◄ 2 Chronicles 4:7 ►
He made ten gold lampstands according to their specifications and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north.
Sermons
Lights in the WorldW. Clarkson 2 Chronicles 4:7
The Furniture of the Holy CourtJ. Wolfendale.2 Chronicles 4:1-10
The Molten SeaHomiletical Commentary2 Chronicles 4:1-10














Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
Lights In The World
2 Chronicles 4:7
W. Clarkson
There are many difficulties and disagreements about the spiritual significance of the temple furniture; but there is a general agreement as to the meaning of the "candlestick," or of these "ten candlesticks of gold" to which the text refers. As in the "Divine compartment" of the "most holy place" the Shechinah was the symbol of the Divine presence, and spoke of the Lord God of Israel as the one true Light of the world, so in the human department of the "holy place' these lights were the symbol of the Hebrew Church, regarded as the centre and source of light in the midst of surrounding darkness. And such it was. We may well regard ?

I. ISRAEL AS THE SOURCE OF LIGHT. Perhaps rather as the possessor than the source, for communication between neighbouring countries was very much more limited then than it is now; and it was in its later days that the Jew was such a traveller and such a propagandist. But from the time that God made himself and his will known to Moses, down to the birth of Christ, Divine truth was known in Israel as it was not known elsewhere, and "salvation was of the Jews," as our Lord declared. Comparing the theological and ethical ideas of the people of God with those of contemporary peoples, we see how really enlightened they were. And some of the most essential doctrines, on which all Divine wisdom, and all moral excellency, and all national prosperity, and all individual well-being must always rest, were carried by the worshippers of Jehovah to Egypt, to Persia, to Rome, to still more distant countries. The light that shone in the sanctuary went forth and illumined a large space.

II. THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH AS A SOURCE OF LIGHT. Said the great Teacher to his disciples, and through them to his Church for all time, "Ye are the light of the world." The Apostle Paul wrote to his converts at Ephesus, and through them to us, "Ye are light in the Lord." And it becomes us to do two things.

1. Manifest the great characteristic of light - purity. To "walk as children of light,... in all goodness and righteousness and truth" (Ephesians 5:8, 9); as the servants of him who himself "is light, in whom is no darkness at all;" to be "holy as he is holy."

2. Discharge the great function of light - to reveal. To "make manifest" (Ephesians 5:13) those great verities which renew and sustain and ennoble us in heart and life. We are so to let our light shine that men may see our good works, and glorify our Divine Father. It does not take any prolonged study, or any range of experience, or any remarkable talent, to cause men to know the redeeming truths which restore them to God; which give them spiritual rest and abiding joy, and a hope that will not make ashamed; which build them up in manly virtues and in Christian graces; which prepare for the heavenly kingdom. Even the humbler disciples, who claim no rank in the community, may render this valuable service.

(1) By living a trite, faithful, earnest life, day by day, in the love of Christ;

(2) by speaking familiar Christian truth to those who are willing to hear it, this good work can be wrought. - C.

Biblical Illustrator
And the entry of the house.
2 Chronicles 4:22
The entry of the house
J. Wolfendale.
This, central, conspicuous, and attractive, suggesting —

I. ACCESS TO GOD IN CHRISTIAN WORSHIP.

II. ACCESS TO SYMBOLIC BEAUTY IN CHRISTIAN WORSHIP.

1. Perfection of gold, or material prosperity given to God.

2. Palms — growth and fruitfulness in Christian life.

3. Flowers — beauty and fragrance in Christian character.

4. Cherubims — alacrity in God's service.

(J. Wolfendale.)

The worth of grandeur
J. Parker, D.D.
A fine house cannot make a fine tenant; a first-class carriage cannot make a first-class traveller; a man might sit down on a monarch's throne, and not be a sovereign; he might even look like a king, and be only a clown. Decoration is useless, if it does not express something beyond itself, something spiritual, ideal, transcendental. The picture is nothing if it does not in reality speak, not indeed to the ear of the body, but to the attention of the soul. It is an amusing irony to see some people clothed in purple and fine linen, because there is really no connection between them and their clothes; we expect them to speak musically, and lo! their tones fill our mouths as with gravel-stones. We expect a man to be at least as elegant as his clothes, and when he is not we do not blame the garments; it is more their misfortune than their fault that they should be where they are. So when we read the specification of temples and palaces we say, "What does it amount to? What is this grandeur worth in helping and blessing the world? What is civilisation to end in?"

(J. Parker, D.D.).

People
Huram, Solomon
Places
Jordan River, Most Holy Place, Succoth, Zeredah
Topics
Candlesticks, Directions, Form, Gold, Golden, Lampstands, Lights, Maketh, North, Ordinance, Placed, Placeth, Prescribed, Respecting, South, Specifications, Supports, Temple, Ten
Outline
1. The altar of brass
2. The molten sea upon twelve oxen
6. The ten lavers, candlesticks, and tables
9. The courts, and the instruments of brass
19. The instruments of gold

Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Chronicles 4:7

     5373   lamp and lampstand

2 Chronicles 4:1-22

     5207   architecture

2 Chronicles 4:6-8

     1653   numbers, 6-10

2 Chronicles 4:7-8

     4333   gold

Library
The First Part
Of the Apocalyptical Commentaries, according to the Rule of the Apocalyptical Key, on the First Prophecy which is contained in the Seals and Trumpets; with an Introduction concerning the Scene of the Apocalypse. As it is my design to investigate the meaning of the Apocalyptical visions, it is requisite for me to treat, in the first place, of that celestial theatre to which John was called, in order to behold them, exhibited as on a stage, and afterwards of the prophecies in succession, examined by …
Joseph Mede—A Key to the Apocalypse

Sanctification.
VI. Objections answered. I will consider those passages of scripture which are by some supposed to contradict the doctrine we have been considering. 1 Kings viii. 46: "If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near," etc. On this passage, I remark:-- 1. That this sentiment in nearly the same language, is repeated in 2 Chron. vi. 26, and in Eccl. …
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
2 Chronicles 4:7 NIV
2 Chronicles 4:7 NLT
2 Chronicles 4:7 ESV
2 Chronicles 4:7 NASB
2 Chronicles 4:7 KJV

2 Chronicles 4:7 Bible Apps
2 Chronicles 4:7 Parallel
2 Chronicles 4:7 Biblia Paralela
2 Chronicles 4:7 Chinese Bible
2 Chronicles 4:7 French Bible
2 Chronicles 4:7 German Bible

2 Chronicles 4:7 Commentaries

Bible Hub
2 Chronicles 4:6
Top of Page
Top of Page