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. read more
A conqueror's welcome. I. A MESSAGE FROM GOD . ( 2 Chronicles 15:1 , 2 Chronicles 15:2 .) 1 . Its banter. Azarlah, "Whom Jehovah aids," the son of Oded; mentioned only here. Jehovah may, and often does, transmit messages of moment through humble and obscure messengers. What fitted Azariah to be the bearer of the Divine announcements was the coming upon him of the Spirit of Eiohim, the Spirit being the Revealer and Interpreter of the Divine will to the soul of man ( Numbers... read more
The hour of happiness improved. Perhaps we are not warranted to say that it was immediately after Asa's victory over Zerah, or able to say how soon it was after it, that Azariah the son of Oded came with his message to him and "all Judah and Benjamin," under that direct and ever-typical leading of "the Spirit." Nor does the parallel enlighten us on this point. The history, however, here follows on with the account of Azariah's appearance to Asa, and gives us the impression that it was at... read more
Work … rewarded (so Jeremiah 31:16 ; Ecclesiastes 4:9 ; Proverbs 11:18 ; and compare with them the crown of all the rest, Genesis 15:1 ). read more
Spiritual strength a sacred obligation. "Be 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... read more
The reward of Christian work. "Your work shall be rewarded." The very words recur in the prophecies of Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 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" ( Matthew 16:27 ; see also Romans 2:6 , Romans 2:7 ; 1 Corinthians 3:8 ; Revelation 22:12 ). What... read more
2 Chronicles 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. read more
Reformation under Asa (14:1-16:14)God’s blessings on Asa showed his pleasure with those who removed Canaanite customs and restored the Levitical order of worship. God rewarded Asa by giving him a remarkable victory over a large and powerful army that invaded from the south. This sign of God’s pleasure encouraged Asa to continue his reforms with greater boldness (14:1-15:19; see notes on 1 Kings 15:9-15).When, however, Asa trusted in outside help instead of trusting in God, he displeased God and... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 15:1-7
It was a great happiness to Israel that they had prophets among them; yet, while they were thus blessed, they were strangely addicted to idolatry, whereas, when the spirit of prophecy had ceased under the second temple, and the canon of the Old Temple was completed (which was constantly read in their synagogues), they were pure from idolatry; for the scriptures are of all other the most sure word of prophecy, and most effectual, and the church could not be so easily imposed upon by a... read more