The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 15

morality, the~e assassinations nevertheless contributed to the establishment of Sololnon'e throne. 2. By the union of his subjects. As yet the empire was undivided, The ton tribes still _adhered to the house of David. " All Israel obeyed him, and all the princes and the mighty men, a.nd all the sons likewise of King David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king " (1 Chron. xxix. 23, 24). 3. By the help of his God. "The Lord his God was with him, a.nd magnified him exceedingly." As Divine grace set, so Divine power kept him on the throne. Without Heaven's favour and assistance kings just as little as common men can prosper. As Jehovah giveth the kingdom to whom- soever he will (Dan. iv. 25), so through him alone call kings reign (Prov. viii. 16). He also removeth and setteth up kings (Dan. ii. 21); yea, thl!I hearts of kings are in his hand (Prov. xxi. 1). Jebov11.h was with Solomon in virtue of the promise made to David (2 Sam. vii. 12), and becnuse of the piety which still distinguished himself (ver. 6 ; cf. eh. xv. 2). This was the true secret of Solomou's prosperity upon the throne no less than of Joseph's in the prison (Gen. xxxix. 2). III. THE XJNG's ALLE:GIANCE TENDERED. 1. Before the tabernacle of the Lord. This then at Gibeon, five miles north-west of Jerusalem. Originally a Canaanitish royal city (Josh. ix. 17; x. 2), and afterwards the scene of a clever fraud perpetrated upon Joshua by its inhabita.nts,as well as of a bloody battle in their defence (Josh. x.1 -14), it latterly became in David's time, because of the presence of the tabernacle, a Levi- tica.l city with a high place presided over by Zadok and his brethren (1 Chron. xvi. 39). Thither accordingly Solomon repaired to inaugurate his reign by professing fealty and submission to the King of kings. 2. With the offering of sacrifice. Within the taber- nacle conrt stood the brazen altar of Beza.lee! (Exod. xxxviii. 1), upon which were offered a thousand burnt offerings-a magnificent service, even for a king, and symbolic of (1) the homage he presented to Jehovah, (2) the consecration he then made of him- self to the work to which Jehovah had called him, and (3) the desire he cherished that his reign might be begun and ended in Jebovah's fav1Jur and under Jehovah's protec- tion. 3. In the presence ef his pwple. "All the congregation," in its representatives, "went with him to the high place at Gibeon." Not a.shamed of his religion, Solomon acknowledged his dependence on and submission to Jehovah in the most public manner. So are kings, princes, subjects, all men, expected to confess God and Christ before men (Matt. x. 3~). Learn : 1. The value of a good beginning, in business as in religion. 2. The need of Divine assistance in all undertakings. 3. The propriety of consecrating all to God in youth. 4. The possibility of declining from early faith. 5. The duty of never being a.shamed of religion. 6. The melancholy fact that good men may do doubtful actions. 7. The beauty and propriety of social worship.-W. Vers. 7-12.-.A young king's choice. I. THE PERIIIISSION GRANTED TO SOLOMON. "Ask what I shall give thee." Granted: 1. By whom1 God (Elo!iim), the Giver par excellence, of whom David had said, "All things come of thee" (1 Cbron. xxix. 14); "The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord" (Ps. xxxiii. 6); and whom a New Testament writer describes as "the Father of lights," etc. (Jas. i. 6, 17). The invi- tation here accorded to Solomon, after the manner of Oriental monarchs (Esth. v. 6 ; ix. 12; Matt. x.iv. 7), was and is pre-eminently after the manner of the King of kings (Matt. vii. 7 ; J as. i. 5). Christ extends the same to his followers : "If ye shall ask anything in my Name, I will do it" (John xiv. 14; cf. xvi. 23, 24). 2. When1 "In that night;" i.e. after the day in which Solomon had been offering sacrifice-not without significance. God is not likely to appear at night, at least in grace, to them who have been unmindful of him throughout the day. 3. How 1 In a dream-vision (1 Kings iii. 5), which, however, warrants not the deduction that the incident had no solid basis of reality, and that here is only the record of a dream. Even wern this correct, it would not be without value as showing the current and tenor of Solomon's thoughts and feelings during the preceding day. Men seldom have pleasant dreams of God upon their midnight couches who have not had him in their thoughts all their waking hours. Yet that in Solomon's dream were a veritable manifestation of God to his soul, and a bona fide transaction of asking and answering, of giving and receiving, is proved by the fact that Solomon obtained what he asked. 4. Why 1 To prove what was in Solomon's bee.rt, to test whether the ceremonies of the preceding day hlld oll, 1. 1-17.] THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 15