SECOND CHRONICLES by F. D. Starr

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 10, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 32.

SECOND CHRONICLES.

By F. D. Starr

BY F. D. STARR.

THE historical record of this book covers a period of nearly five centuries, beginning with the reign of Solomon, and reaching to the restoration of the Jews from captivity under Darius. The interesting subject of the building and dedication of the temple is introduced in the early part of the book. One matter that is especially worthy of consideration, is the design that David formed in his mind to build a house for God.

The message of the Lord to David as found in 2 Chron. 6:8, 9, is thus stated: “Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for My name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart; notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for My name.” This is to us a very encouraging incident. We are glad to know that the Lord is pleased with our purpose to do something for Him, tho for some reason we may not be permitted to carry the purpose to its culmination. The Lord takes the purpose as tho it were the deed performed.

Another feature of this important incident is the fact that not only David, but also his spiritual adviser, Nathan the prophet, thought the building of the Lord’s house would be a proper undertaking for David. Let us read about this in 2 Samuel 7. We find here that Nathan said to David in regard to the proposition for building the temple, “Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the Lord is with thee.” Nathan was an inspired prophet, but this did not prevent his having a personal opinion, based on his own private judgment, and in this case

this judgment was erroneous. The Lord gave Nathan information that night which caused him to reverse his decision and tell David, “Thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in.” 1 Chron. 17:4.

Another incident illustrating this same point is found in 1 Samuel 16. Samuel was in search of a proper person to anoint as king of Israel. Now Samuel was a devoted prophet, of life-long experience, and certainly ought to be infallible if there is any such thing as human infallibility. But we see his judgment is still incompetent for the task of making a correct decision, unaided by the direct impression of the Holy Spirit. “He looked on Eliab [the oldest son of Jesse], and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him. But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him.” So we have to appeal from the prophet ill informed to the prophet well informed. Infallibility rests in the divine inspiration bestowed upon the prophet, and not in the man himself.

David was not permitted to build the house of the Lord, as stated in 1 Chron. 22:7, 8. The royal psalmist himself says: “It was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God; but the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars; thou shalt not build an house unto My name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in My sight.” Making explanation to all the assembled princes and officers of Israel, as to why he did not himself build the temple, David says: “God said to me, Thou shalt not build an house for My name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.” 1 Chron. 28:3.

Solomon, in explaining to Hiram, king of Tyre, a heathen monarch, the reason why his father did not build the temple, did not consider it necessary to give the reason which the Lord had given, and which David himself had freely given, lest it seem to the heathen king that he was disparaging the name and memory of his father David. So he sent this word to Hiram: “Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the Lord his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the Lord put them under the soles of His feet. But now the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.” 1 Kings 5:3, 4. The idea that the wars in which David was concerned hindered him from building the house, seemed to be more favorable to put before this foreign prince, especially when presented by the son of the Israelite monarch. The reason was undoubtedly tenable, but it was a different phase of the reason than David himself presented. It is not necessary to furnish to those outside of the household of faith facts detrimental to the Lord’s servants. There is nothing dishonest about such a course; to suppose it to be so, would be an abnormal idea of honesty.

This important volume of historical records is replete with interesting incidents, for reading which the reader will be amply repaid. Let each one search them out for himself. We close with an allusion to a most solemn statement found in the last chapter of the book: “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; 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.” 2 Chron. 36:15, 16. This language is indeed pathetic. The result of their course was the Babylonish captivity.

Our Saviour’s words in Matt. 23:37 fitly apply here: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” It was not simply while he was on earth personally that the Redeemer sought to shelter His people, but all through the preceding ages had He exercised this fostering care. Shall we be deaf to His entreaties to us? God forbid.