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2
Chronicles Chapter Thirty-six
2 Chronicles 36
Chapter Contents
The destruction of Jerusalem. (1-21) The proclamation of
Cyrus. (22
23)
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 36:1-21
(Read 2 Chronicles 36:1-21)
The ruin of Judah and Jerusalem came on by degrees. The
methods God takes to call back sinners by his word
by ministers
by
conscience
by providences
are all instances of his compassion toward them
and his unwillingness that any should perish. See here what woful havoc sin
makes
and
as we value the comfort and continuance of our earthly blessings
let us keep that worm from the root of them. They had many times ploughed and
sowed their land in the seventh year
when it should have rested
and now it
lay unploughed and unsown for ten times seven years. God will be no loser in
his glory at last
by the disobedience of men. If they refused to let the land
rest
God would make it rest. What place
O God
shall thy justice spare
if
Jerusalem has perished? If that delight of thine were cut off for wickedness
let us not be high-minded
but fear.
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 36:22
23
(Read 2 Chronicles 36:22
23)
God had promised the restoring of the captives
and the
rebuilding of Jerusalem
at the end of seventy years; and that time to favour
Zion
that set time
came at last. Though God's church be cast down
it is not
cast off; though his people be corrected
they are not abandoned; though thrown
into the furnace
they are not lost there
nor left there any longer than till
the dross be separated. Though God contend long
he will not contend always.
Before we close the books of the Chronicles
which contain a faithful register
of events
think what desolation sin introduced into the world
nay
even into
the church of God. Let us tremble at what is here recorded
while in the
character of some few gracious souls
we discover that the Lord left not
himself without witness. And when we have looked at this faithful portrait of
man by nature
let us contrast with it that same nature
when recovered by Almighty
grace
through the justifying and soul-adorning righteousness of Christ our
Saviour.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on 2 Chronicles》
2 Chronicles 36
Verse 8
[8] Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim
and his
abominations which he did
and that which was found in him
behold
they are
written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiachin his son
reigned in his stead.
Found in him — That crime of rebellion against
the king of Babylon
which for a time he kept in his own breast
but when he
saw fit
discovered it
and was convicted of it.
Verse 10
[10] And when the year was expired
king Nebuchadnezzar sent
and brought him to Babylon
with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD
and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.
Expired — Heb. at the return of the year: at the beginning of
the next year
according to the sacred account of the Hebrews
at the spring of
the year
the time when kings go forth to battle
as is elsewhere said
when
Nebuchadnezzar
among others
went forth to settle and enlarge his conquests.
His brother — Largely so called
for this was
his uncle
or his father's brother
being the son of Josiah.
Verse 13
[13] And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar
who
had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck
and hardened his heart
from turning unto the LORD God of Israel.
By God — Who had required him to swear fealty and constant
obedience to him by the true God
whom he called upon to be a witness against
him if he broke his oath. So his rebellion was aggravated with perjury
and
horrid contempt of God.
Verse 15
[15] And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his
messengers
rising up betimes
and sending; because he had compassion on his
people
and on his dwelling place:
Rising — Sending them early and diligently
as a careful
house-holder
who rises betimes about his business. God sent them many prophets
and messages
some at the very beginning of their apostacy
and others
afterward
'till the very day of their captivity.
Verse 16
[16] But they mocked the messengers of God
and despised his
words
and misused his prophets
until the wrath of the LORD arose against his
people
till there was no remedy.
No remedy — Because the people would not
repent
and God would not pardon them.
Verse 17
[17] Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees
who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary
and
had no compassion upon young man or maiden
old man
or him that stooped for
age: he gave them all into his hand.
Chaldees — Abraham was called out of Ur of the Chaldees
when God
took him into covenant with himself. And now his degenerate seed are carried
into that country again
to signify that they had forfeited all that kindness
wherewith they had been loved for their father's sake
and the benefit of the
covenant into which he was called.
Verse 21
[21] To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah
until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she
kept sabbath
to fulfil threescore and ten years.
Sabbaths — Had rested from the labour of the husbandman in
plowing and harrowing it; the people that should have managed it being
destroyed. Many a time had they ploughed and sowed their land in the seventh
year
when it should have rested: and now it lay unploughed and unsown for ten
times seven years. Yet even this might encourage them to hope
that they should
in due time return to it again. Had others come and taken possession of it
they might have despaired of ever recovering it. But while it lay desolate
it
as it were
waited for them
and refused to acknowledge any other owners.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on 2 Chronicles》
36 Chapter 36
Verses 1-23
Verses 15-17
And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by is me messengers
rising up betimes.
Presumptuous rebellion
I. We see here
continued rebellion
which suggests--
1. That habits are easily commenced. There is little difficulty in
forming’ habits. They are not acquired by one mighty bound
but by a series of
almost imperceptible steps.
2. That habits are readily strengthened. Every step that is taken is
planted with firmer grip. With every ripple that flows the stream becomes wider
and swifter
fed as it were with other streamlets on the way. Every time an
action is repeated the easier it becomes
and the more deeply rooted in the
soul.
3. That habits are seldom eradicated. Can the Ethiopian change his
skin? Yea
easier than a man unassisted by Divine help can break away from evil
habits. They become part of the nature of the man himself.
II. We see the
presumption of continued rebellion. We are constantly reminded of the fact that
God is merciful. But there is a limit to the mercy and forbearance even of God.
This is evident--
1. From the fact that it is impossible always to continue His warning
and judgments on the impenitent. If the obstinacy of one person cannot be
overcome it were unjust on that account to remove the chance of salvation from
others.
2. From the inevitable progress of temporal affairs. Death comes on with
his rapid step and cuts short the life and with it the opportunities of
repentance from the obdurate spirit. Then the door of mercy must be shut for
ever.
3. From the very nature of the refusal. Is it likely that He
the
Lord of all
will continue offering heavenly treasures to human swine who only
trample His gifts in the mire? Oh
it is a sad and an awful truth that man may
presume too far even on infinite love!
III. We see the
awful end of presumptuous sin. The consequences are at the last utter destruction
and irretrievable loss. This stands to reason if we remember--
1. That God must vindicate His character.
2. That an example must be set to the world at large.
3. That the sinful must be removed out of the way. (Homilist.)
Unheeded warning
The island of Ischia was a favourite summer resort of Italians. In
1883 the sinking of water in wells
mutterings and rumblings underground
distinctly foretold a coming earthquake; these signs were noticed and
understood
but through fear of frightening visitors
and so losing custom
hotel-keepers and others refrained from making public these warnings. Ruin and
death ensued
involving those who knew and heeded not
and those who
through
lack of warning
had unwittingly exposed themselves to peril.
Till there was no remedy.
No remedy
These words contain three facts of great importance.
1. That there was
at least at one time
a remedy.
2. That the remedy went on
and might have been used
for a very long
period.
3. That there came a time when the remedy ceased.
I. All life is a
remedy. The conditions of things require it. Life a great restorative process.
1. Comes that marvellous provision of God in Jesus Christ.
2. All providences have a curative character.
3. Every one carries within himself an antidote to evil. Conscience
till silenced
a sure antidote to evil.
II. Notice the word
“till.” It shows how slow God is to take away the remedy. We may sin ourselves
into a state
not in which there is no forgiveness
but no thought or desire to
seek forgiveness. “No remedy
” not on God’s account
but your own; not in God’s want of will to save
you
but in your own incapacity to will your own salvation. (J.
Vaughan
M.A.)
Verse 22-23
Now
in the first year of Cyrus
king of Persta.
Cyrus: the divinely-directed deliverer
I. God stirred up
cyrus to do a great and necessary work.
II. Cyrus was a
fitting instrument for the great work.
III. God has various
means whereby to incite to action.
IV. The divine
incitement to the necessary work was at a most opportune time.
V. God teaches his
instruments how as well as when to act.
VI. As the lord
stirred up the spirit of Cyrus
so he can stir men now. (F. Hastings.)
He made a proclamation.--
The decree of Cyrus; or
all things for the Church
I. God uses kings
and rulers for His Church. That the Lord raises up men within the Church to be
leaders and mighty workers in her behalf is a fact which the Bible and all
history fully prove. Such men were Noah
Abraham
Joseph
Moses
David
Paul
Augustine
Luther
Calvin
Wesley. But He calls men from without also to work
for her. Conspicuous among this number is Cyrus
the Persian king. Though Cyrus
be a marked illustration of the matter under discussion
especially so because
of the clear declarations of prophecy on his behalf
still he is by no means
the only one. Through the intervention of Joseph
God made Pharaoh the
preserver of His people. The immediate successors of Cyrus on the Persian throne
followed his example. Through the influence of Esther and Mordecai
Ahasuerus
in a most critical time
became the saviour of the Jews. Later
in the time of
Darius
the interrupted work upon the temple at Jerusalem was renewed and
pushed forward. Still later
in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah
Artaxerxes
expended his royal treasure in establishing the remnant of the Jews in their
ancient and. Alexander the Great
marching upon Jerusalem with a bitter purpose
in his heart
is suddenly changed from foe to friend. Like Cyrus
he too
doubtless was shown the sacred books of the Jews
and in the prophesy of Daniel
saw himself described and his career delineated. The general policy of the
Roman government was severe
but many of the emperors
moved by kindness of
disposition or considerations of State
were lenient towards the Christians.
Ere long the government itself became Christian
and throughout the Middle
Ages
power was on the side of the Church. At the Reformation
whenever and
wherever needed
men were raised up among the rulers of the world to be
abettors of the new faith and breakwaters against the floods of persecution.
Such were the elector of Saxony in the days of Luther
and measurably so Henry
VIII of England. Such were the Syndics who stood around Calvin At Geneva. Such
Elisabeth
Gustavus Adolphus
Cromwell And the same thing is transpiring in our
own days.
II. God handles the
nations for the good of the Church. We know that the nations round about the
Hebrews in all their history were instruments in God’s hands for disciplining
them and fashioning them to His will. To this end He ordered their affairs. And
the same thing is apparent in these modern ages. Was it fortuitous that England
early became Protestant and the champion of the new faith? Was it a thing of
chance that Saxony
the Netherlands
Switzerland
Sweden
resisted the tyranny
of the Pope? Did it merely happen that this broad land of ours was sealed
against the efforts of Rome to possess it
and was preserved as virgin soil for
a pure faith and a free government? Is not God’s hand in England’s occupancy of
India
and can we not see that thereby that land is bespoken for Christ? Is
Italy’s emancipation from the Pope wholly of man? Is Germany’s attitude to Rome
of Bismarck as much as it is of God? Blind is he who cannot see God’s use of
the nations in these modem times!
III. God uses the
world’s material resources and forces for the Church. God has always put the
world’s wealth under tribute as He has needed it
from the day when Israel went
out of Egypt to the present time. And the tribute increases as the Church
increases. More of the world’s wealth is flowing into the channels of the
Church now than ever before. But not merely wealth--money expression of
value--but every good and uplifting form at work among men God uses for the
development of His plan. Discovery
invention
progress in economical and
industrial arts
natural science--all these things
which are represented in
the complicated civilisation of our day
are likewise represented in the
Christianity of the times. Providence takes them up and utilises them as they
appear; nay
more
orders the time and the manner of their appearance. How true
of the art of printing! The first book printed was the Bible
And from that day
forward God has been presiding at the printing press and scattering its leaves
for the healing of the nations. The fleets of commerce beam the gospel to the
corners of the world. Discovery in geography
ethnology
philology adds new
buttresses to Christianity. All these and the like
though material and natural
forces
yet work spiritual results.
1. By all these means God fulfils His prophecies and accomplishes His
purpose. None can hinder
none compel. On the trains of providence there are
neither accidents nor delays.
2. Herein we see the undying nature of the Church. Great has been the
heat of her affliction
but by it have her enemies been consumed.
3. The Spirit of God is abroad in the world
preparing the way for
the coming of Christ’s kingdom. How should the servants of the Lord be
encouraged in labour and in prayer by the Spirit’s antecedent work in every
heart!
4. In all these things we have the assurance of the triumph of God’s
kingdom. (H. S. Kelsey.)
──《The Biblical Illustrator》