The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 158

enemies, end their name is legion; their resources ere great; they compose an e.rmy overwhelmingly strong in numbers and material equipments. 2. Before these there come the prophets of the Lord, summoning them to leave the ranks in which they stand, end to surrender themselves to him and his service. 'l'hese speakers for God entreat them to lay down their arms and to serve under Christ. 'l'heir reasons are, at least, fourfold. To be where they ere is- I: To BE OVERTHROWING THAT WHICH THEIR FATHERS_ BUILT UP. "Fight ye not agamst the Lord God of your fathers." Long and patiently, with many tears and prayers, often in the face of the most determined opposition, in health and sickness, in yout'h and in strength and in decline, on to old age and even unto death, our fathers fought for the truth they loved; they built up the Church, the institution, the Christian stronghold in which we found ourselves when we awoke to life and thought. And now are we going to take that sacred building down ; stone by stone, are our hands-their children's hands-going to demolish it? Are we content to lower the flag they held high so bravely and so nobly? Shall it be our function to undo the large and long result of all their toil? Shall we bring into disrepute the name they honoured far above their own? Shall we fight against the Lord God of our fathers? IL To BE OPPOSING THAT WHICH THE BEST MEN ARE SUSTAINING. "God's priests • . . cry alarm against :vou." Invested in the sacred garments, with the appointed signals in their hands (Numb. x. 8), the holiest in the land are urging the people to maintain their ground. The cause of Christian truth has not only the presence of a. noble host of good and holy men; it is led by the best of the good and wise. Those who are clothed with righteousness, whose voice is the sound of earnest o.nd irresistible conviction, are summoning all who love God and man to oppose themselves to the enemies of Christ. If we league ourselves "with these his enemies" we must make up our mind to contend with the worthiest and the wisest, with the most pure and brave and devoted, that ever drew mortal breath, that ever sounded the note of battle. m To BE FIGHTING AGAINST Gon. "God himself is with us for our Captain." In the Christian Church it is the assured conviction that the invisible Lord is not the absent One; he is the very present One. "Lo, I am with you alway," etc, (Matt. xxviii. 20). We who fight/or him fight under him-under his eye, his observant eye; under his direction-the direction of a hand that is not seen, but that is felt. They who fight against his cause a.re fighting against him himself. They have to overcome the Almighty. IV. To BE .ABRAYED AGAINST A FORCE THAT MUST PROVE VICTORIOUS. ,, Ye shall not prosper." Many times has Christianity seemed to be doomed to defeat and even to extinction, but out of every terrible coutest it has emerged successful, even triumphant. Persecution, ridicule, argumentation, corruption,-these have done their worst, and they have failed. To-day the friends of Christ are more numerous, and the cauee of Christ is more advanced, than ever. .And be who is in arms against the Lord of all love and power, who is seeking to undermine his influence, who is contemptuous of his holy will, who is opposin!? his own indifference or his worldliness to the com- mands and the invitations of a Divine Saviour, he is in the ranks of the army that will be defeated; no voice of victory will greet his dying ear, no hope of commendation and awa.rd will then fill his heart.-C. Vers. 19, 20.-Jeroboam: career, character, reputati"cn. There are three things which belong to every man, with the shaping of which he himself has much, though not everything, to do, and which are of the first importance to him. We look at them in connection with Jeroboam. L Hrs CA.REEB. At first, and for some time, we find him steadily rising; beginning low, he distinguishes himself by the character of bis work, is promoted to a post of eome importance (1 Kings xi. 28); he gains the confidence and good will of the people, is regarded as one who may aspire to the highest position in the state; he bas to retire for a time from the presence of Solomon, who suspects his loyalty, but upon the death of that sovereign he returns, takes advantage of the inexperience and foolhardiness of Rehoboam., and mounts the throne, reigning over ten-twelfths of the whole land. Then he maintains his position for some nineteen years, keeping up a chronic war with his royal rival at Jerusalem, and apparently holding his owij, Then he ha11 a !)itched on. xm. 1-22.] THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 159