The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 326

Uzziah; and he _was leRrning the great art of ru(ing, while his resl?onsibility was shared by one much wiser a.nd stronger than he. It 1s an excellent thing for the young, in every sphere, to be placed where they can be gathering wisdom before they carry the heavy burden of a weighty responsibility. II. THAT HE FOLLOWED IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF A WISE AND GOOD MAN. (Ver. 2.) (See previous homily on" Uzziah and Jotham, father and son.") III. THAT HE WORKED IN A WISE DIRECTION-FROM WITHIN OUTWARD, First "he built the high gate" of the temple (ver. 3); that was beginning at the very centre, at "the house of Lhe Lord," which was morally, if not geographically, the central spot in the kingdom. Then he made some additions to the wall of Jerusalem (ver. 3). Then, moving outward. he built fortified cities in the mountains, and castles in the forests of Judah. And then, going further afield, he warred with Ammon, and compelled it to pay tribute (ver. 5).. This is the true order. Let solicitude and activity begin at the centre; let them begm at the t1ery centre-at a man's own heart and character· let them move outward-to those in the home circle, to the kindred, to the Church ; a.nd then to those still further away-to fellow-countrymen, to fellow-men everywhere. A circumscribed activity is altogether a mistake; but we must begin with ourselves, becoming right at heart, and then we may and should move outward in our sympathies and our endeavours. IV. THAT HE ATTATh"ED GREAT POWER BY MAINTAINING HIS GODLY CHARACTER. (Ver. 6.) (See succeeding homily.) V. THAT HIS LIFE WAI:' DARKENED BY MANY SHADOWS AS WELL AS BRIGHTENED BY MA1'-Y BLESSINGS. 1. He could not effect all the reforms he would have liked to carry out, and he had to witness some evil-doings which must have grieved his spirit. "The people did yet corruptly" (ver. 2). 2. Foreign invasion began to threaten the king- dom (1 Kings xv. 37). 3. He found himself sick unto death at an age (forty-one) when he might have expected to do great things, and to be much to the people whom he ruled. It was an honourable and useful life that Jotham lived; one to be remem- bered and to be followed in its salient features. Like him (1) we should see that we inherit that which is the best from our fathers; (2) pursue the right steadfastly, with• out swerving, even to the end; (3) beginning at home, we should extend our influ- ence as far as we can send it; (4) be prepared to lay down our weapons in the midst of our days. And how much better to die, as J otham did, leading all men to wish that be had lived longer, than, as so many others have done, compelling their best friends to wish that they had died sooner! It matters little when the night of death comes; but it matters much that, during the day of life, wo do our work well and bear our burden with a brave and patient heart.---C. Ver. 6.-The accumulation of spiritual power. "So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God ; " or, because "he made his ways firm before Jahveh." Whatever may be the exact rendering of the passage, and whatever may be the precise shade of thought intended to be conveyed, it is clear that Jotham's might or his strength in the kingdom is referred to his continua.nee in the service of the Lord. And thence we gain the truth that true power is to be sought and found in permanent piety, in walking with an unfaltering step in the ways of Divine wisdom and of human obedience. Power of the truest and highest kind is not the endowment of a moment; it is not a suddenly acquired possession; it is a growth, an accumula- tion; it is the "long result" of a faithful service. It is- L THE COMBINATION oF MANY CHRISTIAN VIRTUES. As the" mighty" swordsman is the man who is strong at all points of attack and defence; as the "mighty" speaker is he who has all possible qualifications for interesting, convincing, and persuading men; so the" mighty" man of God is he who has acquired all the various excellences which we are able to secure. "Giving all diligence," we are" to add to our faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance," etc. (2 Pet. i. 5, 6). "What- soever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report," we are to think upon and, of course, to pursue and to acquire. We are to "build ourselves up on our holy faith." And building up is a work that is not done in a day nor in a year. It is a work of time. And the strong character thus formed is the accumulated result of many spiritual activities, protracted over many years. en. xxvn. 1-9.] THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 329