CHAPTER VI.

The glory of the Lord, in a vehicle of a thick cloud, having filled the house which Solomon built, by which God manifested his presence there, he presently lays hold on the opportunity, and addresseth himself to God, as a God now in a peculiar manner nigh at hand. (1.) He makes a solemn declaration of his intent and meaning in the building this house, to the satisfaction of the people, and the honour of God, both which he blessed, ver. 1-11. (2.) He makes a solemn prayer to God, that he would please graciously to accept and answer all the prayers that should be made in or towards that house, ver. 12-42. This whole chapter we had before with very little variation, 1 Kings viii. 12—53.

VER. 41. "Now therefore arise, O Lord God, into thy resting-place, thou and the ark of thy strength; let thy priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness."]-In the preceding verses we have Solomon dedicating the temple to the Lord by prayer; which prayer appears to be very solemn, devout, ardent, and sincere; in which Solomon adores the Lord in his immensity, glory, and greatness, and by way of admiration says, "But will God indeed dwell with men upon the earth?" which seems to be expressive of his faith in the glorious Messiah, that he would dwell upon the earth and it may likewise denote his faith in his second coming, when the tabernacle of God "shall dwell with men upon the carth." This consecration prayer of Solomon for the whole congregation of Israel was a figure of the mediation of Christ, and of his prayers and intercession for us; through whose intercession all our desires are heard: and in this respect the whole word of God is of use to direct us in prayer, and how can we express ourselves in better language to God than that of his own Spirit? But these words were in a special manner of use to direct Solomon, because they had reference to this very work he was now doing. We have them, Psalm cxxxii. 8, 9, 10. He prays, ver. 41. First, that God would take possession of the temple, and keep possession; that he would make it his place, his resting-place. Thou and the ark; what will the ark do without the God of the ark? ordinances without the God of the ordinances? That he would make the ministers of the temple public blessings, "clothe them with salvation," that is, not only save them, but make them instrumental to save others, by offering the sacrifices of righteousness, that the service of the temple might turn abundantly to the joy and

satisfaction of all the Lord's people. "Let thy saints rejoice in goodness," that is, in the goodness of thy house, Psalm lxv. 4. Let all that come hither to worship, like the eunuch, go away rejoicing. He pleads two things, ver. 42. First, his own relation to God; "Turn not away the face of thine anointed:" Lord, thou hast appointed me to be king, and wilt not thou own me? Secondly, God's covenant with his father; " Remember the mercies of David, thy servant;" the promises of God to David, which were mercies to him, his great support in all his troubles. We may plead, as Solomon doth here, with an eye to Christ. deserve that God should turn away our face, that he should reject us and our prayers, but we come in the name of the Lord Jesus," thine anointed, thy Messiah," so the word is; thy Christ, so the seventy. Him thou hearest always, and wilt never" turn away his face."

We

CHAPTER VII.

In this chapter we have God's answer to Solomon's prayer. (1.) His public answer by fire from heaven, which consumed the sacrifices, ver. 1. with which the priests and people were much affected, ver. 2, 3. and by that token of God's acceptance were encouraged to continue the solemnities of the feast for fourteen days, and Solomon was encouraged to pursue all his designs for the honour of God, ver. 4—11. (2.) His private answer by word of mouth, in a dream or vision of the night, ver. 12-22. Most of these things we had before, 1 Kings viii. and ix.

VER. 3." And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped and praised the Lord."]-The Lord's gracious answer to Solomon's prayer: the "fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice," ver. 1. Which typified the sufferings of Christ, when it pleased the Lord to bruise him and put him to grief. His death was our life, and he was made sin and a curse, that we might inherit righteousness and a blessing. That sacrifice was consumed, that we might escape; "Here am I, let these go their way.' It may also point out the sanctification of the Spirit, like fire burning up our lusts and corruptions, and kindling in our souls a holy fire of pious and devout affections, always to be kept burning on the

altar of the heart. The evidence of God's acceptance of our prayers is the descent of this holy fire upon us, "Did not our hearts burn within us?" Luke xxiv. 32. And as a farther evidence that God has accepted Solomon's prayer, still"the glory of the Lord filled the house." The heart that is thus filled with a holy reverence of the divine glory, to which God manifests himself in his greatness, is thereby owned as a living temple.

Ver. 16. "For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually."]-The temple was a figure of the church, and the Lord's choosing and sanctifying the temple spiritually denotes the sanctification of his people, who are the temple of the living God and his name being there for ever denotes his perfections, power, and promise being ever engaged for his church; and his eye and his heart being there perpetually denotes his sympathy to his people in their trials and tribulation; and his love and power are engaged to relieve them.

CHAPTER VIII.

In this chapter we are told, (1.) What cities Solomon built, ver. 1-6. (2.) What workmen Solomon employed, ver. 7—10. (5.) What care he took about a proper settlement for his wife, ver. 11. (4.) What a good method he put the temple service into, ver. 12-16. (5.) What trading he had with foreign countries, ver. 17, 18.

VER. 16. "Now all the work of Solomon was prepared pared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the Lord."]-The temple was a figure of the church of God in its building, and likewise in its preparation. The church in all her beauty, standing, and glory, which she enjoys upon Christ, the foundation laid in Zion, is the preparation of grace for as the stones were framed and smoothed for the building, so are all the spiritual stones in God's spiritual house framed by the Holy Ghost in his building the church, 1 Peter ii. 5.

CHAPTER IX.

Solomon here continues to look very great both at home and abroad. We had this account of his grandeur, 1 Kings x. nothing is here added: but his defection towards his latter end, which we have there, chap. xi. is here omitted: and the close of this chapter brings him to the grave with an unstained reputation. I think none of the chapters in the Chronicles agree so much with a chapter in the Kings, as this doth with 1 Kings x. verse for verse, only that the two first verses there are put into one here, and ver. 25. here is taken from 1 Kings iv. 26. and the three last verses here from 1 Kings xi. 41-43. Here is, (2.) The honour which the queen of Sheba did to Solomon, in the visit she made him to hear his wisdom, ver. 1—12. (2.) Many instances given of the riches and splendour of Solomon's court, ver. 13–28. (3.) The conclusion of his, ver. 29-51.

VER. 9. "Neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon."]-That Solomon was a figure of Christ in his name, in his wisdom, in his building the temple, in his riches, and in his reign over Israel, and the queen of Sheba a type of the church, see the notes on 1 Kings x.

Ver. 31." And Solomon slept with his fathers."]-No mention is made at Solomon's death of his departure from God in his latter days, not the least hint given of it, because the Holy Ghost would teach us not to take delight in repeating the faults and follies of others. If those that have been in reputation for wisdom and honour, miscarry themselves, though it may be of use to take notice of their miscarriages for warning to ourselves and others, yet we must not be forward to mention them; once speaking of them is enough, what needs that unpleasant string be again struck upon? though he fell, yet he was not utterly cast down; therefore his sin is not again recorded, because it was pardoned, and so became as if it had never been.

CHAPTER X.

This chapter is copied almost word for word from 1 Kings xii. 1-19. Solomon's defection from God was not repeated, but the defection of the ten tribes from his family is in this chapter, where we find, (1.) How foolish Rehoboam was in his treating with them, ver. 1,5-15. (2.) How wicked the people were in complaining of Solomon, ver. 2, 3, 4. and forsaking Rehoboam, ver. 16-19. (3.) How just

and righteous God was in all this, ver. 15. his counsel was thereby fulfilled. With him is strength and wisdom, both "the deceived and the deceiver (the fool and the knave) are his,” Job. xii. 16. that is, are made use of by him, to serve his purposes.

VER. 15. "So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God."-This shews that Jehovah's will is incontrolable, and that man acts as a free agent in the bringing it to pass, as is evident from the fulfilment of prophecies.

Ver. 19. "And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day."]-We may learn here,

That when public affairs are in a ferment, violent proceedings do but make ill worse. Rough answers, such as Rehoboam here gave, do but stir up anger, and bring oil to the flames. The pilot has need to steer steady in a storm. Many have been driven to the mischief they did not intend, by being too severely dealt with for what they did intend.

Secondly. That whatever the devices and designs of men are, God is by all doing his own work, and fulfilling the word which he has spoken, not one jot or tittle of which shall fall to the ground. The cause of the king's wilfulness and incogitancy was "of God, that he might perform the word which he spake by Ahijah," ver. 13. This doth not at all excuse Rehoboam's folly, nor lessen the guilt of his haughtiness and passion, that God was pleased to serve his own ends by it.

Thirdly. That worldly honour and dominion are very uncertain things: "Solomon reigned over all Israel," and yet he is scarce cold in his grave before ten tribes revoltfrom his son.

CHAPTER XI.

We are here going on with the history of Rehoboam. (1.) His attempt to recover the ten tribes he had lost, and the letting fall of that attempt, in obedience to the divine command, ver. 1-4. (2.) His successful endeavours to preserve the two tribes that remained, ver. 5-12. (3.) The resort of the priests and Levites to him, ver. 13-17. (4.) An account of his wives and children, ver. 18–23.

and

VER. 4. "And they obeyed the words of the Lord."] -As there is no trouble like a mind that is perverse a murmuring against the will of God in providence, so there