liness; (3) be submissive in adversity. III. dHAnACTEn. Reuben miiht have had a far more honourable and influential position than he and his posterity enjoyed. Circumstances favoured it; God would have been willing to sanction it. llut be forfeited it by his sin (ver. 1). His shameful incontinence lowered the level of his fortunes and of those of his children. Had he been a better man he would have held a larger share of prominence and power. Character is a strong thread in the cord of human destiny. What we shall be in tho world, to what we shall rise, and what heritage we shall leave to our children,-nll this depends in very large part indeed on the character we form in youth; (1) purity, (2) sobriety, (3) honesty, (4) diligence, (5) sagacity, (6) courage, (7) ci-vility (vlensnnt- ness of address),-theso are the constituents of success. When theso aro n.bscnt, lire must be a failure; when present, it is almost certain to be a success. Ilut thcro is one thing not to be overlooked, viz. that wo may make snre and must make sure of tho destiny of the good and holy-" the heritage of thom that fear God's Name." Apart from this, success is short-lived and superficial. ,vith this, temporal misfortunes may be calmly borne, for beyond is an everlasting portion which will make tlwsu soon to liu fnrgotten.-C. 76 THE FIRST BOOK OF TRE CHRONICLES. [cH. v. l-2G.