The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 77

been negatived by the fact of man's fallen and degraded condition, with which the holiness and justice of God must have for ever, apart from an atonement, seemed impossible. II. REVELATION ANSWERS, YEB ! 1, God has already dwelt with man in the past. (1) Symbolically, under the Hebrew dispensation, with its ark dwelling originally in the tabernacle and latterly in the temple. (2) Historically, in the fulness of the times, in the Person of Jesus Christ, who as God's Son tabernacled in the flesh on the earth and in the midst of men. Hence it may be argued, that which has been may be. 2. God now dwells with man in the present. "Lo, I am with you al way" (Matt. xxviii. 20), said Christ before his ascension ; and again at the supper-table, "We will come and make our abode with him" (John xiv. 23). Christ dwells in the hearts of his people in the Person of his Spirit (John xiv. 16). "'fhat which is done is that which shall be done" (Eccles. i. 9). 3. God will dwell with men visibly and personally in the future. "And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them" (Rev. xxi. 3).-W. Vera. 22-39.-The sevenfold i1lustration. I. THE OATH OF PURGATION. (Vers. 22, 23.) 1. The case supposed. (Ver. 22.) (1) Common-that of a mao sinning, or being suspected of sinning, against his neighbour in any of the ways specified in the Law of Moses-by theft (Exod. xxii. 10, 11), by finding and retaining lost goods (Lev. vi. l), or in the case of a wife by adultery (Numb. v. 19-22). (2) Hard-one in which distinct and satisfactory evidence is a-wanting. Perhaps (3) wicked-on one side or another most likely so, either the accuser's charge or the accused's denial being consciously false. Certainly (4) solemn-an oath or appeal to Heaven having beeo either demaoded by the accused or imposed by the accuser (Exod. x..xii. 10), and carried through or per- formed "before the altar in his house," i.e. in the immediate Divine presence (Exod. xx. 24). 2. The prayer offered. (Ver. 23.) (1) That Jehovah would listen to the appeal of the litigants, not merely as he does to all words spoken on the earth (Ps. c:x:xxi.x. 5), in virtue of his omnipresence ( J er. xxiii. 33 ; Eph. i. 23), but as acting in the character of judge or umpire between the two (Job x..x:i. 22; Ps. ix. 7; lviii. 11; lxii. 12; Prov. xxix. 26). (2) That Jehovah would pronounce judgment on the case submitted to him (Ps. xix. 9; c:xix. 137). This practically is what is meant by all judicial oath-taking. It is a virtual placing of the case before God, that he may elicit a true and righteous ver- dict (Rom. ii. 2; 1 Pet. i. 17). (3) That Jehovah would make known his decision by punishing the guilty and vindicating the innocent (Gen. xviii. 25; E.xod. x..x:x.iv. 7; 2 Sam. xxii. 26 ; N ah. i. 3), not by supernaturally interposing to smite the former with death, as in the case of Korab and his company (Numb. xvi. 32), or as in the case of Miriam (Numb. xii. 10), with some malady which might be interpreted as a signal of the Divioe displeasure, but by providentially bringing it about that the wickedness of the wicked should be discovered, as in the cases of Abimelech (Judg. ix. 56) and Haman (Esth. vii. 10), and the uprightness of the good man should be declared, as in those of Job (xiii. 10) and David (Pa. :xli. 12). II. THE PRAYER OF THE OAPTIVE. (Vers. 24, 25.) 1. The instance selected. That of God's ancient people (1) having sinned against God, which they had ofteo done in days past (Ps. cvi. 6; lx..xviii. 17; Hos. x. 9), and would most probably do agaio ( eh. vi. 36; 1 Kings viii. 46); (2) having been defeated in buttle on this account, as frequently before had happened to them (Judg. vii. 1, 5; 1 Sam. iv. 3); (3) having been carried off in part into exile, as they subsequently were into Assyria (2 Kings xvii. 5) and Babylon (2 Kings xxv. 21); (4) having repented of their wickedness (1 Kings viii. 47), saying as at Mizpeh, "We have sinned against the Lord" (1 Sam. vii. 6), or as at Jeru- salem in the restoration," Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day n (Ezra ix. 7); (6) having confessed God's Name in their sorrowful calamity, i.e. acknowledged God's justice in all that had befallen them (Ps. li. 4; Rom. iii. 4); and (6) having prnyed and made supplication before God in the temple, i.e. those of them who remained behind for those who bad been carried off. 2. The request pre- sented. (1) That God would hear from hea.ven the cry of his suppliant people, and so vindicate his condescending character as a. prayer-hearing God (Pa. !xv. 2; Isa. xiv. 11). (2) That he would forgive the sin of his erring people, and so prove himself a gracious and compassionate God (Exod. xx..xiv. 9; Neh. ix. 17; Ps. lxxviii. 38; lxxx vi. 5; Isa.  78 THE SECONO BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [oH. vr. 1-42.