Vers. 2-10.-The service of the consecrated life, and of the substance. Hezekiah, as soon as the excitement of the great Passover and of the subsequent destruction of all idolatrous symbols was over, made wise arrangements for the regular service of Jehovah. And this included- • I. THE SERVICE OF THE CONSECRATED LIFE; that, namely, of the priests and the Levites (ver. 2). This service was threefold: 1. Discharging sacred functions at the altar; doing for the people that which only consecrated men could do-presenting their sacrifices to Jehovah, thus standing between their fellows and their God, and con- stituting a medium of communion between them and him. 2. Inquiry into and acquisition of all possible knowledge of the Law ( eh. xvii. 9; Deut. xxxiii. 10). 3. Oonducti11g the service of song (ver. 2), and teaching the people the Law which they had themselves learned. There are many in the Christian Church who have under- taken to offer to their Divine Lord a consecrated life; and it devolves on them to yield to him their streng1h in these three ways. (1) Ministration in his house or elsewhere; the special 11ervice which the minister of Christ, as such, can render ; praying to God for his people, or helping them to draw nigh to God-a very valuab!e, indeed inestimable, service. (2) Earnest thought and inquiry; becoming more and more fully acquainted with the mind of Christ as that is revealed in his Word or in his providence, or through the experience or research of other servants of his. (3) Utterance of the truth thus acquired; by teaching or preaching, in the sanctuary, or the school, or the house, personally or instrumentally. For the advancement of the kingdom of Christ it is needful that there should be.11, large number of men, answering to the priests and Levites, who shall regularly give a consecrated life to the service of the Lord. IL THE SERVICE OF THE SUllSTANCE. We have a very interesting instance here recorded of the full and cheerful dedication of the substa.nce to the cause of God. Led as well as taught by Hezekiah, the people responded with tithes and firstfruits, so that there were "heaps" in the temple courts, even when everything had been taken that was required (ver. 10). Even the remainder was" this great store." The scene suggests the truths : 1. That the offering of our substance is a most appropriate method of sacred service. How can we better express our gratitude to the great Giver of every good thing of every kind than by dedicating to him and to his service some serious pro- portion of the produce of our strength and skill? 2. That those who urge others to show this grnce should be forward to illustrate it themselves (ver. 3). 3. That from ihose who have the greater privileges may be expected a very clear encouragement by example (ver. 4). 4. That, if rightly addressed, the people of God may be trusted to make a te.ir and even a liberal response (vers. 5, 6). 5. That such service, rendered in a religious spirit, will draw down the Divine blessing in abundance (ver. 10; and see Mai. iii. 10).-C.
Vers. 11-21.-Syskmatic (Jhurch fina11ce. Hezekiah was careful to provide for the distribution of the firstfruits and tithes and special offerings among the priests and Levites. So he had cells, or chambers, constructed for their reception (ver. 11), and every needful arraogement made for the due apportionment of all that was stored among those for whom it was intended. There are three points worthy of oonsideration. Cl11. xxxr.1-21.J THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 377
I. THE DIBTINOTLY BAORED OHARAOTER OF CHUROH FINANCE. What WM given here wa.e placed within the precincts of the temple, for it was given to the Lord while it wa8 11.ppropriated to his ministers. It was a religious act on the part of the donors, and not less eo on the part of those whose special duty it was to distribute it. "They brought in the dedicnted things faithfully" (ver. 12); and" accordin~ to their fidelity did they show themselves holy in regard to the holy ; "i.e." they acted in a holy manner with the holy girts, distributed them disinterestedly and impartially" (Keil). There is no reo.son why both the giving of money to the cause of God (and included in this is the contribution to the sustenance of the Christian ministry) and also the allocation of all such money should not be a thoroughly devout and pious action. It may be rendered as truly "unto the Lord" as the singing of a hymn or the delivery of a discourse. It should be a sacred service, offered conscientiously, devoutly, holily. II. SYSTEMATIO COLLECTION OF CHURCH FINANCE. While considerable room was left under the Law for spontaneous liberality and for special offering8 under peculiar circumstances, there were certain regulations as to tithes and fir_stfruits (ver. 5). These latter were not optional, but obligatory; at the same time, they do not seem to have been recoverable by legal process; but they point to systematic contribution not unattended with special and spontaneous bestowments. And this surely is the right principle in the Christian Church. 1. Let every man consider what proportion ot" his income, considering (1) the amount of his receipts, and a!so (2) the meaeure of his liabilities, he can possibly devote to the cause of God and man, of religion and philanthropy; and Jet him set that apart. 2. Let every one of us be prompted to give special help whenever some specially powerful appeal is made to our spiritual convictions or our human sympathies, III. SYSTEMATIO DISTRIBUTION, This is something which must depend upon the constitution of each particular Church, and must vary according to that constitution. But there are some general principles, partly suggested by these verses. 1. Let every care be taken that all that is contributed be devoted and distributed, none bein" wasted or perverted. Here is scope for carefulness and for faithfulness. 2. Let th~ necessities of those on whom God has laid the weightier domestic burdens be generously met. 3. Let those who are engaged in the less prominent places be as much regarded as those who are" serving at Jerusalem" (see vers. 15, 19), 4. Let men of acknow- ledged probity and capacity have charge of the treasury (see vers. 12-14).-C.