2 Chronicles 17:7-9 - Homilies By W. Clarkson

A strong because instructed people.

Jehoshaphat had not been long on the throne before he took a step admirably adapted to benefit and, indeed, to bless the nation. Better than "strengthening himself against Israel" by increasing his garrisons ( 2 Chronicles 17:1 , 2 Chronicles 17:2 ) was the enlightenment of "all the cities of Judah," the teaching of "the people" ( 2 Chronicles 17:9 ) from "the book of the Law of the Lord."

I. STRENGTH IN INSTRUCTION . It is well for a land to have its strong, unassailable fortresses, its well-garrisoned towns, its frontier of steep mountain or of precipitous rock. But the strength of a nation does not reside in such defences as these; it lies in the intelligence, the vigour, the courage, the patriotism, of its people. All material munitions will fail to keep out the enemy when "the people" are corrupt and enfeebled. Without any remarkable fortifications constructed by human art and labour, a free, brave, godly nation will be respected and preserved. And such a nation will be only found where there is knowledge and consequent intelligence. You cannot build anything durable on ignorance. Ignorance means folly, indulgence in the lower pleasures, feebleness, decline. "Knowledge is power" in more ways than one.

II. INSTRUCTION IN SACRED TRUTH . Power needs to be rightly guided; misguided, it is the source of greatest evil. Everything depends on the way in which intelligence is directed. Genius, working towards an evil end, is a force that is simply terrible. The world can suffer no sadder infliction than a man or a community possessed of the power of highly cultivated intelligence, but unregulated by righteous principles, abandoning itself to unworthy impulses. Therefore was it of the first importance that those who went "throughout all the cities of Judah" should "teach the people" from "the book of the Law of the Lord." Thence they would gain those directing truths, those commanding principles which would lead in the ways of holiness and heavenly wisdom. Therefore is it of the first importance, here and everywhere, that throughout all our cities and all our towns and villages we should not only have "the schoolmaster abroad," but have the Christian teacher also, busily, earnestly, faithfully making known the will of God, the truth and grace of Jesus Christ, basing all character on sound morality, and basing all morals on their only sound foundation, Christian truth.

III. SACRED TRUTH SUPPLIED IN EVERY OPEN WAY . Jehoshaphat did not think it enough to leave things to be done by existing institutions. Like a wise and an earnest man, he east about for additional methods, he looked in all directions for competent men to effect his pious purpose. And he called out:

1 . The man who brought the weight of his social position—the prince ( 2 Chronicles 17:7 ).

2 . The man who carried the influence of his sacred office—the priest ( 2 Chronicles 17:8 ).

3 . The man who contributed the strength of special training—the Levite ( 2 Chronicles 17:8 ). Thus wisely and effectively are we to work. In our country there is: