The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 364

inhabitants of the land, and from the heathen tribes and nations around. It is a ble~sing for any nation to be at peace. II. CoNSIDER THE MEANS BY WHICH THIS REST WAS SECURED. The reign of Davirl had been, on the whole, one of strife and warfare. Such a condition of things was not desirable on its own account, for its own sake. The end of effort, counsel, even war itself, is the rest of peace. III. CONSIDER THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH SUCH REST IS INTENDED. Not for sloth, luxury, and self-indulgence; but in order that. the work of God may go forward unhindered, and with growing and conspicuous prosperity. It was a noble use to which the peaceful reiµ;n 01 Solomon was put-the erection of the temple unto the Lord. And whenever God in his providence grants a nation rest on every side, it is a probation of national faithfulness, to see whether the precious opportunity will be used aright for the development of national resources, for the advancement of education and social well-being, and for the furtherance of genuine and practical religion.-T. Ver. 19.-" Arise, and build." Before the old king died, he wished to see his successor's work in train and order. Accordingly, both to Solomon and to the princes, David addressed stirring words of admonition. And as what he had most at heart was the erection of the temple, it was natural that he should lay the greatest stress upon this vast and glorious undertaking. I. Note first, as here described, THE NATURE .AND CHARACTER OF THE BUlLDmG. It was " the sanctuary of the Lord God;" it was to be built "to the Name of the Lord." A Divine dwelling, a habitation for the Most High, a holy place. In all this an emblem of the temple of our Saviour's body, and of that spiritual house which is the temple of the Holy Ghost. II. Remark next, THE PURPOSE OF THE BUILDING. It was to contain "the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God." '!'hat is to say, it was not only the locality of God's manifested presence, but it was the scene of sacrifice and worship and the centre of the nation's religion. 'l'his gave a practical and political signifi- cance to the erection of the sanctuary.' III. Instructive is the account given of THE DISPOSITION AND BPmIT OF THE !IUILDEDS. The work was not to be done mechanically, or from e. feeling of constraint. They were to "set their heart and their soul to seek the Lord their God." That is, they were to undertake the work as one distinctively religious, and from a religious motive and with a religions aim. PnACTICAL LESSONS. 1. Let everything that is God's engage your 6ympathy and intere6t and zeal. Let each Christian bear the voice from heaven saying to him, "Arise, and build." 2. Let God's work be done in a devout and religious spirit. In serving the Lord seek him, and be will be found of you.-'!'. Vers. f--16.-Succesiful service. David's charge to his son Solomon will furnish us with the conditions of all successful work done in the Name of Christ and for the extension of his kingdom. We may remark, preliminarily, that our leisure time cannot be better spent than in Christian work. Solomon was to h~ve time ~or internal administration. His father had defeated and subdued all the nat10nal enemies. In the midst of protracted "peace and quietness" (ver. 9) be would have an ample interval in which to build a house for the Lord. The time which the labour of others, or our own toil, has secured to us we spend most admirably when we givi: it to the direct service of the Divine Master. The conditions of successful work for him are- I. SECURING DIVINE DIRECTION. "Only the Lord give thee wisdom and under- standing" (ver. 12). David clearly felt, as this "only" indicates, _t~at everyth)ng would utterly fail if God did not grant bis Divine succour. '!'hat fa1hng, evcrythmg must prove to be a failure. II. ENSURIKG PERSONAL FITNESS. (Vera. 7-9.) David was rendered personally un_fit for the work by bis much fighting. It was not fitting that a man of war should build the temple of the God of Jove. The two things did not go well together. It was far more becoming that Solomon, the "man of rest," should execute this wo1k. Our guilty past may have been pardoned, our occupation may not be absolutely wrong, our i;urroLmdings may not be censurable, our position may not be blameworthy, and yet en. xxu. 1-19.J THE FIIlST BOOK OF 'l'IIE CHRONICLES. 365