The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 69

thue favouring in us the idea and the spirit of worship. Here, as everywhere, is action and reacUon, Our heart prompte ue to worship, and this devout desire leads us to assume the aUitude of devotion; then the bodily attitude helps, in its way and measure, to sustnin the spirit in its reverential mood. l I. OVERT AOT11 ARE IMPORTANT, 1. Attendance at the place of worship: "standing before the altar." 2. Recognizing sacred obligations publicly; doing the right thing "in the presence of all the congregation." 8. Using right and true words, not only concerning God (as in ver. 14), but concerning man. 4. Acting," walking," in honesty, in purity, in sobriety, in rectitude, in all relations. But, most important of all, because at the root of all- III. SPIRlTUAL ATTITUDE IS OF THE FIRST CONSIDERATION. What is the attitude of our soul toward God, toward the Lord Jesus Christ? We cannot propose to ourselves a more radical, a more vital question. The answer decides our position in (or towards) the kingdom of God, If our spiritual attitude is that of enmity, aversion, indifference, then, whatever our overt actions may be, or whatever our professions may be, we stand outside that kingdom, and are in danger of hearing the words, "I never knew yo1L" But if our attitude is not this, but rather one of hope and trust, if it be one of desire to understand and please God, if it be one of honest and earnest inquiry, then, though there be many imperfections in our behaviour, and though there be much to be learned and acquired, we are right in the sight of God, and are counted among his servants and his friends. It was the spiritual attitude of Mary when she came with her precious spikenard which drew the Saviour's commendation; it was the attitude of penitence and faith which called forth his gracious assurance to the poor malefactor by his side. As Christian men, it concerns us much that our spiritual attitude is one of (1) reverence; (2) of prayerfulness; (3) of loving service; (4) of concern for the coming of his king- dom.-C. Vers. 18-21.-God in the sanctuary. These elevated and eloquent words suggest to us what is- I. A FALSE THOUGHT OF Gon IN RELATION TO THE SANCTUARY. It maybe, and probably is, imagined by the idolatrous that the temple of their deity contains the object of tlieir worship; that it is his residence and home; that it suffices for him. Solomon had no such false thought about Jehovah; he knew that "the heaven of heavens could not contain him," and "how much less the house that he had built!" God's presence is not to be limited in our thought in any way whatever. He is " within no walls confined," and if we so habituate our mind to think of him as being present in some sacred place as he is not elsewhere, we "limit the Holy One" as we should not do. The only difference in the presence of the Eternal and Infinite One can be in our thought and to 04,r. imagination. ' II. THE TRUE THOUGHT OF HIM IN THAT RELATION. As those who worship God in the sanctuary, we should accustom our minds to think of him as: 1. The very present One. "Will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth?" In very deed and in truth. Not only is his presence everywhere, and therefore within any walls that may be erected in his honour, but he is actively present there, interested in all that is passing there; "his eyes open . . . day and night" to observe all that is there done before him. The prevailing thought of those who "go up to the house of the Lord" should be that they are about to meet God, to stand and to bow before him; to address him even as they address their neighbour, only with deepest reverence and in lowliest homage of heart, 'l'he commanding and restraining thought, the penetrating, soul-pervading thought o:i those who occupy the sanctuary, should be that of Israel at Bethel," Surely God is in this place." 2. One who is waiting to be worshipped. Solomon earnestly and repeatedly desires of Jehovah that he would "hear his servant(s)," that he would "hear their prayers." If only we are engaged in really reverential worship, we have no need to doubt this. God is not only" to be entreated" of us; he is al ways to be found of all who truly seek him. Nay, he seeks us as his worshippers. "The Father seeketh such to worship him" (John iv. 23), i.e. such as worship him in spirit. All they, therefore, who draw nigh to God with a pure desire to render to him the homage and the gratitude of their heart, io renew before him their vows of loving attachment and holy service, to ask of him his Divine guidance and enrichment, may make quite sure that they "do not seek his 70 THE SEOOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [oa. VI.1-42.