Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 15:7
Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
7. Be ye strong therefore ] R.V. But be ye strong. The prophet’s warning is continued in this verse.
be weak ] R.V. be slack.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
2Ch 15:7
Be ye Strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak.
Religious resolution
I. That resolution is necessary in promoting the cause of religion. Resolution is the essence of that mental strength which gives energy to all the powers and faculties of body and mind. It is composed of love, zeal, and confidence. Such resolution has always had a principal influence in effecting all the great things which have ever been effected by the men of the world. Necessary in religion. The Scriptures inculcate it (2Ch 19:11; Ezr 10:4). Examples of resolution: Moses, Elijah, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, John the Baptist, Peter and John, Paul, Luther, Calvin, etc.
II. That the friends of God have good ground for such unshaken resolution in promoting such a great and good design.
1. The friends of God have often been succeeded in their sincere attempts to promote His glory in the salvation of sinners.
2. The promotion of religion is such a noble and laudable design that it is even glorious to fail in the attempt.
3. Those who espouse the cause of religion have reason to expect the peculiar presence and assistance of God in their pious exertions.
4. They also have the approbation and prayers of all good men.
5. They are equally sure of the esteem and affection of all those whom they shall be instrumental in converting.
6. Their efforts shall finally meet a glorious recompense of reward.
III. Inferences.
1. That the friends of God have been very negligent in promoting His cause in the world.
2. That none will ever do much to forward the work of spreading the gospel without a large share of Christian zeal and resolution. (N. Emmons, D.D.)
Strong hands
In the Bible, the human hand is often used as a figure to express actions of life. As a symbol, Elisha poured water over the hands of Elijah; meaning that he would henceforth be his servant, and minister unto him in deeds of kindness. The reason why the hand represents so many things is because of its manifold uses. What firmness in its grasp, and what delicacy in its touch! It can forge an anchor or make a needle; fell a tree or feel to read the Bible; and do a thousand things which would seem very wonderful if they were not so familiar. Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak.
I. That man will have strong hands who regularly lifts them up in prayer. If you lift up your hands in prayer as the apostles did, you shall have strength to do great deeds for God.
II. Let your hands be strong in cleaving to the Cross of Christ. (W. Birch.)
Success the certain fruit of faithful labours
Applying these words to the work of Sabbath schools, consider–
I. The work.
1. Its object is the benefit of the rising generation.
2. Its tendencies as to the interests of society at large are beneficial.
3. It accords with the spirit of Christianity and the predictions of sacred writ (Isa 11:9).
II. The exhortation.
1. To faith.
2. To union.
3. To perseverance.
III. The reward. This is to be found–
1. In the satisfaction of your own minds.
2. In the success of your efforts.
3. In the approbation of your Lord. (N. Hutchings.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Be ye strong therefore; go on therefore courageously and resolutely to maintain Gods worship, and to root out idolatry, as you have begun to do; for this is the only right method of preserving yourselves from such calamities as your predecessors have felt.
Let not your hands be weak; be not discouraged with the opposition which you may possibly meet with.
Your work shall be rewarded; what you do for God and for his honour and service shall not go unrequited.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. Be ye strongGreatresolution and indomitable energy would be required to persevere inthe face of the opposition your reforming measures will encounter.
your work shall berewardedWhat you do in the cause and for the glory of God willassuredly be followed by the happiest results both to yourself andyour subjects.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak,…. Be hearty, earnest, and vigorous, and not languid and remiss in reforming the worship of God, which Asa had begun:
for your work shall be rewarded; with peace and prosperity at home, and success against enemies abroad, of which they had had a recent instance.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(7) Be ye strong therefore.Rather, But ye, be ye strong.
Be weak.Droop, or hang down (Zep. 3:16; 2Sa. 4:1).
Your work shall be rewarded.Literally, there is indeed a reward for your work; words occurring in Jer. 31:16. We have here the moral of the prophets address. The ruinous results of not seeking, and forsaking, Jehovah (2Ch. 15:2) have been briefly but powerfully sketched from the past history of the nation. The conclusion is, Do not ye fall away like your forefathers; but let your allegiance to Jehovah be decided and sincere.
Your work.Of rooting out idolatry.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Be ye, strong therefore This was the direct application of Azariah’s prophecy counsel and exhortation for the king and people to be firm in obedience to Jehovah and in maintaining the honour of his name and law.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
DISCOURSE: 405
ENCOURAGEMENT TO EXERTION
2Ch 15:7-8. Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded. And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage.
THERE are two extremes to which mankind are pronepresumption, and despondency. To the former the ungodly are inclined; to the latter, the righteous. King Asa was a man who did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God [Note: 2Ch 14:2.], and his heart was perfect all his days [Note: ver. 17.]: yet did he need encouragement from a prophet of the Lord, to sustain his fainting mind.
In the passage before us, we have,
I.
An historic record
Asa had been enabled to vanquish an host of not less than a million of Ethiopians, with an army of little more than one half their number. But in his own kingdom there was a great work to perform, a work which he despaired of ever being able to accomplish. God, however, mercifully sent him a prophet, to raise his drooping spirits, and to animate him to his appointed work. Hear the message delivered to him
[Be strong, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded. Think nothing too arduous to be attempted, provided the Lord call you to it [Note: Jos 1:6-7; Jos 1:9. 1Ch 28:20.] And never doubt of success in any thing that you undertake for Him ]
Mark, too, the effect produced upon his mind
[He took courage. And how did he evince the power of that grace which had been bestowed upon him? He put down idolatry throughout his dominions [Note: ver. 8.] He summoned all his people to enter into a solemn covenant with God, to serve Him with all their heart [Note: ver. 12,] and he deposed his mother from her throne, because she had made an idol; which he cut down, and stamped, and burned at the brook Kidron [Note: ver. 16,] ]
In this noble conduct he has left to us,
II.
An encouraging example
We also have difficulties, every one of us, to encounter
[Great are the corruptions by which we are assailed And fierce will be the opposition which will be made to us, if we exert ourselves for the reformation of others ]
But to us, no less than to Asa, are the prophets words addressed [Note: See Isa 35:3-4.]
[We should be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might [Note: Eph 6:10.]: and if we hold fast our confidence in him, we shall have a great recompence of reward [Note: Heb 10:35.]. We are assured that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord [Note: 1Co 15:58.].]
In us, also, should they produce a similar effect
[They should encourage us to serve the Lord alone to serve him with our whole hearts to serve him without partiality, and without hypocrisy [Note: Jam 3:17. 1Ti 5:21.]. The nearest friends must be withstood, and the most endeared lust be mortified. Not a right hand, or right eye, must be retained: every thing that is offensive to God must be sacrificed without reserve.]
Application
[If Asa acted thus on one single word of encouragement, what may be expected of you, who have had all the promises of God set before you from Sabbath to Sabbath, through many successive years? If He, under that dark dispensation, acted so noble and consistent a part, what may be expected of you, who live under the full light of the Gospel, and are instructed in all the wonders of redeeming love? ]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 15:7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
Ver. 7. Be ye strong therefore. ] Since God hath dealt better with you, and brought you back with victory and much spoil, set lustily and vigorously to work, be active for God, in reforming things amiss amongst us: your labour cannot be in vain in the Lord. Those viperous gunpowder traitors had, while they were digging in their vault of villainy, a psalter composed by some of their padres, and secretly passed from hand to hand, whereof this was a part, “Confirm your hearts with hope, for your redemption is not far off. The year of visitation draweth to an end, and jubilation is at hand. The memory of novelties shall perish with a crack, as a ruinous house falling to the ground: he will come as a flame that bursteth out beyond the furnace.” &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
ye strong: Jos 1:7, Jos 1:9, 1Ch 28:20, Psa 27:14, Isa 35:3, Isa 35:4, Dan 10:19, 1Co 16:13, Eph 6:10
your work: Gen 15:1, Rth 2:12, Psa 19:11, Psa 58:11, Mat 5:12, Mat 5:46, Mat 6:1, Mat 6:4, Mat 6:6, Mat 6:18, Mat 10:41, Mat 10:42, Luk 6:35, Rom 4:4, Rom 4:5, 1Co 3:8, 1Co 3:14, 1Co 9:17, 1Co 9:18, 1Co 15:58, Col 3:24, Heb 6:10, Heb 10:35, 2Jo 1:8
Reciprocal: Neh 6:9 – Their hands Jer 31:16 – for
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ch 15:7. Be ye strong therefore Go on resolutely to maintain Gods worship, and to root out idolatry, as you have begun to do; for this is the only method of preserving yourselves from such calamities as your predecessors have felt. And let not your hands be weak Be not discouraged with the opposition which you may possibly meet with. For your work shall be rewarded What you do for God, and for his honour and service, shall not be overlooked, or go unrequited.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
15:7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your {d} work shall be rewarded.
(d) Your confidence and trust in God will not be frustrated.