The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 260

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 ne,·essary that the people of God should be separated, in intercourse as well as in thought an,i sympathy, from the nations around them. \Ve may, however, be assnrctl that the narrow and bigoted ideas which were so firmly embedded in tile Jewish mind were the product of their own misconstructions of the Divine Word. Our text, indeed, shows: 1. That the Jewish nation was taught to feel that God was their God in a. peculiar sense. He was continually spoken ol~ in worship, as "the Lord God of Israel" (ver. 36). He had not dealt with any nation as with Israel: he had not made known bis jud11:ments to any people as he had to them (Ps. cxlvii. 20). He was their God, inasmuch as he had shown peculiar and distinguishing favour to them. 2. That they looked to God for deliverance and separation from other nations. "Save us . . . and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen" (ver. 35). They were led to regard surrounding peoples, with their idolatries and immoralities, as foes over whom they might religiously triumph, and from contact with whom they would wisely shrink. Yet, on the other band, in distinction from this element of exclusiveness and this narrowness of view and ambition, we have certain elements of breadth. They were taught to regard- I. THE ENTIRE EARTH AS GoD's CREATION, A~"D THE WHOLE WORLD AS IJXTIER HIS RULE. They sang" of his marvellous works among nil nntions" (ver. 24). So far were they from imngining that the gods of other nations made those lrmds, while Jehovah brought themselves and their own land into being, that they snnp: continuall,v, "All the gods of the people are idols, but the Lord made the hravens" (ver. 26); "The worltl also shall be stable, that it be not moved" (ver. 30). They undoubtedly believe,! t.hat the Go<l whom they worshipped had unbounded sovereignty over nll lnnds o.nd nations. II. THE IIF.ATHEN AS THOSE WHO OUGHT TO WORSHIP Goo. They were invited, in their public worship, to express the sentiment that it was only "due to the Nnmo of the Lord" that" all the earth" "should sing to him, and show forth his salvation from day to day;" that all "kindreds of the people" should ascribe "glory aud strength " unto him (vers. 23, 28, 29). They expressed, before God, their desire that his glory might be declared among the heathen (ver. 24), that all the earth dhould fear him (ver. 30). They evidently folt that it was right and due that anthems of praise should be sung to Jehovah by every lip, that before him every knee should bow. 111. THE HEATHEN AS THE FUTURE JNHERITANCE OF GoD, In their higher moods and more exalted hours, they looked forward to the time when all the world should be subject to the Divine sway. How for this p:rand hope took possession of the popular mind we cannot tell, but it was not beyond the reach of those who thought the most and saw the furthest (vers. 31-35). All inanimate creation was invoked to rejoice, because the Lord was coming to judge tho earth, because the good and merciful One (ver, 34) was to reign over all the nations (ver. 31). It is for us : 1. To n•joice that what was only dimly foreshauowed to them is clearly revealed to us. Wo b,wo a clear vision of the blessed and glorious time when "Jesus shall reign whero'er the sun," etc. 2. To rejoice that God's gracious purpose is being fulfilled before our eyes. All nations are coming and worshipping, etc. (Ps. !uni. 9). 3. To do our part in our Jl56 THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [oH. XVI. 1-43. ---------------------------------- generation towards the blissful consu=ation. God has committed unto us the word of reconciliation (2 Cor. v. 19).-C. Ver. 29.-The right, the acceptab~, an4 the beautiful thing. Why should we worship God? " Wherewithal shall we come before the Lord? " How shall we honour and please him ? These are three questions to which our text will suggest replies. We are reminded- !. THAT TO 'REVERENCE Gon IS THE ONE 'RIGHT THING FOR us TO DO. There are many things which it is well, proper. right, for us to do; things which make for the well-being of others; things which contribute to our own ennoblement and self-respect. But the thing which, above all others, it is right for us to do is to revere and honour God, to "give unto the Lord the glory due to his Name." That which is due to our kindred and friends, that which is due to ourselves,-this is as nothing compared with the reverence, obedience, and submission which are due to him from whom we come, without whose creative energy we had not been, without whose sustaining power we should cease to be, "in whom we live, and move, and have our being," to whom we owe everything we are and have. To serve God is to secure ourselves against the worst evils; it is to avail ourselves of our highest privilege; it is also, and foremost of all, to discliarge our deepest obligation; it is to render that which is due indeed. II. THAT TO BRING TO Gon OUR CONTJUBUTION MAY BE AN ACCEPTADLE THmG TO no. " Bring an offering, and come before him." It is true that he "needeth nothing" at our hand; that "if he were hungry he would not tell us;" that "every beast of the forest is his, and the cattle upon a thousand hills" (Ps. 1.). It is also true that there were conditions under which God was" pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering" (Ps. li. 19). And it is also true that the Divine Lord who sits over against the treasury is pleased with the two mites which the widow gives of her poverty. We may "bring an offering" now that may be very large and "munificent" in the sight of men, which shall be very lightly esteemed, or even weigh notbing or less than nothing, in the sight of the holy and the pure One. But then we may "bring an offoring" tbat may be very small in man's reckoning, which, laid by the band of love on the altar, shall weigh much in the balances of heaven. III. 'l'lliT TO WORSHIP Goo MAY BE A BEAUTIFUL THING TO DO. "Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." That which is called Divine worship may be an alto- gether unbeautiful thing in his sight. That which is rendered carelessly, slovenly, thoughtlessly, stiffly, heartlessly, or hypocritically, is utterly unbeantiful before bim. But there is worship of another kind. We render our service in the beauty of holiness when: 1. From a pure desire to give to God our best, we worship him most taste- fully. ,Vhen, thus prompted and with this aim in view, we erect for his worship the costly and beautiful building, we sing his praise with perfected harmony, we read his word and preach his truth with cultured carefulness. 2. We bring to his worship tho most excellent and requisite graces--humility, faith, docility, gratitude, adoration, generosity, consecration of spirit. Then, when clothed upon with these beautiful gar- ments of the soul, do we most truly" worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."-C.