(2 Ch 7:12) Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
(2
Ch 7:13) When
I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the
land, or send pestilence among My people,
(2 Ch 7:14) if My people who are called by My name will 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 (cf. 2 Chron 7:15-22).
The
context of 2 Chronicles 7:14.
Let’s
state the obvious. It is hard to miss the facts that we are talking about the Solomonic
temple at Jerusalem, and that Yahweh is speaking to the King of Israel,
David’s son, Solomon, during the night after the dedication of the temple. So, my people who are
called by My name has contextual reference to the Jewish people, the nation of
Israel. Are we not God’s people as spiritual sons of Abraham? Yes, we are, but
the healing of another nation is nowhere else found in Scripture. What is found
elsewhere is forgiveness and healing of an individual (cf. 1 Jn 1:9).
(2
Chron 7:11) Thus
Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king’s house; and Solomon
successfully accomplished all that came into his heart to make in the house of
the LORD and in his own house.
(2
Chron 7:12) Then
the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: I have heard your
prayer (2
Chron 6:1-42),
and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice (cf. 2 Chron 7:1, 4).
This
(v12) had to have been pleasing to Solomon to hear from Yahweh given the
statement in v11. There was no “but” concerning either of the buildings (the temple
and Solomon’s residence). The “but” is found in the following verse,
(2
Ch 7:13) When
I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the
land, or send pestilence among My people,
What
is with the drought, famine, and infectious disease? These are not the result
of natural causes but divine causation due to God’s people sinning against Him
(cf. 2 Chron 7:14, wicked ways): when I shut, (when I) command, or (when I) send. Why would Yahweh do such a thing to His
people? It is suggested in 2 Chron 7:14 – pride, prayerlessness, self-seeking,
turning from God’s standard of righteousness – sin.
Since
this is a one on one conversation between Yahweh and Solomon, I am interested
in what Solomon might have been thinking. We must understand that Yahweh made a
covenant with only one nation, the nation of Israel. It is referred to as the
Abrahamic Covenant (Gn 12:1-3; 15:18: 17:7). With these words in 2 Chron
7:13-14 to Solomon, he is being reminded that obedience to Yahweh brings
blessings, and disobedience brings afflictions (2 Chron 7:17-22; cf. Deut
28:1-68).
Not
only was there a covenant made with the nation of Israel, we see that
repentance involved a national repentance; there is no evidence that a small
minority of God’s people repenting and changing the course of a nation.
Granted, this repentance did not involve 100% of the people in Israel, but a
vast majority, and that’s the point. We see this illustrated during the period
of the Judges where in Israel every man did that which was right in his own
eyes (Jdg 21:25). It was a dark time, spiritually.
Every
time the people of Israel went to their own eyes, peace in the land was
disrupted because of sin, and God sent an oppressor to punish His people for
their sin. Once they had enough of oppression, they prayed to God for a
deliverer. Once delivered from oppression, the people enjoyed a time of peace
until they returned back to every man doing that which was right in his own
eyes. This was the cyclical pattern for over three hundred years during the
days of the judges.
Whether
the truly born again believers in America stay right with God or not will not
alter the course of the United States or any nation. What it does mean is that
the individual believer who obeys God, regardless what the USA does, will be
blessed of God. I do believe it is inaccurate or unfair to say that as the
Church goes so goes the land on a national level. That is a burden we are never
asked to bear as believers. That is a man-made inflicted load. It would be
correct to say of Israel that so goes the people of God so goes the land. The
period of the Judges reflected this before the reign of kings.
Given
the immediate and greater context of Scripture, 2 Chron 7:14 cannot be applied
to the church or to any other nation except for Israel. Spiritualizing the text
in making a case that believers in Christ are sons of Abraham (true), and therefore,
the Church has replaced Israel (false) and has become the “spiritual Israel” is
misleading. It indicates that there are some presumptions going on about being
grafted into the olive tree (Israel).
(Rom
11:17) And
if some of the branches were broken off, and you [Gentiles], being a wild olive tree, were grafted
in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the
olive tree,
As
a wild olive tree, the Gentiles became partakers of the richness of God’s
covenant blessings as spiritual heirs of Abraham (Gal 3:29), but I am hesitant describing
the body of Christ as the spiritual Israel or the Church replacing Israel. 2
Chron 7:14 is a perfect example by some interpreters,
“If
My church which is called by My name will do thus and so, God will hear our
prayers and forgive our sin and heal our land, the USA.” Our immediate
responsibility is to be right before God. Our obedience is not measured by what
the nation does or does not do, but by our faithfulness to God and His Word.
I
am not saying that God’s people cannot be a positive influence to any nation
for good, but the nations in the world, including the United States are of the
world, even Israel today, until there is a national repentance by Israel which
will take place during the tribulation period. We are called to be a faithful
witness; it is Yahweh who changes the world one way or another. Whenever I read
about the future of this earth, there is going to be a myriad of people dying due
to unbelief (cf. Jn 3:19).
What
is applicable to us in 2 Chron 7:14 then? Let’s read it again,
(2
Ch 7:14) if
My people who are called by My name will 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.
Let me ask you this, “What do you think is the
spiritual benefit of a believer humbling his or herself before God, praying to
God, seeking the face of God, and living by the standards of God?” You don’t
have to ask for forgiveness nor for healing because you are right before Yahweh!
You are blessed by your love for God!
Surely,
that is a far better outcome than what pride, prayerlessness, self-seeking, and
turning away from God’s standards of righteousness by doing what is right in
our own eyes produce, right? What does lean to your own understanding lifestyle
(cf. Jdg 21:25; Prov 3:5) reveal about a believer? Allow me to suggest two
things.
Well,
the first thing that comes to my mind is that it reveals a believer who is not
in love with God (cf. Jn 14:15). The second one is that there is a trail of
unhappiness in the life (cf. Psa 32:3-4). Did you know that the benefit package
of disobedience to Yahweh is to die for? Think of it; you get free drought,
famine, and infectious disease. In other words, rather than blessings you get a
boatload of burdens, all for free! Life is good, yes?!
I
challenge you to read all of Deuteronomy 28:1-68. I realize it is during the Mosaic
economy, but you will surely recognize the universal principle that obedience
brings blessings; disobedience brings problems, unnecessary problems, avoidable
problems. This had to cross Solomon’s mind for it is an overarching principle;
he was a very wise man, yes? It was true during the time of Moses; it is still
true today and tomorrow. Faithfulness pays eternal dividends! It pays to obey! It’s
a no-brainer –
If
My people who are called by My name will 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 life (2 Ch 7:14,
application of the principle that obedience brings blessings).
2 Chron 7:14 sounds a lot like 1 Jn 1:9 after the stuff hits the fan due to disobedience. Praise God there is a relief valve available! Every man doing that which is right in his own eyes is burdensome; do not think for one moment that we are immune to drought, famine, and infectious disease (COVID-19, e.g.). The prepositional phrase, If My people, brings forgiveness and healing in life. Stay strong in Yahweh, skilled in the Word, and steadfast in the faith regardless of the nation you find yourself in! <><
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