If My People...

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Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV

          14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Devotion

          This verse is very popular in Christian circles today. Why wouldn’t it be? The whole world appears to be in a very big mess. We have a pandemic that has effected millions around the world. Sickness and death seem to reign everywhere. For the Christian there are concerning signs in culture. It seems that the world has moved on leaving Christ and his followers behind. The forces of evil and disorder seem to be on the march sowing seeds of the weeds of malice, warfare, abuse of drugs and alcohol. If ever a land needed healing surely this one does. So, how does this verse help with the mess we have drifted into?

          In order to properly interpret this verse, it is necessary to set into its context. First, we see that in verse 12 of this chapter God appears to Solomon to deliver these words directly to him. We also note that this promise was given immediately after the dedication of the first temple. It contains the essence of God’s message in the Old Testament according to one commentator “This paragraph reveals the heart of the books of Chronicles and is actually Chronicles’ summary of the essential message of the Old Testament.”[1]

          The next thing we note about this verse is that it is a conditional promise God is not promising to unilateral forgiveness. And it is not given to just anyone, but God speaks here directly to the “people who are called by my name”. Although we see in the book of Jonah; God uses the same pattern of repentance-to forgiveness by a people who are definitely not “his people”.

          God’s promised forgiveness is conditioned on humility, prayer, seeking God’s face, and finally repentance. Only when God’s people fulfil these conditions will God promise to hear from heaven and heal the land.

          The final and most relevant question that must be answered is can we as 21st century Christians claim this promise for ourselves. Because if it is restricted to Jewish people of a certain time and place then we attempt to claim this promise in vain. A commentator helps us out here. “Although God’s invitation is initially given to my people (v. 14), 6:32–33 has made clear that anyone who acknowledges God’s name and authority may pray with the same confidence of a hearing. This passage is therefore consistent with others where the invitation is explicitly extended to ‘all who call on the name of the Lord …’ (Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Rom. 10:13; Zeph. 3:9; 1 Cor. 1:2).”[2] So, it appears that 21st century Christians can indeed claim this promise. However, we must remember that it is still conditioned upon our obedience to the conditions mentioned in the verse. Let us move toward meeting those condition today, so that God may hear from heaven and heal our land.

Prayer

          Holy God help us to truly humble ourselves, and pray, and seek your face, and turn from our wicked ways. May all the nations where Christ’s name is known do the same that we may receive healing for the entire world. Help us examine ourselves to see if there is any wickedness we are not repenting of, so that we may offer you full repentance. Take our bodies as a living sacrifice so that we may be entirely clean in your sight. We submit to your rule O Lord of our lives. Amen

[1] Martin J. Selman, 2 Chronicles: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 11, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 354.

[2] Martin J. Selman, 2 Chronicles: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 11, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 354–355.

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