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2
Chronicles Chapter Thirty-one
2 Chronicles 31
Chapter Contents
Hezekiah destroys idolatry.
After the passover
the people of Israel applied with vigour
to destroy the monuments of idolatry. Public ordinances should stir us up to
cleanse our hearts
our houses
and shops
from the filth of sin
and the
idolatry of covetousness
and to excite others to do the same. The
after-improvement of solemn ordinances
is of the greatest importance to
personal
family
and public religion. When they had tasted the sweetness of
God's ordinance in the late passover
they were free in maintaining the temple
service. Those who enjoy the benefit of a settled ministry
will not grudge the
expense of it. In all that Hezekiah attempted in God's service
he was earnest
and single in his aim and dependence
and was prospered accordingly. Whether we
have few or many talents intrusted to us
may we thus seek to improve them
and
encourage others to do the same. What is undertaken with a sincere regard to
the glory of God
will succeed to our own honour and comfort at last.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on 2 Chronicles》
2 Chronicles 31
Verse 1
[1] Now
when all this was finished
all Israel that were present went out to the cities
of Judah
and brake the images in pieces
and cut down the groves
and threw
down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin
in Ephraim
also and Manasseh
until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the
children of Israel returned
every man to his possession
into their own
cities.
Manasseh — By
the special impulse and direction of God's spirit. And he knew Hoshea contented
himself with the worship of the calves
and did not practise that great
idolatry which his predecessors had used
and therefore would patiently suffer
the breaking of the images of Baal
and the things belonging to them.
Verse 2
[2] And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after
their courses
every man according to his service
the priests and Levites for
burnt offerings and for peace offerings
to minister
and to give thanks
and
to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.
The tents —
Within the gates of the house of the Lord: which is here called tents
because
the host of the Lord
the priests and Levites
encamped there. And perhaps to
intimate
that it was shortly to be removed.
Verse 3
[3] He
appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings
to
wit
for the morning and evening burnt offerings
and the burnt offerings for
the sabbaths
and for the new moons
and for the set feasts
as it is written
in the law of the LORD.
Of his substance —
Which had hitherto been taken out of the treasures of the temple
but that he
might ease the people in their present poverty
which his predecessor had
brought upon them
and engage them to a more chearful attendance upon God's
service
he took the burden upon himself.
Verse 4
[4]
Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of
the priests and the Levites
that they might be encouraged in the law of the
LORD.
Encouraged —
Freed them from worldly cares and distractions
and enabled to give up
themselves entirely to the serious study of God's law
and to the instruction
and direction
and quickening of the people.
Verse 5
[5] And as soon as the commandment came abroad
the children of Israel brought
in abundance the firstfruits of corn
wine
and oil
and honey
and of all the
increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.
Came abroad — As
Soon as the king extended that command to all the parts of his kingdom
which
verse 4
was confined to them that dwelt in Jerusalem.
Honey —
Or
dates
as the Hebrew writers generally
understand this word
which were
given to them
because of the sweetness of their taste in some sort resembling
honey. For the law requires no tithes
but of the fruits of trees
or of the
earth
or of beasts.
Verse 6
[6] And
concerning the children of Israel and Judah
that dwelt in the cities of Judah
they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep
and the tithe of holy things
which were consecrated unto the LORD their God
and laid them by heaps.
By heaps —
What the priests and the Levites had occasion for
they made use of
and the
overplus was laid in heaps.
Verse 7
[7] In
the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps
and finished
them in the seventh month.
Third month — Of
the sacred year
in which their harvest began.
Seventh — In
which their harvest ended and the feast of tabernacles was kept.
Verse 8
[8] And
when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps
they blessed the LORD
and his people Israel.
Blessed the Lord —
Both for giving such plentiful provisions to his land and for giving his people
such liberal hearts. And they praised the people for their forwardness and
faithfulness in it.
Verse 9
[9] Then
Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.
Questioned —
How it came to pass that no more of their provision was spent and that there
yet remained such great heaps of it.
Verse 14
[14] And
Kore the son of Imnah the Levite
the porter toward the east
was over the
freewill offerings of God
to distribute the oblations of the LORD
and the
most holy things.
Most holy things —
The remainders of the freewill-offering
the sin-offering
and
trespass-offering
and the shew-bread; to see that all had a competent
maintenance for themselves and their families.
Verse 15
[15] And
next him were Eden
and Miniamin
and Jeshua
and Shemaiah
Amariah
and
Shecaniah
in the cities of the priests
in their set office
to give to their
brethren by courses
as well to the great as to the small:
And next
… —
These were intrusted with receiving and distributing the several portions
belonging to the priests who abode in their several cities
whilst their
brethren came up to Jerusalem.
Verse 18
[18] And
to the genealogy of all their little ones
their wives
and their sons
and
their daughters
through all the congregation: for in their set office they
sanctified themselves in holiness:
For
… —
This is alleged as a reason why their wives and children were provided for out
of the holy things
because they sequestered themselves from worldly affairs
by which they might otherwise have provided for their families.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on 2 Chronicles》
31 Chapter 31
Verses 1-21
Verse 1
Until they had utterly destroyed them all.
Utterly
Mark the word “utterly.” It is for want of that word that so many
men have failed. Many men have cut off the heads of weeds. Any man can do that.
The weed is in the root
and the root is not straight down in the earth
so
that it can be taken out easily; after a certain depth it ramifies
and care
must be taken that we get out every fibre and filament
and having got it out
turn it upside down
and let the sun do the rest. A man has undertaken to
abstain from some evil pursuit for a month: he has clipped off the top of the
weed and looks just as well as anybody else
but he is not; he has still the
root in him
and that must be taken out
though he be half murdered in the
process. (J. Parker
D.D.)
Reform must lead to regeneration
To utterly destroy an idol first
even were it possible
would not
be lasting. What must come first in the order of time? Religious enthusiasm
religious conviction; deep
intense spiritual fellowship with God; a look into
heaven; vital sympathy with the Cross; a purification of hand and life and
tongue
and body
soul
and spirit
by the Passover rightly eaten; and then
what giants will go forth with axes of lightning to smite pillar and asherah
and idol and every vain thing. Men cannot strike finally if they sot only as
reformers. Reform is an active word
and is to be regarded with great favour
and is the only word that is permissible under some circumstance; but the
greater word is regeneration. Reform that does not point to regeneration is a
waxen flower that will melt when the sun is well up in the heavens. (J.
Parker
D. D.)
Reform
There are three effects which ought always to follow our
solemn assembly on the Lord’s day. We should go home and--
I. Break in pieces
all our images.
1. Self-righteousness.
2. Bacchus.
3. Lust.
4. Business; false measures and false weights.
5. Pride.
II. Cut down the
groves. Groves are the places where the images have been set up. There was
nothing mark you
positively sinful in the grove; but they have been used for
sinful purposes
and therefore down they must come. We would specify--
1. The theatre.
2. The tavern.
3. So-called recreation
dancing
etc.
4. Evil books. Light literature
the moral of which is anything but
that of piety and goodness.
III. Throw down the
high places and altars
etc. God had said that He would have but one altar
namely
at Jerusalem. There should be a casting down of everything in
connection with the true worship that is not according to the law of God and
the word of God. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Then all the children of
Israel returned
every man to his possession
unto their own cities.--
Home missionary zeal
In evangelising our own countrymen we must proceed--
I. In the
employment of those means which are congenial with the spirit of the
dispensation under which we live. The men of Israel were fully justified in
doing as described in the text. They lived under a Theocracy
and idolatry was
high treason. We live under a different dispensation. “The weapons of our
warfare are not carnal.” To destroy the idolatry which still reigns in our land
we must go forth and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Hezekiah’s proclamation
of the Passover and its consequences as described in the preceding chapter
suggests how this has to be done.
1. Distinctly (verse 1).
2. Boldly. In spite of ridicule (verse 10).
3. Affectionately (verse 6-9).
4. Prayerfully (verse 18).
II. By ourselves
living consistently with the profession we make
and the great cause we have
espoused. Our lives must be characterised--
1. By sincerity and uprightness (2 Chronicles 31:20-21).
2. By joy and praise (2 Chronicles 30:21).
3. By self-denial and sacrifice (2 Chronicles 30:24).
III. With a
determination to take no rest till the object we have in view is fully
accomplished. “Until they had utterly destroyed them all.” (H.
Townley.)
Verse 20-21
And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah
and wrought that which
was good.
Hezekiah-an example for young men
I. Hezekiah’s
religion.
1. It was expensive. He set about reforming the national religion.
The spirit of such a life should be
must be
respected in every one of us if
the religion we possess is to be worth anything. The young man whose mind is
that of Jesus Christ has learned to live
not for himself
but for others.
Harlan Page was a house joiner at Coventry
in America. His social position
gave him but little influence
but what he had he gave to God. He was the
living missionary wherever he went. See how God’s grace brought him out of
self. He wrote: “When I first obtained a hope I felt that I must labour for
souls. I prayed
year after year
that God would make me the means of saving
souls.” Is your position that of a clerk? Imitate David Nasmith
who without
talent or money sanctified the desk by working for Christ and perishing souls.
He was the founder of City Missions
and the home heathen owe more to the
Glasgow clerk than to any man who ever lived. Is your position that of a
military officer? Imitate Hadley Vicars. The soldier of the Queen became the
soldier of Christ. He had hard work to stand his ground at mess
but he did
stand it; and one of the soldiers said
“Since Mr. Vicars became so good he has
steadied about four hundred men in the regiment.” Is your position that of a
merchant? Imitate George Moore
who rose to his partnership by sterling
integrity
high principle
and hard work. He had no idea of growing rich and forgetting
those by whose labours he accumulated his wealth. Every clerk and servant in
his employment knew
in a very tangible way
that a good year’s business had
been done. In a word
young men
whatever you may be
peer or peasant
professional man or tradesman
merchant or mechanic--come out in God’s strength
as a religious man
and live for others. Let your sympathies embrace suffering
bodies and perishing souls. Never mind being poor. Much of God’s work in this
world has been done by men of little education
slender means
and few
advantages. Do your duty for Christ and your influence will reach further than
you think. “Thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah.”
2. It was sound. He “wrought that which was good and right
and truth
before the Lord his God..” A young man’s religion
to be worth anything
must
be sound. If he is to do anything which is “good and right and truth
” he
must--
3. It was whole-hearted.
II. Hezekiah’s
reward. “And prospered.”
1. His reward was of God.
2. He had his reward in his country. What a benefactor he must have
appeared in the eyes
of his subjects.
3. He had his reward in himself. (John Burbidge.)
Life in earnest
I. The sphere
which Christian earnestness occupies in the Divine life.
1. It will make a man think very earnestly for his Lord and Master.
In the diary of Jonathan Edwards we find the following account of his feelings
towards the Lord’s work: “I had great longing for the advancement of Christ’s
kingdom in the world; my secret prayer used to be in great part taken up in
praying for it. If I heard the least hint of anything that had happened in any
part of the world which appeared to me in some respect or other to have
favourable aspect on the interest of Christ’s kingdom
my soul eagerly caught
at it
and it would much animate and refresh me. I used to read public news
letters
mainly to see if I could find some news favourable to the interest of
religion in the world.” When we are full of zeal for God it is the same with
us.
2. It will make a man plan and purpose for the cause of Christ.
3. It will show itself in perseverance.
4. It will show its zeal in an entire dependence upon God
and in
intensely fervent prayer for God’s help and for God’s blessing.
II. Arguments which
provoke to this earnestness.
1. The greatness of the work we have to deal with.
2. The earnestness of Satan.
3. The responsibilities which lie upon us as a Church.
4. The onflowing of the stream of death.
5. The love which we have received of Jesus.
III. May god give me
fresh grace while i undertake the solemn work of dealing with careless and
unconverted souls. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
The character of Hezekiah
Every man who wishes to do good in his generation
who would bless
others and be blessed himself
must cultivate the same principle of goodness
that Hezekiah did. In every work that he began
“he did it with all his heart.”
I. Inducements
which should lead us to adopt this prudent and decisive conduct.
1. It saves time; or at least it leads us to apply every part of it
to the best advantage. It prevents our life being abridged by years of
irresolution and delay. It gives us the assurance that we are husbanding our
talent well.
2. It secures our continual happiness.
3. Its beneficial effects on society are incalculable.
II. Examples of
this principle are to be found--
1. In the Bible. Moses
Ezra
Nehemiah
etc.
2. In general history.
The origin and progress of almost everything great and good in
society has been achieved by the zeal and active virtues of a few individuals.
The advancement of the arts and sciences; the extension of commerce; the blessings and security
of a legal government; the inestimable value of a pure and reformed religion
etc.
(J. Hewlett
B.D.)
Hezekiah’s good reign
A beautiful lily laid in your hand would show you nothing
of the mud and slime of the river bed from which it sprung. Like such a lily is
Hezekiah
the flower of kings. Some natures seem to grow strong in virtue
by
contact with its opposite. Joseph
Moses
end Daniel ripened in strange
gardens
and Hezekiah must have sucked honey out of thistles. Consider--
I. His reverence.
Victor Hugo affirms that neither Wellington nor Blucher won the battle of
Waterloo. Napoleon conquered himself. His own excessive weight destroyed the
equilibrium. “He vexed God” by his importance
and so his fall was decreed.
Hezekiah began his reign by exalting God and humbling himself.
II. His religious
zeal.
III. His public
spirit.
IV. His sincerity
of heart. (Monday Club Sermons.)
How to succeed in life
There are three lessons we may learn from Hezekiah.
I. He was not
afraid of work. He did not seek success without toil. “Depend upon it
” said
Sir Walter Scott
“there is nothing to be had without labour.” Horace Greely
said to the youth of America
“The darkest day in any man’s earthly career is that
wherein he first fancies that there is some easier way of gaining a dollar than
by squarely earning it.” “When I was a telegraph operator in Pittsburgh
” said
Andrew Carnegie
“I knew all the men who speculated. I have lived to see all of
them ruined--bankrupt in money and bankrupt in character. There is scarcely an
instance of a man who has made a fortune by speculation and kept it.”
II. Hezekiah
concentrated his effort. What he did
he did “with all his heart.” “The one
prudence in life is concentration
” says Emerson
“the one evil is
dissipation.” There is a proverb which says
“A canoe is paddled on both
sides
” which means that to succeed you must do one thing at a time
and do it
with all your
heart and all your powers.
III. Hezekiah aimed
at thoroughness in his work. (A. F. Forrest.)
Hezekiah’s thoroughness in God s service
I. We learn from
Hezekiah a lesson of concentration of energy.
II. Method and
punctuality
too
seem to be hinted at in the text
and they are almost
indispensable to prosperity.
III. The great
lesson is the value of thoroughness in doing whatever we undertake
and doing
it well. Do nothing as if it were trifling.
IV. Emulate
Hezekiah’s ardent and consistent piety. He stands in the front rank among the
saints of Scripture as a man of prayer. (J. Thain Davidson.)
Concentration
A number of tiny brooklets will turn no mill
and will
probably dry up when the sun is hot
but all the water turned into one channel
will move the wheel to grind the corn which may supply a town with bread. All
apostles of progress in religion
or science
or philosophy
have been men
whose aims have all converged to one great centre
and whose forces have been
thrown upon one sublime purpose. (Handbook of Illustration.)
The objective point
In military operations there is always what is called the
objective point. The objective point is the point to be made
the thing to be
done; all the forces in the army are concentrated on the making of that point
and when that is made
success follows. In one sense life is a warfare
and
every one should have his objective point
a clearly defined purpose
and work
up to it with undeviating persistency. This is the only way he can succeed.
Enthusiastic service
A dealer in pictures who makes it his business to find as many new
painters as possible
both in this country and abroad
was asked recently in
regard to his methods of selecting pictures to buy. He was very frank in his
talk
and one thing which he said is shrewd enough to be worth quoting. “Of
course
” he said
“with my experience I am able to judge whether there is
promise in a painter’s work
but I never buy with any idea of putting the
painter on my list until I have seen the man and talked with him myself. I
always watch him closely
and I never buy his pictures unless his eye lights up
when I talk to him about his work and about his profession.” The artist whose
heart was really in his work could not discuss it without kindling
and the man who did not
paint from the heart was not the one whose pictures the dealer wanted. The
remark was not only one which showed insight and shrewdness on the part of the
dealer
but it is one of a good deal of significance in regard to all work. The
man who does anything worth doing is the man who cannot talk about what he has
accomplished or what he hopes to accomplish without enthusiasm
no matter how
far short of his ideals what he has actually done may seem to him to fall.
National righteousness
From Hezekiah’s conduet
and from God’s approval of it
we learn--
I. That to establish
religion in a land is the duty of every righteous government.
II. That to employ
the power and appliances of the state in order to extend the knowledge of God
is beneficial both to the individual and to the nation at large. (Louis
Stenham
M.A.)
Impassioned men
It is the impassioned men that have made history always
religious
and secular both. They are the torch to the heaped-up combustibles; they are
the pulse to the general body that is listless and waiting. No man has moved
the world like Jesus Christ
because no man besides Him has embodied so wide
so profound
and so Divine enthusiasm. People are passionate in everything but
their passion for men; and that is the one Christian passion. (C. H.
Parkhurst.)
──《The Biblical Illustrator》