2 Chronicles 6

2 Chronicles 6:18

18. But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? &c.] This most awful and important question seems to have almost overwhelmed the vast and capacious mind of Solomon himself. Certainly that which is without bounds cannot be comprehended within that which has bounds, whether large or small; and therefore, in a strict and proper sense, “the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands;” see Acts vii. 48. But it is no less certain, that there is a sense, agreeably to which it may be truly said, that the Most High does dwell in temples made with hands. So Solomon asserts in this same prayer at the dedication of the temple, ver. 1, 2: and God Himself is introduced as saying the same in the 132d Psalm, ver. 13, 14. Accordingly we read, that “when the priests were come out of the holy place, the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister, &c.” see chap. v. 11—14. The Master took possession of His house, and for a time dispossessed even His own servants, to show that He did so. As if He had said, “The house, which you have designed for My worship, I have designed for your blessing: what you have dedicated, I have accepted: what you have consecrated, I have allowed: I have taken it for the purpose you intended.” Or, to use the far more emphatical words of the sacred penman, “I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before Me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put My name there for ever; and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually.” Thus, notwithstanding the iniquities of mankind, and His own purity, as well as incomprehensible majesty, has God been pleased to “dwell indeed on earth,” and to vouchsafe an especial manifestation of His presence in holy places, dedicated to His name, and set apart for His worship. An house designed for that end is therefore styled “the house of God,” or place of His residence. And let us not think that He is less present with us, than He was with Israel. Is the Christian church less favoured than the Jewish church was? Have we lost any thing by the incarnation of His Son? Surely not. It may be said indeed, we do not see Him as the Israelites did. But “the glory,” or body of light or fire, which the Israelites saw, was only a sign or token of

2 Chronicles 6:20

20. That thine eyes may be open upon this house &c.] In these words the use of the temple is signified. This house was the place where God would give audience, and have respect to the petition, out of regard to the place in which it was offered. They, who expect to be heard when they address a king, go into his court, and present themselves in the proper place for an audience. The temple was the court of the great King; and, though He can hear the voice of men in every place, yet it was expedient that one place should be honoured above all others to stir up reverence in men, and give them a reasonable ground of hope when they should offer their petitions. It seems by the expression, that the people were encouraged, not only to pray within the temple, but to have respect to it, and to turn themselves toward it in their devotions, even when they prayed to the God of Israel in distant places: “Hearken unto the supplications of Thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place.” And the practice was duly observed by Daniel in his captivity at Babylon: it was his manner “to open his window toward Jerusalem, and to kneel and pray three times a day,” Dan. vi. 10. His respect was to the temple; and he held to the practice, though then the ruins of it only were remaining. In fact, the tabernacle and temple were the places where the devotion of the people, and the favour of God, met together: the house of God was the common assembly of heaven and earth; there God was to be found, and there the people sought Him: there Hannah, in the bitterness of her soul, offered up her devotions, and her petition was granted. Yea, and Christ Himself allows, Matt. xxii. 17, that “the temple sanctified the gold” which was offered in it: and, if it could sanctify the gold, it would rather sanctify the more valuable offerings of prayer and thanksgiving. This was known to that godly woman Anna the prophetess, who, having devoted herself to God, departed not from the temple, but served Him there with fastings and prayers night and day. There the prayers of Simeon were granted, and the promise of God fulfilled to him, when he took up the child Jesus in his arms, and blessed God, who in the temple had indulged him with a sight of what his eyes most desired to behold. Jones of Nayland.

Solomon’s prayer at the consecration Before CHRIST 1004. supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive. he require an oath of him.

2 Chronicles 6:28

28. — or caterpillers;] The Hebrew word here means some small destructive insects. That they are liable to the ravages of such animals in the East, appears from Sir J. Chardin, who says, that Persia is subject to have its harvest spoiled by locusts and small insects, which they call Sam; these are small white lice, which fix

2 Chronicles 6:38

38. — and pray toward their land,] Thus both prince and people were to pray in this house, while they possessed the land of Judea and the city where it stood; Before CHRIST 1004. h 1 Chron. 28. 9. days which. the face of the land.

2 Chronicles 6:41

41. Now therefore arise, O Lord God, &c.] These words form part of Psalm cxxxii. 8, 9, with very little variation. In them he beseeches God to take up His habitation here, with “the ark of His strength,” so as to stir from hence no more; and also so to defend His priests who ministered to Him, that they might obtain His blessings for others, and that all the people might rejoice in His great bounty. Bp. Patrick. Chap. VII. ver. 1.—the fire came down from heaven.]

God had already given one gracious token of His acceptance of the temple for the place of His holy residence and worship, by the cloud of glory coming into

it, chap. v. 13, 14: and now, as a further confirmation of it, the king’s foregoing prayer was no sooner ended,

than the sacrifices were immediately burnt and consumed by a flame, from the same cloud, upon the

altar; in the same manner as it was at the consecration of the tabernacle, Lev. ix. 24. Pyle. The cloud, which denoted the presence of God, had already filled the house, so that the priest could not

stand to minister: and in the ages after, as well as before, the Divine presence was manifested about the ark,

and between the cherubim which overshadowed it. On special occasions, it appeared in a visible manner, under the symbol of a cloud, with a light or glory attending it: and, when the cloud was not seen, the place was always understood as being inhabited in a particular manner by the glory of the Godhead. Jones of Nayland.

This kind of answer by fire was of the most satisfactory kind. By this answer God determined the controversies between Elijah and Baal’s priests: by the like

effects of fire from heaven, the calling of Aaron to the priesthood was proved to be not by man, but by God’s immediate appointment. And so was the consecration

of the Son of God to His everlasting priesthood confirmed by the visible appearance of the Holy Ghost in

tongues of fire, which was the accomplishment of both the former miraculous appearances from heaven, the one Solomon dismisseth the people. God’s second appearance to him. Before CHRIST 1004. d Josh. 13. 3. restraint. e I Kings 9. 1, &c. f Deut. 12. 5. whom my name is called. g Chap. 6. 40. prayer of this place. h Chap. 6. 6.

kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.