Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 36:15
And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up quickly, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:
15. rising up betimes, and sending ] R.V. rising up early and sending; cp. Jer 26:5.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
2Ch 36:15-17
And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by is me messengers, rising up betimes.
Presumptuous rebellion
I. We see here continued rebellion, which suggests–
1. That habits are easily commenced. There is little difficulty in forming habits. They are not acquired by one mighty bound, but by a series of almost imperceptible steps.
2. That habits are readily strengthened. Every step that is taken is planted with firmer grip. With every ripple that flows the stream becomes wider and swifter, fed as it were with other streamlets on the way. Every time an action is repeated the easier it becomes, and the more deeply rooted in the soul.
3. That habits are seldom eradicated. Can the Ethiopian change his skin? Yea, easier than a man unassisted by Divine help can break away from evil habits. They become part of the nature of the man himself.
II. We see the presumption of continued rebellion. We are constantly reminded of the fact that God is merciful. But there is a limit to the mercy and forbearance even of God. This is evident–
1. From the fact that it is impossible always to continue His warning and judgments on the impenitent. If the obstinacy of one person cannot be overcome it were unjust on that account to remove the chance of salvation from others.
2. From the inevitable progress of temporal affairs. Death comes on with his rapid step and cuts short the life and with it the opportunities of repentance from the obdurate spirit. Then the door of mercy must be shut for ever.
3. From the very nature of the refusal. Is it likely that He, the Lord of all, will continue offering heavenly treasures to human swine who only trample His gifts in the mire? Oh, it is a sad and an awful truth that man may presume too far even on infinite love!
III. We see the awful end of presumptuous sin. The consequences are at the last utter destruction and irretrievable loss. This stands to reason if we remember–
1. That God must vindicate His character.
2. That an example must be set to the world at large.
3. That the sinful must be removed out of the way. (Homilist.)
Unheeded warning
The island of Ischia was a favourite summer resort of Italians. In 1883 the sinking of water in wells, mutterings and rumblings underground, distinctly foretold a coming earthquake; these signs were noticed and understood, but through fear of frightening visitors, and so losing custom, hotel-keepers and others refrained from making public these warnings. Ruin and death ensued, involving those who knew and heeded not, and those who, through lack of warning, had unwittingly exposed themselves to peril.
Till there was no remedy.
No remedy
These words contain three facts of great importance.
1. That there was, at least at one time, a remedy.
2. That the remedy went on, and might have been used, for a very long period.
3. That there came a time when the remedy ceased.
I. All life is a remedy. The conditions of things require it. Life a great restorative process.
1. Comes that marvellous provision of God in Jesus Christ.
2. All providences have a curative character.
3. Every one carries within himself an antidote to evil. Conscience, till silenced, a sure antidote to evil.
II. Notice the word till. It shows how slow God is to take away the remedy. We may sin ourselves into a state, not in which there is no forgiveness, but no thought or desire to seek forgiveness. No remedy, not on Gods account, but your own; not in Gods want of will to save you, but in your own incapacity to will your own salvation. (J. Vaughan, M.A.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Rising up betimes, and sending, i.e. sending them early and diligently, as a careful householder who riseth betimes about his business, and pursues it till night come. God sent them many prophets and messages, some at the very beginning of their apostacy, and others afterward, as they proceeded in their impiety, until the very day of their captivity.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers,…. The prophets of the Lord, to admonish them of their idolatries, and to reprove them for them, to warn them of the wrath of God that would come upon them on that account, unless they repented and reformed; these were at the beginning of their apostasy, and were successively continued unto this time, as Ahijah, Elijah, and others, in the first times of it; Amos, Isaiah, and others, in the middle of it; and Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Ezekiel, towards the close of it:
rising up betimes, and sending; which is either to be understood of the Lord, and as expressive of his care and diligence, like the master of a family, solicitous for the good of it; or of the messengers, the prophets, who made haste to go or send their prophecies and instructions to reclaim the people; the phrase is often to be met with in the prophecy of Jeremiah, [See comments on Jer 11:7]:
because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwellingplace; being unwilling they should come to ruin, and perish, and their city and temple be destroyed where they dwelt.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(15) Rising up betimes and sending.i.e., constantly and earnestly. Jer. 25:3-4 : The Lord hath sent all his servants, the prophets, rising early and sending them (comp. also Jer. 26:5; Jer. 29:19; Jer. 35:14-15).
He had compassion on.He spared, was forbearing with.
Dwelling place.Mcn (2Ch. 30:27; Psa. 26:8; comp. Jer. 25:6).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
DISCOURSE: 432
FORBEARANCE OF GOD BROUGHT TO A CLOSE
2Ch 36:15-16. 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.
IN speaking of the divine perfections, it is common to represent them all as infinite, because they do not admit of any increase: but perhaps it would be more correct to speak of them as limited, because they all so limit each other as to produce one harmonious agency in all their operations; every perfection being exercised so far, and so far only, as is consistent with the glory of the whole Deity. Justice, for instance, never exerts itself to the disparagement of mercy; nor does mercy ever triumph over the rights of justice: so neither does patience interpose for the arresting of judgment, any longer than consists with the claims of holiness: as soon as ever its protracted influence would reflect dishonour on God as the Moral Governor of the universe, it recedes, and leaves the sword of vengeance to execute its heavenly commission. The truth of this statement fully appears from the words before us; from which we are naturally led to notice,
I.
Gods patience exercised
It was exercised to a most astonishing degree towards his people of old
[The Scripture frequently speaks of God, not only as sending messengers to his people, but as rising early and sending them. This intimates, that as soon as ever they went astray, he commissioned his servants to reclaim them; yea, many hundred years before the final execution of his judgments upon them, he forewarned them how he would proceed, and cautioned them against driving him to such extremities [Note: Lev 26:14-39 and Deu 28:15-68.] When these warnings were disregarded, he sent them prophets, to bring these things to their remembrance, and to plead with them in his name. Sometimes he raised up prophets for particular occasions; at other times he continued them for many rears in their office, in order by any means to turn the people from their sins. Full of compassion towards his people, and averse to forsake the land which he had given them for a dwelling-place, he bore with, all their frowardness and perverseness; many a time turning away his anger, when he might justly have broken forth against them, and made them monuments of his everlasting indignation [Note: Psa 78:38; Psa 106:13-48.].
But how did they requite his tender mercies? They mocked his messengers (we are told), and despised his words, and misused his prophets. Even against Moses himself did their resentment frequently burn, insomuch that on one occasion they were ready to stone him [Note: Exo 17:4.]. Their prophets in every successive age were treated with all manner of indignities, menaced, imprisoned, martyred, according as the wrath of their rulers was permitted to prevail. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? said St. Stephen [Note: Act 7:52.]; and our blessed Lord, to comfort his disciples under the trials which they would meet with, reminded them, that so had the prophets been persecuted, who were before them [Note: Mat 5:12.].]
In like manner is it exercised in reference to us
[God is yet sending his ambassadors to us, not merely to reprove and warn, or to encourage us with a hope of temporal rewards, as he did to the Jews, but to offer us redemption through the blood of his dear Son, and to beseech us to accept of reconciliation with him [Note: 2Co 5:18-20.] And such is his compassion towards us, that he cannot endure the thought of giving us up, as long as a hope remains of converting us to himself [Note: Eze 33:11. Jer 13:27. Hos 11:8.]
And what return do we make to God? Do we not act precisely as the Jews before us did? There is no faithful messenger that addresses us in Jehovahs name, but we call him an enthusiast: however temperate and kind, and reasonable his exhortations may be [Note: See particularly the temperate message sent by Hezekiah 2Ch 30:6-10.], we mock and deride him as a babbler [Note: Act 17:18. Eze 20:40.], a deceiver [Note: Joh 7:12.], and a fellow that ought not to be tolerated [Note: Act 22:22; Act 24:5.]. Our blessed Lord himself; who spake as never man spake, was accounted a madman and a demoniac [Note: Joh 10:20.]; and every faithful servant of God, from his day even to the present hour, has been made an object, though not of equal, yet certainly of similar, reproach. One would suppose that men, with the sacred volume in their hands, seeing how the prophets and Apostles were all treated, would avoid treading in the steps of former persecutors: but the enmity of the human heart against God is the same as ever; and the messages of God are therefore treated with the same contempt as ever. If there be any difference as to the mode in which that enmity betrays itself, it is owing to the excellence of our laws, and not to any superiority in us above the Jews. Our dispositions are the same as theirs, and our abuse of Gods tender mercies is the same.]
In the sequel of our text we see,
II.
Gods patience exhausted
He was at last constrained to execute upon them his threatened vengeance
[After bearing with their frowardness many hundred years, his wrath against them was kindled, and he gave them up into the hands of their enemies [Note: ver. 1721.]. Every effort for their preservation had been tried in vain, and no remedy now remained: the people therefore were sent into captivity; and both their city and temple were destroyed.]
Thus also will he do with respect to us
[If we go on incessantly grieving the Holy Spirit, we shall at last quench his sacred motions [Note: Eph 4:30. 1Th 5:19]. There is a time beyond which God will bear with us no longer [Note: Mat 23:37-38.]. There is a day of grace wherein he will be found [Note: Luk 19:41-44.]; an accepted time in which salvation may be secured by us [Note: 2Co 6:2. Isa 55:6.]. But there is a time when he will say, Let them alone [Note: Hos 4:17.]; Let their eyes be blinded and their hearts be hardened [Note: Act 28:25-27.]: I am weary with repenting [Note: Jer 15:6.]: and now, though they cry I will not hear, though they make many prayers I will not regard them [Note: Pro 1:24-31.].
Doubtless if a person were truly penitent, he would be heard and accepted at the last hour: but it is God alone who can give repentance: and, if we continue obstinately to resist his calls, he will cease to strive with us [Note: Gen 6:3.], and will give us over to final impenitence [Note: Psa 81:11-12.]. This he has done in unnumbered instances; and this he warns us to expect at his hands: He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy [Note: Pro 29:1.].]
Address
[God speaks to men by his word and ministers at this day, as truly as ever he did either by Prophets or Apostles: and our word, as far as it is agreeable to the Scriptures of Truth, is to be received, not as the word of man, but of God [Note: 1Th 2:13.]: and, if any man despiseth it, he despiseth not man, but God [Note: 1Th 4:8.]. Happy would it be if this matter were duly considered: for certainly there are many, of a proud and contemptuous spirit, who instead of trembling at the word, as they ought [Note: Isa 66:2.], and humbling themselves before the ministers of Jehovah [Note: ver. 12.], make light of all they hear [Note: Mat 22:5.], and turn it to derision [Note: Jer 20:7-8.]. But to such God says, Be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong [Note: Isa 28:22.]. There is great danger lest they be holden with the cords of their own sins [Note: Pro 5:22.], and be given up to their own delusions [Note: Isa 66:4. 2Th 2:10-12.].
On the other hand, let not any imagine that an attachment to faithful ministers, or a love to the ordinances as dispensed by them, will necessarily prove us to be in a state of acceptance with God: for Ezekiels hearers were delighted with his discourses, whilst yet they were by no means conformed to the precepts delivered by him [Note: Eze 33:31-32.]. Inquire then whether you be really obedient to the Gospel, receiving Christ as the gift of God to your souls, relying on him as your only hope, rejoicing in him as your all-sufficient Saviour, and devoting yourselves to him in all holy obedience. The tree must be judged of by its fruits alone. If your fruits be not yet such as might be wished, apply the remedy: go to Christ for the remission of your sins, and seek from him the gift of his Holy Spirit: then shall the Gospel have its due effect, and be the power of God to the salvation of your souls.]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 36:15 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:
Ver. 15. Rising up betimes, and sending. ] Manicando et mittendo, instar boni patris familias, saith A Lapide: like a good householder, who is up with the first, giving directions, and ordering the affairs of his family.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
rising up betimes. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
IV. THE CAPTIVITY AND THE EPILOGUE
CHAPTER 36:15-23
1. The captivity (2Ch 36:15-21)
2. The epilogue (2Ch 36:22-23)
In infinite patience the Lord still waited for the return of His people. Judgment is His strange work, but He delighteth in mercy. He sent them messengers who exhorted them and brought the messages of God, because He had compassion. But they mocked the messengers, despised Gods gracious offers and misused His prophets, till there was no remedy. An awful statement. Apostasy and defiance of God increased to such an extent, till there was no remedy. The threatening clouds of judgment broke at last and the people were carried away into the captivity. To fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths, for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath to fulfill three-score and ten years. And this age too is, with its rejection of Gods best, approaching a day when there will be no remedy and the judgment will fall.
The epilogue takes us after the seventy year captivity. Cyrus had been named by Isaiah almost two hundred years before he was born (Isa 44:28). God accomplished His purpose through this Persian king. We shall follow his history in Ezra and his work and what it foreshadows in Isaiah.
Fuente: Gaebelein’s Annotated Bible (Commentary)
the Lord: 2Ch 24:18-21, 2Ch 33:10, 2Ki 17:13, Jer 25:3, Jer 25:4, Jer 26:5, Jer 35:15, Jer 44:4, Jer 44:5
his messengers: Heb. the hand of his messengers
betimes: i.e., continually and carefully.
because: Jdg 10:16, 2Ki 13:23, Hos 11:8, Luk 19:41-44
Reciprocal: Jdg 2:17 – they would 2Ki 17:15 – testimonies 2Ki 21:10 – General 2Ch 24:19 – Yet he sent Neh 9:29 – testifiedst Neh 9:30 – testifiedst Job 33:23 – a messenger Pro 29:1 – General Pro 31:15 – riseth Isa 7:13 – to weary Isa 28:10 – For precept Isa 30:9 – will not Isa 65:12 – because Jer 6:10 – the word Jer 7:13 – and I spake Jer 7:25 – sent Jer 9:7 – shall Jer 13:10 – evil Jer 32:33 – rising Jer 35:14 – rising Eze 2:3 – I send Eze 3:19 – if thou Dan 9:6 – have we Hos 11:2 – they called Amo 2:11 – I raised Zec 1:4 – unto Mat 21:34 – he sent Mat 21:35 – General Mat 23:30 – the blood Mat 23:37 – how Mar 12:2 – a servant Luk 13:34 – killest Luk 20:10 – sent Joh 4:38 – other 2Co 5:20 – as
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
36:15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, {f} rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:
(f) By this phrase the scripture means often and diligently as in Jer 11:7; Jer 25:3; Jer 26:5; Jer 32:33.