The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 423

the gladness of Lnther at finding the Bible in the convent at Erfurth. And ought to be: 2. .A reason for special thanlifulness, 8B it generally is to e.ll who know its value as e. revelation of Divine wisdom and love, and oan appreciate its power to Influence the heart-8 and lives of men. III. Tim BIBLE BEAD. A blessed privilege. 1. Many might read the Bible who do not have "-· A Md deprivation. This the case of the heathen generally and of num- bers at home. An argDment for missions. 2. Many have the Bible, yet do not read it. A grievous sin. This the CRl!e with thousands in Christendom to whom God's Word is a strange book. An argument for preaching. 3. Many have the Bible, but cannot read it. A pitiful condition. This the case of those who through defective education or blindness are. unable to read. An argument for Christian philanthropy. 4. Many hava the Bible and remi it. A happy experience. This the ce.se of those who have learnt to recognize in the Bible God's Word, and to appreciate its suitability to their soul's needs. An argument for the inspiration of the Scriptures. IV. THE BIBLE OBEYED. An indispensable duty. 1. Obedience the end and aim of the Bible. The Bible not written for information merely, but for direction also. Designed not 8imply for the construction of creeds, but likewise for the regulation of conduct (Matt. vi. 24 ; J as. i. 22). 2. Obedience the only homage acceptable to the Bi'ble. To read it, admire its literary beauty, study its theology, extol its excellences, circulate it, are good if these acts a.re accompanied by obedience, but if not they are compara- tively worthless. 3. Obedience the best witness to the Divinity of the Bible. "If any man will do bis will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God" (John vii. 17). Those who know the Bible best, by giving practical obedience to its precepts are most fully convinced of its heavenly and superuatural origin. 4. Obedience the necessary means for obtaining the blessing of the Bi'ble. Not the hearers of the Word, but the doers thereof, a.re justified before God (Matt. vii. 21; Luke xi. 28; Rom. ii. 13).-W. Vers. 29--33.~udah's last national covenant. I. THE CIROUMSTANOES. 1. The time. (1) In the eighteenth year of Josia.h's reign, or in Josiah's twenty-sixth year; not so early as the covenant ma.de by Asa in the fifteenth year of his reign (eh. xv. 10), or as that ma.de by Jehoiada in the first year of Joash's reign (eh. xxiii. 16), or as the.t projected by Hezekiah also in the first year of his reign (eh. xxix. 10). • But better late than never. (2) After the purgation of the land and the house, It is necessary as well as fitting that works of repentance and reformation should be followed up by resolu- tions after new obedience, that the casting out of false gods should be supplemented by the bringing in of the true God, that " ceasing to do evil" should be accompanied by "learning to do well" (Isa.. i. 16, 17). (3) While Josiah was under the devout impres- sions produced by the reading of the book of the Law. Seasons when the heart is affected by a sense of God's nearness or a. conviction of its own sinfulness should be improved by drawing closer its relations to God (2 Cor. vii. 11). 2. The place, (1) 'l'he city of Jerusalem, which had been swept clean from its idolatries-an indispensable preliminary to meeting with God. (2) The temple on Moriah, where Jehovah had set his Name. They who would have dealings with a God of grace must seek him at the times, in the places, and by the ways he himself bas appointed. II. '.l'm: PARTIES. 1. The king. As was most appropriate, Josiah led the way. Though sovereigns have no right under the gospel to enforce religion on their subjectij, they may nevertheless, by means of personal example, persuade their subjects to embrace religion. 2. The elders. These were the heads of the houses, and therefore the repre- sentati vee of the inhabitants both of Judah and Jerusalem. Unless the chiefs in e. state and the fa.there in a family precede, it is not likely the inferiors in the former or the children in the latter will follow after in the paths of piety. 3. The priests and Levites. Instead of" the Levites," 2 Kings (xxiii. 2) reads" prophets," which has been explained by supposing that the prophets, among whom probably were Jeremiah, Baruch, Zephe.nie.h, and Urijah, belonged to priestl_y and Levitical families, o!. that they were Levites whose duty it was to preach and to mterpret the Law (eh. xvn. 8, 9; cf. Dent. xvii. 18; xxxi. 9; xxxiii. 10). Those who ascribe it to au error of the pen a.re uncertain whether that error should be charged against the author of the Kings (Keil) or against the Chronicler (Bertheau). 4. The people. Great and small-the people of <listinction e.nd the lower classes, perhaps also the grown-up persons and the children  on. xxxv.1-27.] THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 427