1 Chronicles

Such as these are the questions which meekness would put to the soul, and in answer to them would abstract all that which passion is apt to suggest, and hear reason only, as it becomes rational creatures to do. Three great dictates of meekness we find put together in one Scriptu…

Labor for the knowledge of the most high. Solomon had more of the worlds treasure then a thousand of you have, and yet we finde him hard at prayer, tugging with God for knowledge, 1 Chronicles 1:10. All these outward enjoyments are but vaginae bonorum, as afflictions are vaginae…

1. The order of Nature: as when the firstborn is put first. And thus David's sons are numbered according to their age; first, Amnon, then Daniel, the third Absalom, etc. 1 Chronicles 3.1, 2, 3. 2. The order of dignity, when as those are put in the first place, not which are the…

Thou shalt call his name John The name was given, I think, to the Baptist in order to heighten the authority of his office. Yohanan, (1 Chronicles 3:15,) for which the Greeks employ Ioannes, signifies in Hebrew the grace of the Lord. Many suppose that the son of Zacharias was so…

"Indocti;" — "quelques gens n'entendans pas le propos," — "some people not understanding the design." persons ventured to strike out the repetition of it as superfluous; which, he tells us, ought not to have been done, because Jehoiakim, the father of king Jehoiakim, had the nam…

He wrote the book of Ezra; and he is supposed to have written the book of Chronicles, at least of compiling them, if he was not the author of the materials, or all the parts of these writings. That these books were written, or compiled and completed, after the captivity, the thi…

A wall, that is defensive, a wall of fire, that is offensive. 3. When it may be for the good of his people, he will raise up deliverance to them (1 Chronicles 11:14). The Lord saved them by a great deliverance. God reigning as King, can save any way; by contemptible means, the b…

The ninth particular instance, brought to prove that he is the chiefest among ten thousand, is, that his countenance is like Lebanon: the word countenance, as it is in the original, comes from a root that signifies to see, therefore countenance is used in Scripture, not only to…

So if a carnal man could see with a spiritual man's eyes, he would wonder at those surpassing beauties in Jesus Christ, which now he makes light of. 3. A righteous man is wise to discern the times (1 Chronicles 12:32). The children of Issachar were men that had understanding of…

Answer: In Scripture, children of the same womb, are brethren: men of the same blood, are brethren; as Abram and Lot (Genesis 13:8). Men of the same country are brethren, thus Saul's countrymen are called his brethren (1 Chronicles 12:2). And James is called our Lord's brother,…

What is here said with a special reference to riches, may be properly extended to every other description of vice. As God pronounces everywhere such commendations of sincerity, and hates a double heart, (1 Chronicles 12:33; Psalm 12:2,) all are deceived, who imagine that he will…

Which we see now fulfilled in the Papacy. For they stick not to belch out glorious titles without any shame at all, albeit the lamentable confusion [2 pages missing] to flight in the valley of Baal-perazim by the pursuit of David (2 Samuel 5:20-25; 1 Chronicles 14:11). Secondly,…

4. It is when the son comes in the room and stead of the father, or one kills another, which is a sad exchanging of one person for another, and though the following king does not act in the person, or by the name and authority of him who went before, yet there is one person chan…

Or in Revelation 13:3 ('All the world wondered after the beast'), which few would take as meaning every individual person on earth? That 'all nations,' an expression of equal breadth with 'the world,' is to be understood in like manner is apparent from Romans 1:5; Revelation 18:…

When God at first began his great work for the deliverance of his people, after their long continued bondage in Egypt, there were false wonders mixed with true, for a while; which hardened the unbelieving Egyptians, and made them to doubt of the divinity of the whole work. When…

Be sober and watch, steadfast in the faith; faith lets us see ourselves to be but empty shallow creatures: if we be now never so full of strength, we shall run it out before the next Sabbath, and therefore pray, Lord keep this frame in us forever, pray for establishing in that g…

So God will do much for his people, he will give them the inheritance; he will put some of Christ's glory as mediator upon them, but his essential glory he will not part with; in the throne he will be greater. 2. The glory which is ascribed to God, or which his creatures labor t…

2. God does nothing in the election of Peter, more than of Judas; nor can grace and mercy have place in the choosing of the one, rather than the other; but as free will is foreseen to play the game ill, or well, so go the eternal decrees of election and reprobation, and there ca…

Israel marrying and Israel according to the flesh is the holy seed (Nehemiah 7:61; Nehemiah 9:2) the holy seed have mingled with the heathen. 1 Chronicles 16:13: O you seed of Israel his servants, you children of Jacob whom he has chosen, be mindful of his Covenant. And this hol…

The meditation of our experiences would, 1. Raise us to thankfulness. Considering that God has set a hedge of providence about us, he has strewed our way with roses; this would make us take the Harp and Vial, and praise the Lord; and not only praise, but record, 1 Chronicles 16.…

Use 5. Get an interest in God, and then this glorious power is engaged for you. God gives it under his hand, that he will put forth the whole power of his Godhead for the good of his people (1 Chronicles 17:24). The Lord of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel.

4. It may be also, that Solomon after his recovery, did never recover his former luster, nor attain to such a profitable way of appearing in God's public matters, for which formerly he had been so observable. For so it is taken notice even of David, after his fall, that his foll…

I am the Almighty God, walk before me. There is a League offensive and defensive between God and his Saints, he gives it under his hand, that he will put forth the whole power of his Godhead for them, 1 Chronicles 17:24. The Lord of Hostes is the God of Israel, even a God to Isr…

Never a rod in the house? Yes, 'Then will I visit their transgressions with a rod, and their iniquity with stripes,' whip out their stubbornness and sinfulness, 'but my loving kindness will I not take from him as I did from Saul' (1 Chronicles 17:13). Let the saints consider thi…

Second, faith though it strongly desires the strongest abilities, yet faith comes to them, as if there were no life in them, as if they were all but empty vessels and had no life in them, unless Christ be pleased to breathe in them, and therefore it comes to Christ, and entreats…

But David entirely brought them under. He subdued the Jebusites, and he subdued the whole nation of the Philistines, and all the rest of the remains of the seven nations of Canaan: 1 Chronicles 18:1. "Now after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued…

God complains of their iniquity, as a burden, as if they made a cart of God, and loaded him with sins as with sheaves (Amos 2:13). Again, when we suffer for God, he has promised to help and assist us with counsel and comfort, with succor and support; but when we sin, God leaves…

3. The devil can excite and stir up the corruption within, and work some inclinableness in the heart to embrace the temptation. Thus he stirred up corruption in David's heart, and provoked him to number the people (1 Chronicles 21:1). Satan can blow the spark of lust into a flam…

As we may see in David, how strong a disposition we find in him needlessly to number the people (2 Samuel 24) — against all reason as well as religion, and the persuasion and opposition not of Joab only, but of others of his counselors — a man would wonder that one so holy and w…

And God sometimes gives to Satan power over the sons and daughters of Abraham (Luke 13) even as well as others, and as their bodies to be vexed by him, so their spirits; and as to provoke them to sin, so much more to terrify for sin — there being more of punishment than of sin i…

Both ways he lies in ambush in the creature. Sometimes he tempts us by the good things of the world (1 Chronicles 21:1), and Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel, so glorying in his might, and puissance, and victory over neighbor kings. So meaner peo…

Section 24. Thus God who himself began the writing of the Word with his own finger, Exodus 31:11; after he had spoken it Exodus 20; appointing or approving the writing of the rest that followed, Deuteronomy 31:12; Joshua 23:6; 1 Kings 2:3; 2 Kings 14:6; 2 Kings 17:13; 1 Chronicl…

See it in Christ's instance (Matthew 4:1): It is said, "He was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the Devil"; that is, led by the Good and Holy Spirit, to be tempted by the evil spirit. So (2 Samuel 24:1) compared with (1 Chronicles 21:1): God moved David…

4 They that tempt men to sin come under the devil's denomination, and do his work, who is the tempter (Matthew 4:1 and 1 Thessalonians 3:5); he tempts all men to one or other sin. The devil had a hand in Cain's murdering his brother (1 John 3:12), in Judas's treason (Luke 22:2),…

But true desires are costly. David would not offer burnt offerings without cost (1 Chronicles 21:24). A hungry man will give anything for food, as fell out in the siege of Samaria (2 Kings 6:25).

Let Jeroboam set up idolatry, and Israel is soon in a snare; it's said the people willingly walked after his Commandment, Hosea 5:11. Secondly, should the sin stay at Court, and the infection go no further, yet the sin of such a one, (though a good man) may cost a whole Kingdom…

Even when the Saints fall into a sin in its nature presumptuous, they do not commit it so presumptuously as others; there is a part true to God in their bosomes, though over-voted Moses spoke unadvisedly, but the devil had his instruments to provoke him, quite against the good m…

And: I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing; but now, I beseech you, remove the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly. Of Ezra: O my God, I am ashamed and confounded to lift up my eyes to you, my God, for our iniquities are increased over our he…

They pretend to make use of faith for seeing, but not for working: this faith is fancy. O that Christians had a spirit of activity in them (1 Chronicles 22:16). Arise and be doing, and the Lord be with you.

Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Aminadab, in the very work. A strange difference of temper is to be observed in David before the Psalm be over (1 Chronicles 22:16). Arise therefore, and be doing, and the Lord be with you.

Bad purposes are more easily resolved and performed than good; Satan, the world, and the flesh do not hinder but further them. So that good resolutions need to be thoroughly made (1 Chronicles 22:19). Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God.

Now grace prevails, when the scales are cast on grace's side. I say it is the habitual bent, not for a pang, the heart must be set to seek the Lord (1 Chronicles 22:19). Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; and the course of our endeavors, the strength and…

They have a month's mind to that which is good, but not a thorough resolution; as Agrippa, almost persuaded, but not altogether. Such a desire as will bear up against a strong tide of opposition, it is called the setting of the heart (1 Chronicles 22:19): "Now set your heart and…

Many have light inclinations, or wavering resolutions; but their hearts are not fixedly, habitually bent to please God; therein chiefly lies this sound heart, that does inseparably cleave to God in all things. (1 Chronicles 22:19) Now set your hearts to seek the Lord God of your…

It is God's work to incline the heart; but when the work of grace is past upon us, then the believer does voluntarily incline himself, his will is bent to serve God, not by fits and starts, but always to the end. (1 Chronicles 22:7) Now set your hearts to seek the Lord — that is…

It is expounded of Christ, but was first spoken of Solomon, the Type (1 Samuel 7:14). 'My mercy, that is, my covenant-mercy to the Son of David and his seed, shall stand sure as the days of heaven' (Psalm 89:28, 29, 34, 35, 36; 1 Chronicles 22:10). 'He shall build a house for my…

And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son. In the literal sense, it is meant of Solomon (2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chronicles 22:10) and is meant here of David. Athanasius proves him hence to be God, the first begotten of many brethren.

Never think to be brought to Heaven as the passengers in a ship are brought to their port sleeping. 1 Chronicles 22.16. Arise and be doing.

It's true, he is called frequently the Son of man, but never when any prays to him: and he is reckoned in his genealogy, David's son, Abraham's son, the son of Adam; but the son of David is his ordinary style when prayers are directed to him in the days of his flesh. The reasons…

23. When the days were fulfilled. Λειτουργία is employed by Luke to denote a charge or office, which passed, as we have said, to each of them in regular order, (1 Chronicles 24:3.) We are told that, when the time of his office had expired, Zacharias returned home.

Now, it belongs to the arrangement of history to mark the date of the transaction; but for no light reason did the word king mark, at the same time, the wretchedness of that period, in order to remind the Jews, that their eyes ought now to be turned to the Messiah, if they would…

Thus we find the several orders of priests and the Levites, the porters, and singers, after the captivity. So we find the courses of the priests appointed by David still continuing in the New Testament; so Zacharias the father of John the Baptist was a priest of the course of Ab…

First, our willingness is more esteemed than our service. Therefore David counsels Solomon, not only to serve God, but with a willing mind (1 Chronicles 28:9). The will makes sin to be worse, and it makes duty to be better.

To know God, in whom is both Verum & Bonum, truth and goodness, is the masterpiece of wisdom. (1 Chronicles 28:9) And you Solomon my son, know the God of your father. And this knowledge of God is through Christ.

Crowns are signs of greatest honor, but these crowns the angels lay at the Lord's feet, to show that they ascribe the glory of all they do to him. 4. We do God's will as it is done in Heaven by the angels, when we do it willingly, sine murmuratione: The angels love to be employe…

“The Lord has sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of your body will I set upon your throne,” (Psalm 132:11.) Solomon was, beyond controversy, the type of this eternal King who was promised to David; nor can the promise be applied to Christ, except i…

David had the pattern of all things pertaining to the temple showed him, even in like manner as Moses had the pattern of the tabernacle: and Solomon built the temple according to that pattern which he had from his father David, which he received from God. 1 Chronicles 28:11, 12.…

There may be some assent, such as may engage to profession, and partial reformation, but the whole heart is not subdued to God. Then do we believe with the whole heart, when the heart is warmed with the things we know and assent to, when there is a full and free consent to take…

When we delight in God and find full complacency in him as our all-sufficient portion, without reserving any part of our hearts for other things. So for obedience, 1 Chronicles 28:9: And you Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart, and wit…

1. God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: Father, as a lawgiver; Son, as a Redeemer, and head of the renewed estate; Holy Ghost, as our Sanctifier. 1. God the Father, who in the mystery of redemption is represented as our lawgiver, and Sovereign Lord; and will be not only known and w…

Every one of us in person does actually break with God before he breaks with us (2 Chronicles 15:2): If you forsake him, he will forsake you. (1 Chronicles 28:9): David tells Solomon, If you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever; he will not acknowledge you. Take this right…

Light breeds an awe of God, and minds us of our duty upon all occasions. (1 Chronicles 28:9) And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your fathers, and serve him with a perfect heart, and a willing [reconstructed: mind]. First know him, and then serve him.

Genesis 18:19: I know that Abraham will command his children, and they shall keep the way of the Lord. 1 Chronicles 28:9: And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a perfect heart. Surely Abraham and David did not take God's name in vain.

2. Consider it has ever been the Saints practice to instruct and teach their children the way of God. David we finde dropping instruction into his sonne Solomon, 1 Chronicles 28:9. Know you the God of your Father, and serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing minde.

(1) We take no heed to the imaginations, and are not grieved for the constitution of the heart, for actual sins make original sin to swell, as two floods running into one makes a huge river. (2) We take not heed to the young births of the heart; with the concurrence of the mind,…

2. Delight in Religion crowns all our services. Therefore David counsels his son Solomon, not only to serve God, but to serve him with a willing mind, 1 Chronicles 28.9. Delight in duty is better than duty itself; as it is worse for a man to delight in sin, than to commit it, be…

If God be infinite by his Omnipresency, then see the greatness and immenseness of the divine majesty — What a great God do we serve? (1 Chronicles 29:11). Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the glory, and the majesty, and you are exalted as head above all. Well may the Scriptu…

Whatever we receive from God is a gift. We can give nothing to God but what he has given us (1 Chronicles 29:14). All things come of you, and of your own have we given you.

Thus did all Gods Saints in old time; Jacob, He was less than the least of Gods mercies. But especially there is one memorable example of David, and the Church in his days, 1 Chronicles 29.13.14.15.16. When he had prepared abundantly for the building of the Temple, he prostrated…

For the prophet had shown at large the passion and sufferings of Christ (Isaiah 53), and hereupon he says, Rejoice you barren. The Israelites were commanded to feast and to be merry before the Lord (Leviticus 23:40; 1 Chronicles 29:32), that is, before the Lord's Ark, which was…

3. The scope likewise confirms this, Christ being by his way to his people commendable above all, and this being a special commendation of his, that all his works are perfect, and all his ways are judgment (Deuteronomy 32:4). As also the property attributed to his legs, and from…

Be not high minded, but fear, be jealous over yourselves with godly jealousy, rejoice with trembling, cast not off fear, nor restrain prayer before God, keep conscience tender, eyes open and hearts resolved for God. Pray over David's prayer for the continued settlement of those…

The Spirit of God moved him to commit those things to writing, chiefly for that reason, because they pointed to Christ, and the times of the gospel; and, as was said before, this was the main business of all that succession of prophets, that began in Samuel, to foreshow those ti…

A gracious heart has such a sense of God's worth and excellency, that he thinks he can never speak honorably enough of it. See how David enlarges himself very suitably to what is spoken here (1 Chronicles 29:10-13). And David said, Blessed be you, Lord God, for ever and ever: yo…

The people of God are plentifully provided for. Your tables are well furnished, backs well clothed, it is God which gives you richly to enjoy them, and he must be acknowledged; as David does, (1 Chronicles 29:14) For all things come of you, and of your own have we given you. The…

O that poor worms should come and put the crown upon God's head! And that he will count any thing we can do to be a glory to himself (1 Chronicles 29:14). But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort?

First, there is a universal kingdom over all things; over angels, and devils; over men elect, and reprobate; over beasts, and living creatures; and over inanimate things, sun, moon, and stars. This is spoken of (1 Chronicles 29:11): Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exal…

It is said of Christ (Colossians 2:9), In him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily: fullness of the [reconstructed: Godhead] — oh wonderful! The people wondered at that mass of money provided by David to build God a house (1 Chronicles 29:7-8). Oh! but the unsearchable…

God dwelt symbolically by outward representations in the temple; but here he dwells bodily. When David had provided such a mass of money (1 Chronicles 29:7-9), they fell a wondering: O! But when the soul comes to view the unsearchable riches of grace in Christ Jesus, then it may…

Rather metaphorically for the whole course of his life, whether spent in the palace, or in the wilderness, in whatever place he was, he was still in the house of his pilgrimage: so he accounted his best and his worst condition, compare verse 19. I am a stranger in the earth, and…

Yes, this is that which seasons and makes all other things comfortable, when we have them and the love of God with them. This man of God had a kingdom, and a great deal of wealth, he was a victorious king, as we may see by his offering (1 Chronicles 29), what cart-loads of gold…

If we enjoy them as our own, by an original right exclusive to God, we are usurpers but not just possessors; we have indeed a subordinate right to prevent the encroachment of our fellow creatures, but that is but such a right as a man has in a trust, or a servant to his working…

Wherewith can we oblige God? We have nothing to give to him, but what is his own already, and was first received from him, all things come of you, and of your own have we given you (1 Chronicles 29:14). We pay the great governor of the world out of his own exchequer.

This is the thing that God delights in, and looks after. 1 Chronicles 29:17: I know also my God that you test the heart, and take pleasure in uprightness. He can discern integrity, and prefers it before all manner of service and pomp in worship that is yielded to him.

As vapors drawn up by the Sun, at night fall down again in a dew. The people were upon a high point of willingness, mighty forward and ready to offer whole cartloads of gold and silver (1 Chronicles 29:18), what says David? O Lord God, keep this forever in the imagination of the…

Alas, poor soul, no longer than he is held up by the same hand, that impowered him at first. He has soon wrought out the strength received, and therefore to maintain the tenure of a holy course. there must be renewing strength from heaven every moment, which David knew, and ther…

It is beyond all admiration, to create so [reconstructed: rare] a piece as the sun out of nothing, and a beautiful lily out of mire and dirt, out of common clay to bring forth sapphires, carbuncles, and in lieu of a stony heart (for grace is not educed out of the potency of any…

And what you give to another, it was out of his dominion, but all things are in his dominion, for who spoiled him of what he had? David blessed the Lord, when the people gave for the Temple, excusing himself and the people, that they took on them to give to the great Lord-giver:…

And let another man do many things very weakly, and yet has some care of his heart, God knows how to pardon it; though Asa had many failings (2 Chronicles 15:17), yet his spirit was upright with God all his days, and that covered a multitude of failings that elsewhere were in hi…

But afterward he rises up to some sense, then he falls to prayer (verse 12), then he begins to look up, and can pray to God to guide him by his counsel, and then receive him to glory; and then it is good for him to draw near to God: but he rises not up to matter of conference wi…