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2 Chronicles 6:20-42 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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20 That thine eyes H5869 may be open H6605 upon this house H1004 day H3119 and night, H3915 upon the place H4725 whereof thou hast said H559 that thou wouldest put H7760 thy name H8034 there; to hearken H8085 unto the prayer H8605 which thy servant H5650 prayeth H6419 toward this place. H4725

21 Hearken H8085 therefore unto the supplications H8469 of thy servant, H5650 and of thy people H5971 Israel, H3478 which they shall make H6419 toward this place: H4725 hear H8085 thou from thy dwelling H3427 place, H4725 even from heaven; H8064 and when thou hearest, H8085 forgive. H5545

22 If a man H376 sin H2398 against his neighbour, H7453 and an oath H423 be laid H5375 upon him to make him swear, H422 and the oath H423 come H935 before H6440 thine altar H4196 in this house; H1004

23 Then hear H8085 thou from heaven, H8064 and do, H6213 and judge H8199 thy servants, H5650 by requiting H7725 the wicked, H7563 by recompensing H5414 his way H1870 upon his own head; H7218 and by justifying H6663 the righteous, H6662 by giving H5414 him according to his righteousness. H6666

24 And if thy people H5971 Israel H3478 be put to the worse H5062 before H6440 the enemy, H341 because they have sinned H2398 against thee; and shall return H7725 and confess H3034 thy name, H8034 and pray H6419 and make supplication H2603 before H6440 thee in this house; H1004

25 Then hear H8085 thou from the heavens, H8064 and forgive H5545 the sin H2403 of thy people H5971 Israel, H3478 and bring them again H7725 unto the land H127 which thou gavest H5414 to them and to their fathers. H1

26 When the heaven H8064 is shut up, H6113 and there is no rain, H4306 because they have sinned H2398 against thee; yet if they pray H6419 toward this place, H4725 and confess H3034 thy name, H8034 and turn H7725 from their sin, H2403 when thou dost afflict H6031 them;

27 Then hear H8085 thou from heaven, H8064 and forgive H5545 the sin H2403 of thy servants, H5650 and of thy people H5971 Israel, H3478 when thou hast taught H3384 them the good H2896 way, H1870 wherein they should walk; H3212 and send H5414 rain H4306 upon thy land, H776 which thou hast given H5414 unto thy people H5971 for an inheritance. H5159

28 If there be dearth H7458 in the land, H776 if there be pestilence, H1698 if there be blasting, H7711 or mildew, H3420 locusts, H697 or caterpillers; H2625 if their enemies H341 besiege H6887 them in the cities H8179 of their land; H776 whatsoever sore H5061 or whatsoever sickness H4245 there be:

29 Then what prayer H8605 or what supplication H8467 soever shall be made of any man, H120 or of all thy people H5971 Israel, H3478 when every one H376 shall know H3045 his own sore H5061 and his own grief, H4341 and shall spread forth H6566 his hands H3709 in this house: H1004

30 Then hear H8085 thou from heaven H8064 thy dwelling H3427 place, H4349 and forgive, H5545 and render H5414 unto every man H376 according unto all his ways, H1870 whose heart H3824 thou knowest; H3045 (for thou only knowest H3045 the hearts H3824 of the children H1121 of men:) H120

31 That they may fear H3372 thee, to walk H3212 in thy ways, H1870 so long as H3117 they live H2416 H6440 in the land H127 which thou gavest H5414 unto our fathers. H1

32 Moreover concerning the stranger, H5237 which is not of thy people H5971 Israel, H3478 but is come H935 from a far H7350 country H776 for thy great H1419 name's H8034 sake, and thy mighty H2389 hand, H3027 and thy stretched out H5186 arm; H2220 if they come H935 and pray H6419 in this house; H1004

33 Then hear H8085 thou from the heavens, H8064 even from thy dwelling H3427 place, H4349 and do H6213 according to all that the stranger H5237 calleth H7121 to thee for; that all people H5971 of the earth H776 may know H3045 thy name, H8034 and fear H3372 thee, as doth thy people H5971 Israel, H3478 and may know H3045 that this house H1004 which I have built H1129 is called H7121 by thy name. H8034

34 If thy people H5971 go out H3318 to war H4421 against their enemies H341 by the way H1870 that thou shalt send H7971 them, and they pray H6419 unto thee toward H1870 this city H5892 which thou hast chosen, H977 and the house H1004 which I have built H1129 for thy name; H8034

35 Then hear H8085 thou from the heavens H8064 their prayer H8605 and their supplication, H8467 and maintain H6213 their cause. H4941

36 If they sin H2398 against thee, (for there is no man H120 which sinneth H2398 not,) and thou be angry H599 with them, and deliver H5414 them over before H6440 their enemies, H341 and they carry them away H7617 captives H7617 unto a land H776 far off H7350 or near; H7138

37 Yet if they bethink H7725 H3824 themselves in the land H776 whither they are carried captive, H7617 and turn H7725 and pray H2603 unto thee in the land H776 of their captivity, H7628 saying, H559 We have sinned, H2398 we have done amiss, H5753 and have dealt wickedly; H7561

38 If they return H7725 to thee with all their heart H3820 and with all their soul H5315 in the land H776 of their captivity, H7628 whither they have carried them captives, H7617 and pray H6419 toward H1870 their land, H776 which thou gavest H5414 unto their fathers, H1 and toward the city H5892 which thou hast chosen, H977 and toward the house H1004 which I have built H1129 for thy name: H8034

39 Then hear H8085 thou from the heavens, H8064 even from thy dwelling H3427 place, H4349 their prayer H8605 and their supplications, H8467 and maintain H6213 their cause, H4941 and forgive H5545 thy people H5971 which have sinned H2398 against thee.

40 Now, my God, H430 let, I beseech thee, thine eyes H5869 be open, H6605 and let thine ears H241 be attent H7183 unto the prayer H8605 that is made in this place. H4725

41 Now therefore arise, H6965 O LORD H3068 God, H430 into thy resting H5118 place, thou, and the ark H727 of thy strength: H5797 let thy priests, H3548 O LORD H3068 God, H430 be clothed H3847 with salvation, H8668 and let thy saints H2623 rejoice H8055 in goodness. H2896

42 O LORD H3068 God, H430 turn not away H7725 the face H6440 of thine anointed: H4899 remember H2142 the mercies H2617 of David H1732 thy servant. H5650

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 6

Commentary on 2 Chronicles 6 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill   Keil & Delitzsch   Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible  

Chapter 6

The glory of the Lord, in the vehicle of a thick cloud, having filled the house which Solomon built, by which God manifested his presence there, he immediately improves the opportunity, and addresses God, as a God now, in a peculiar manner, nigh at hand.

  • I. He makes a solemn declaration of his intention in building this house, to the satisfaction of the people and the honour of God, both of whom he blessed (v. 1-11).
  • II. 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 (v. 12-42). This whole chapter we had before, with very little variation (1 Ki. 8:12-53), to which it may not be amiss here to look back.

2Ch 6:1-11

It is of great consequence, in all our religious actions, that we design well, and that our eye be single. If Solomon had built this temple in the pride of his heart, as Ahasuerus made his feast, only to show the riches of his kingdom and the honour of his majesty, it would not have turned at all to his account. But here he declares upon what inducements he undertook it, and they are such as not only justify, but magnify, the undertaking.

  • 1. He did it for the glory and honour of God; this was his highest and ultimate end in it. It was for the name of the Lord God of Israel (v. 10), to be a house of habitation for him, v. 2. He has indeed, as to us, made darkness his pavilion (v. 1), but let this house be the residence of that darkness; for it is in the upper world that he dwells in light, such as no eye can approach.
  • 2. He did it in compliance with the choice God had been pleased to make of Jerusalem, to be the city in which he would record his name (v. 6): I have chosen Jerusalem. A great many stately buildings there were in Jerusalem for the king, his princes, and the royal family. If God chooses that place, it is fit that there be a building for him which may excel all the rest. If men were thus honoured there, let God be thus honoured.
  • 3. He did it in pursuance of his father's good intentions, which he never had an opportunity to put into execution: "It was in the heart of David my father to build a house for God;' the project was his, be it known, to his honour (v. 7), and God approved of it, though he permitted him not to put it in execution (v. 8), Thou didst well that it was in thy heart. Temple-work is often thus done; one sows and another reaps (Jn. 4:37, 38), one age begins that which the next brings to perfection. And let not the wisest of men think it any disparagement to them to pursue the good designs which those that went before them have laid, and to build upon their foundation. Every good piece is not an original.
  • 4. He did it in performance of the word which God had spoken. God had said, Thy son shall build the house for my name; and now he had done it, v. 9, 10. The service was appointed him, and the honour of it designed him, by the divine promise; so that he did not do it of his own head, but was called of God to do it. It is fit that he who appoints the work should have the appointing of the workmen; and those may go on in their work with great satisfaction who see their call to it clear.

2Ch 6:12-42

Solomon had, in the foregoing verses, signed and sealed, as it were, the deed of dedication, by which the temple was appropriated to the honour and service of God. Now here he prays the consecration-prayer, by which it was made a figure of Christ, the great Mediator, through whom we are to offer all our prayers, and to expect all God's favours, and to whom we are to have an eye in every thing where we have to do with God. We have opened the particulars of this prayer (1 Ki. 8) and therefore shall now only glean up some few passages in it which may be the proper subjects of our meditation.

  • I. Here are some doctrinal truths occasionally laid down. As,
    • 1. That the God of Israel is a being of incomparable perfection. We cannot describe him; but this we know, there is none like him in heaven or in earth, v. 14. All the creatures have their fellow-creatures, but the Creator has not his peer. He is infinitely above all, and over all, God blessed for ever.
    • 2. That he is, and will be, true to every word that he has spoken; and all that serve him in sincerity shall certainly find him both faithful and kind. Those that set God always before them, and walk before him with all their hearts, shall find him as good as his word and better; he will both keep covenant with them and show mercy to them, v. 14.
    • 3. That he is a being infinite and immense, whom the heaven, and heaven of heavens, cannot contain, and to whose felicity nothing is added by the utmost we can do in his service, v. 18. He is infinitely beyond the bounds of the creation and infinitely above the praises of all intelligent creatures.
    • 4. That he, and he only, knows the hearts of the children of men, v. 30. All men's thoughts, aims, and affections, are naked and open before him; and, however the imaginations and intents of our hearts may be concealed from men, angels, and devils, they cannot be hidden from God, who knows not only what is in the heart, but the heart itself and all the beatings of it.
    • 5. That there is no such thing as a sinless perfection to be found in this life (v. 36): There is no man who sinneth not; nay, who doeth good and sinneth not; so he writes, agreeable to what he here says, Eccl. 7:20.
  • II. Here are some suppositions or cases put which are to be taken notice of.
    • 1. He supposed that if doubts and controversies arose between man and man both sides would agree to appeal to God, and lay an oath upon the person whose testimony must decide the matter, v. 22. The religious reverence of an oath, as it was ancient, so, it may be presumed, it will continue as long as there are any remains of conscience and right reason among men.
    • 2. He supposed that, though Israel enjoyed a profound peace and tranquillity, yet troublesome times would come. He did not think the mountain of their prosperity stood so strong but that it might be moved; nay, he expected sin would move it.
    • 3. He supposed that those who had not called upon God at other times, yet, in their affliction, would seek him early and earnestly. "When they are in distress they will confess their sins, and confess thy name, and make supplication to thee.' Trouble will drive those to God who have said to him, Depart, v. 24, 26, 28.
    • 4. He supposed that strangers would come from afar to worship the God of Israel and to pay homage to him; and this also might reasonably be expected, considering what worthless things the gods of the nations were, and what proofs the God of Israel had given of his being Lord of the whole earth.
  • III. Here are petitions very pertinent.
    • 1. That God would own this house, and have an eye to it, as the place of which he had said that he would put his name there, v. 20. He could not, in faith, have asked God to show such peculiar favour to this house above any other if he himself had not said that it should be his rest for ever. The prayer that will speed must be warranted by the word. We may with humble confidence pray to God to be well pleased with us in Jesus Christ, because he had declared himself well pleased in him-This is my beloved Son; but he says not now of any house, "This is my beloved place.'
    • 2. That God would hear and accept the prayers which should be made in or towards that place, v. 21. He asked not that God should help them whether they prayed for themselves or no, but that God would help them in answer to their prayers. Even Christ's intercessions do not supersede but encourage our supplications. He prayed that God would hear from his dwelling-place, even from heaven. Heaven in his dwelling-place still, not this temple; and thence help must come. When thou hearest forgive. Note, The forgiveness of our sins is that which makes way for all the other answers to our prayers, Removendo prohibens-The evil which it drives away it keeps away.
    • 3. That God would give judgment according to equity upon all the appeals that should be made to him, v. 23, 30. This we may, in faith, pray for, for we are sure it shall be done. God sitteth on the throne judging right.
    • 4. That God would return in mercy to his people when they repented, and reformed, and sought unto him, v. 25, 27, 38, 39. This we also may, in faith, pray for, building upon the repeated declarations God has made of his readiness to accepts penitents.
    • 5. That God would bid the strangers welcome to this house, and answer their prayers (v. 33); for, if there be in duty, why should there not be in privilege one law for the stranger and for one born in the land? Lev. 24:22.
    • 6. That God would, upon all occasions, own and plead the cause of his people Israel, against all the opposers of it (v. 35): Maintain their cause; and again, v. 39. If they be the Israel of God, their cause is the cause of God, and he would espouse it.
    • 7. He concludes this prayer with some expressions which he had learned of his good father, and borrowed from one of his psalms. We had then not in the Kings, but here we have them, v. 41, 42. 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 of use, in a special manner, to direct Solomon, because they had reference to this very work that he was now doing. We have them, Ps. 132:8-10. He prayed (v. 41),
      • (1.) That God would take possession of the temple, and keep possession, that he would make it 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?
      • (2.) 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.
      • (3.) 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, Ps. 65:4. "Let all that come hither to worship, like the eunuch, go away rejoicing.' He pleads two things, v. 42.
        • [1.] His own relation to God: "Turn not away the face of thy anointed. Lord, thou hast appointed me to be king, and wilt not thou own me?'
        • [2.] God's covenant with his father: Remember thy mercies of David thy servant-the piety of David towards God (so some understand it and so the word sometimes signifies), his pious care of the ark, and concern for it (see Ps. 132:1, 2, etc.), or the promises of God to David, which were mercies to him, his great support and comforts in all his troubles. We may plead, as Solomon does here, with an eye to Christ:-"We 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, thy anointed, thy Messiah (so the word is), thy Christ, so the LLX. Him thou hearest always, and wilt never turn away his face. We have no righteousness of our own to plead, but, Lord, remember the mercies of David thy servant.' Christ is God's servant (Isa. 42:1), and is called David, Hos. 3:5. "Lord, remember his mercies, and accept us on the account of them. Remember his tender concern for his Father's honour and man's salvation, and what he did and suffered from that principle. Remember the promises of the everlasting covenant, which free grace has made to us in Christ, and which are called the sure mercies of David,' Isa. 55:3 and Acts 13:34. This must be all our desire and all our hope, all our prayer and all our plea; for it is all our salvation.