Bible Commentaries

2 Chronicles 6:1. The Lord hath said, &c.— Thou hast promised, O Lord, that thou wouldest dwell. Houbigant.

2 Chronicles 6:18. But will God in very deed dwell with men— That God may dwell in very deed with men upon the earth: Houbigant; who supposes, that Solomon in these words refers to God's promise to David, and that he entreats in them God's continual presence and rule over the people of Israel.

REFLECTIONS.—1st, For the above; see 1 Kings 8:12-53. We have only farther to observe,

1. That it is our duty to correspond with the divine appointment, and earnestly prosecute the work that God hath appointed us.

2. When our eye is single to please God, we shall have comfort in our labours.

3. The fulfilment of God's promise is sure; we have only to be faithful, and we shall find that God is true.

4. Grateful acknowledgments of God's faithfulness must be made, not only for his honour, but for the encouragement of others to trust in the same faithful God.

2nd, In respect to the whole of Solomon's prayers, we may farther learn,

1. That this temple was figurative of the Lord Jesus, through whom alone our supplications and services find any acceptance with God.

2. To love, honour, and fear this holy God of power, faithfulness, mercy, and incomprehensible glory.

3. To be impressed with a sense of his heart-searching eye, that no allowed evil may be harboured in us.

4. Though we may not, for the sake of our prayers, expect to be heard of God, yet assuredly we shall not be heeded without them.

5. There is no difference between Jew or Gentile, Barbarian, Scythian, bond or free; but whosoever in faith calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. The prayer closes with two verses out of the Psalms: no words so expressive as those which God's spirit has dictated. He begs the constant residence of God among them; his blessing upon the ministers of the sanctuary, to enable them to save their own souls, and be instruments of salvation to the people; and the abiding consolations of his spirit with all his saints, making them rejoice in the experience of his goodness. He finishes with pleading the covenant-mercies of his father, and those shewn to himself, whom God had anointed: or this may refer emphatically to the effectual intercession of the Messiah, whom God always heareth, and in whose sure mercies we may confidently place our hopes for time and for eternity.