The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 86

Vers. 18-26.-Devotion, declension, and doom. In this brief story we have a pain- fully characteristic piece of human history-first, spiritual soundness; then consequent prosperity; then laxity and sin; then punishment and disaster. We trace the steps. I. A CO:MM:ENCEMENT IN MORAL AND SPIRITUAL SOUNDNESS. These two tribes and a half were brave and godly men: "valiant men" (ver. 18) ; godly men also, for they "cried to God in the battle, and •.. they put their trust in him" (ver. 20); and it is clear that they were acting so much under the direction and in the service of Jehovah that it could be said of their struggle" the war was of God" (ver. 22). It is possible that a war of the same kind, a struggle between contending armies, may now be "of God," and that godly soldiers may cry, with genuine and acceptable devotion, for Divine succour. But such engagements are rare. The illustration of this truth is found now in other fields: (1) in the battle of life; (2) in the struggle against particular evils, such as drunkenness, impurity, etc. ; (3) in the great missionary carnpairn. Here are three principal virtues in all moral and spiritual warfare-valour (ve:'. 18), prayer (ver. 20), and trust in his Word (ver. 20). II. CoNSEQUE'NT succESS AT THE HAND OF GoD. "They were helped against them and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand," etc. (ver. 20), Beside the security and joy of victory came possessions (ver. 21) and a home (vers. 22, 23). '!'hose who, in the battles they fight under God, strive in accordance with his will, manfully, prayerfully, and expectan_tl_y, will certainly be rewarded with (1) the joy of victory,(~) mcrease of power and spmtual wealth, and (3) the approval and reward of the Divine Captain. Too often-alas for human infirmity !-comes- IIL SPmITUA L DECLENSION. "They transgressed against the God of their fathers," etc. (ver. 25). Their comfortable prosperity led to free intercourse with ungodly neighbours, and this to laxity of thought and word, and this, ultimately, to defection and rank disobedience. So is it only too often in the history of men, of Churches, of nations. Their early piety leads to an enjoyable prosperity; this leads to intimate association and intercourse with those less devout and pure; and this to contamination and corruption. It is the course which humanity has taken in every dispensation, in every land, in every Church; not necessarily, but with a lamentable frequency. So common is the case that all prosperous piety may well hear a loud voice bidding it Beware! Spiritual declension is unperceived in its beginning ; spreads through the soul-through the ranks-with perilous subtlety; grows with gathering rapidity; is increasingly hard to overcome ; is fatal in its final issues. It leads to- IV. A MISERABLE DOOM. It ended, in the case of these Israelites, in defeat and exile -in national destruction (ver. 26). It ends, with us: 1. In utter defeat and failure; so that the purpose of our life, whether individual or collective, is wholly thwarted. 2. In spiritual exile; in disastrous separation from God. He is no longer with us as he once was; he is no longer in. us. We live apart from him in a far country. 3. In saddest disappointment. The Master is g1ieved that his Church (his disciple) has fallen from its (his) high estate; the good and wise grieve over one more deplorablo defection.-C. ' Vers. 1-8.-Beuben. Reuben was the eldest son of Jacob. The birthright which was his, included dominion and a double portion; both of these were forfeited by sin (see Gen. xlix. 3, 4) and were transferred to Joseph. But as Joseph's posterity was not mentioned first, the historian explains by saying that the genealogy was not to be reckoned by birthright, as the superior honour and privilege had been pre- viously conferred on Judah. This tribe had the pre-eminence over all the tribes, not on account of Judah himself, but because Christ," the chief Huler" (see ver. 2), was to come out of it. Reuben's sin comes in here as a parenthesis. God will brand sin wherever lie sees it. It is no triBe with him, nor does he over forget it. Only one thing can blot it out-the blood of the Lamb. We may forget it, but he will make it to come in as a parenthe6iB in our own life or in that of our posterity, that we may learn what an evil and bitter thing it is, and that he will not trifle with it. But these fruits of sin, these parentheses, how they come in ages after, marring the brightest escutcheon, hindering our blessing, and tarnishing God's glory I The curs<J of our crime is handed down through generations, and the innocent child is humiliated and thrown back :.nd its fairest prospects blighted. Again we have Christ brought before us, at the opening en. v. 1-2G.] THE FIRS'I IlOOIC OF THE CHRONICLES. 77