2 Chronicles 15:7

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.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Ch 15:7. Be ye strong therefore — Go on resolutely to maintain God’s 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.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

15:7 The exhortation to be strong and courageous is a literal quotation of the exhortation that both Moses and Joshua gave Israel when they were first entering the land (Deut 31:6-7; Josh 1:6, 9, 18).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Your confidence and trust in God shall not be frustrated.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Be ye strong--Great resolution and indomitable energy would be required to persevere in the face of the opposition your reforming measures will encounter.

your work shall be rewarded--What you do in the cause and for the glory of God will assuredly be followed by the happiest results both to yourself and your subjects.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(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 prophet’s 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.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Be ye strong therefore; go on therefore courageously and resolutely to maintain God’s 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.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

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.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Work rewarded so Jer_31:16; Pro_11:18; and compare with them the crown of all the rest. (Gen_15:1) Spiritual strength a sacred obligation.

ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak." This is in the imperative mood; it is a commandment. Strength is represented as a sacred duty; and weakness, consequently, as a culpable failure. To be spiritually strong is an obligation as much as an endowment. It may, indeed, be urged that there is

I CONSTITUTIONAL WEAKNESS, which is to be borne with rather than to be blamed. Some human spirits are less fully endowed than others; some bring with them sad consequences of their progenitors" sin. (Exo_20:5) It requires tenfold more spiritual courage and exertion on the part of these to be loyal and faithful than on the part of their brethren who are more richly equipped or less heavily weighted. We need to know much before we judge men. Only the Divine Father, who knows us altogether, who knows, therefore, the limitations and the propensities of our nature which we have received from himself or from our ancestors, can say how much we are to be blamed, how much to be pitied. But undoubtedly there is

II MORAL WEAKNESS, for which we are responsible, of which we are guilty, "Let not your hands be weak." But how often the hand is weak because the life has been low, and because the heart has been wrong! All vice leads down to weakness. And not vice alone, but all folly; the foolish and blameworthy disregard of the laws of our mind and of our body. Not only excessive indulgence in any one direction (mental or physical), but unregulated and ill-proportioned activity, ends in weakness; so that he who might have been an active and efficient workman in many a good field of usefulness is helpless; his hand hangs down; there is "no strength in his right hand," because there has been no wisdom in his mind.

III SPIRITUAL STRENGTH, which we are under obligation to acquire. There is much of real, effective strength which it is open to us all to obtain if we will. God is saying to us, "Be ye strong;" and if we do what he gives us the means of doing, we shall be strong. What are the sources of spiritual strength?

1. Christian morality. And this includes

(1) the care of the body the regulation of its instincts and craving, ministering to its necessities;

(2) the culture of the mind increasing its knowledge and nourishing its power;

(3) the training of the heart.

2. Sacred service. Our capacity for serving Christ and man depends very largely indeed on our making a continuous effort to serve. "To him that hath is given," i.e. to him that puts out his talent is given another; to him that expends his strength in paths of holy usefulness is given multiplied power to speak and strike for God and truth. Our present strength depends upon our growth in power; and that depends upon the measure of our exercise in the field of sacred work.

3. Divine communication. "Thou answeredst me and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul"; (Psa_138:3) "In Christ who strengtheneth.. (Php_4:13) Strength is one of the "good things" our heavenly Father will give to "them that ask him". C. (Mat_7:11)

The reward of Christian work.

work shall be rewarded." The very words recur in the prophecies of Jeremiah; (Jer_31:16) and the sentiment is frequently expressed by our Lord and by his apostles. It appears distinctly in the solemn statement of Jesus Christ, "The Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father and then he shall reward every man according to his works" (Mat_16:27; see also Rom_2:6, Rom_2:7; 1Co_3:8; Rev_22:12) What is the reward for which we are to look? Not

I THE REWARD OF HIRED LABOUR. Hired labour is rewarded precisely and particularly. So much money for so much work, measured by the hours occupied or the work done. There is a nice calculation of what has been wrought on the one hand, and of what is given in exchange on the other. It is supposed that the one is the equivalent of the other. But our Divine Saviour does not call us into his field on this arrangement. We are not his day-labourers, engaged at a certain price; we are his fellow-workers employed under him, indeed, but engaged with him in the completion ofhis great "work." He is not treating us as slaves or even as common servants, but as children and as friends as those whom he loves and desires to bless with true well-being. We aspire to

II THE REWARD OF THE LABOUR OF LOVE. Our Divine Master invites us to stand by his side and work out with him the redemption of our race. He charges us to be as he was in the world; to work as he did, in the spirit of entire self-surrender, of wholehearted love; to put forth our strength in his service and in the cause of righteousness and human elevation; and he tells us that we shall secure a "full reward." We shall find that in:

1. The possession of his good pleasure. The true soldier finds his best reward in the commendation of his commander; the true scholar in the approval of his teacher; the true workman in the smile of him in whose service he is engaged. We, as Christian workmen, look for our deepest joy in the smile and the approval of our Lord. We hope for no moment of keener ecstasy than that when we shall hear him say to us, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" To live in the known and felt possession of Jesus Christ"s benediction is one of the purest, as it is one of the most appreciated, rewards, we can receive.

2. The enlargement of our own powers of service. As we work in the cause of heavenly wisdom and of spiritual well-being, our power for action is constantly enlarging, until feebleness becomes strength, and strength becomes might. The more we do the more we are capable of doing (see previous homily).

3. The expansion of our sphere of service. "Thou hast been faithful in a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things". (Mat_25:21) "I will ask for no reward, except to serve thee still;" or, may we not say," except to serve thee mor "? to serve thee in that broader sphere, with those nobler opportunities into which thou wilt introduce me. For our Master does thus enlarge us now, as one fruit of our labour; and he will soon reward us by a far more generous enlargement, when he "cometh with his Father" and when "his reward is with him. C.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Be strong - Go on resolutely to maintain God's 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.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

But you be strong to seek God.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.