The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 13

and moderate. 2. Human friendship--<lomestic love, the sweet and e!lcred ties of the heart and the home. 3. Mental activity-the intellectual enjoyment which comes from the observation of the works of God and the mastery of the works of men • all the keen ~trong, elevating delights of the active mind. 4. 'l'he service of God, th~ friendship of ,Tesus Christ; thus realizing the end and attaining the true satisfaction of our being. 5. Working with God; out-working with him the great redemptive scheme he has designed and is effecting. 6. A high and happy place in the heavenly kingdom. Such large and noble heritage God offers to give the children of men, whether born in a palace or in a cottage. II. Goo MAKES THIS OFFER ON CONDITIONS. His offer to Solomon was not absolutely unconditional; he would not have been the wise or learned man he became if he had not studied ; nor the rich man he became if he had been a mere spendthrift, etc. God is too ki,nd to any of his children to grant them his gifts without attaching conditions which must be fulfilled. He says, "Here is my gift, but you must ask me for it; and the way to ~k for it is to fulfil the conditions on which I bestow it. Shall I give you temporal prosperity? ask for it by being diligent, temperate, civil, faithful. Shall 1 give you human love, the esteem of those around you? ask for it by being virtuous, honourable, generous, amiable. Shall I give you knowled,z:e, wisdom? ask for it by being studious. Shall I give you eternal life? ask for it by fulfilling the conditions on which it is promised-repentance toward God, and faith in Jesus Christ. .Ask what I ~hall give you; ta.ke the course which you know is the one constant antecedent of my bestowal." III. EVERYTHING HANGS ON THE WISDOM OF OUR OIIOICF.. 1. It is sad to think tha.t many go through life without caring to accept God's challenge at all; they pass through a life charged with precious opportunities, freighted with golden chances, never caring to inquire how much they may make of the life that is slipping through their hands. 2. Others deliberately choose the lower good; they ask for comfort, for pleasure, for gratification, for abundance of earthly good, or for nothing higher than human love. 3. Our wisdom is to ask God for the highest good; for the diamond, and not the granite; for the cup that heals, and not for that which soothes; for the key that opens to the rich treasury, and not that which unlocks only a. cabinet of curiosities; for that which will make the heart pure a.nd holy, and the life noble and useful, and which will make death to be lighted up with a glorious hope ;-to ask for heavenly wisdom and eternal life. We should ask for the best because it is the best and highest; and also because, as with Solomon, it commands the lower good as well (vers. 11, 12). Let us seek first the kingdom of God, because that is the one good, the supreme thing to seek, and a.I.so because other and lower things are added to it (Matt. Yi. 33).-C. Vera. 13-17.-From the altar to the throne. A great step was now taken. Solomon, the yonng man, mounted the throne of his father David ; in so doing be assumed the function of one who had behind him a large and varied experience, a.nd who had above and around him the assured and proved loving-kindness of God. Solomon began his reign most promisingly. We gather- L THAT HE DID WELL TO BTEP TO THE THRONE FROM THE ALTAR. He came "from before the tabernacle . .. and reigned" (ver. 13). There could have been no place so suitable as that where Jehovah was worshipped from which to ascend to kingly power. There is no resort so good as the throne of grace, from which we can ascend any throne of authority or power to-day. It is well, indeed, to pass from intercourse with God to association with men and to the conduct of human affairs. 'l'he visit to the Louse of the Lord, fellowship with Christ at his table or in our own chamber, will give 11. calmness of spirit, an unselfishness of aim, aDd a steadfastness of principle which will go far to qualify us for the difficult duties and heavy burdens and (it may be) the serioua battles of daily life. II. THAT ONE HAN HAY ROLD m RIB RAND THE WELL-BEING 011' MANY. Solomon "reigDed over Israel." In those days reigning meant governing. And though the Hebrew monarchy was not actually absolute, it was invested with great power. A good sovereign wrought great blessings, and a bad one caused terrible evils to his country. Great power, in the shape of royal authority, has passed or is passing away. But ~till orr. 1. 1-17.] THE SECOND BOOK OF TIIE OIIRONTCLES.