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2 CHRONICLES 7:14 “IF MY PEOPLE, WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES, AND PRAY, AND SEEK MY FACE, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS; THEN WILL I HEAR FROM HEAVEN, AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN, AND WILL HEAL THEIR LAND.” (KJV)
All versions of this Scripture essentially say the same thing. God comes to Solomon by night (verse 12) and writes a prescription to the nation of Israel. If they will do four things, God will do the three they desperately need most. God even makes an “If/Then” personal statement to Solomon himself (verses 17-18).
“If/Then” statements seem pretty straight forward to me. IF you will do this, THEN I will do this. He expressed many of them through Moses to the nation of Israel multiple times as they wandered through the desert. He made more of them through the prophets leading up to the kings.
Even in Genesis, His conditions couldn’t have been more simple to Adam and Eve. “Just do not do this one thing and I will give you everything you need.” We are still paying the price for that disobedience. It kind of seems like humanity has a really hard time following the instructions. Just like men!
Men always get accused of refusing to follow instructions. Of course, those instructions for assembling a very simple child’s toy couldn’t be more confusing…probably written in “Chinese” English, way longer than they need to be and honestly, too much to bother with when it is obvious we can figure it out on our own. Who needs instructions? Does that sound familiar?
Now, I will admit that these instructions were sent from God directly to Solomon for the nation of Israel. Some have tried to suggest that, since so many directions and instructions in the Bible were for the nation of Israel, that means they are not for us. Some, on the other hand, suggest that when God is referring to “My people who are called by My name,” He is talking about the United States of America as well. We have to agree that when we call ourselves Christians, we are, by definition, people who are called by His Name…Jesus.
Honestly, the argument is moot…the truth is universal…it is for all of us. Some commands and instructions were given to a specific audience and should hence be obeyed by that audience. However, no one can argue that because God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses and the nation of Israel, they obviously do not also apply to us.
As Christians, we believe that all of Scripture is inspired, or Spirit-breathed. Look at 2 Timothy 3:16-17…maybe memorize those verses too. Plus, the nature of each of the commandments as well as these instructions to Solomon are so universal in their truth, it can only be considered as a clear prescription by God about what He expects.
If you are like me, you are very concerned about our country. Hopefully, you are also praying to the Lord to heal our land of many of the sins we seem to habitually follow. Despite our earnest prayers though, it sometimes seems like God just doesn’t hear us. We often go so far as to righteously stand before Him and say that if all the wicked among us would just repent and change their ways, everything would be right again. Hmmm.
Notice the instructions to Solomon in 2 Chronicles though. The instructions in this very specific prescription for the nation are addressed to God’s people called by God’s name. That is us! Yes, I know that as Christians we are supposed to be salt and light to the earth. However, this Scripture seems to be telling us that it might be the fault of the church that our nation is so fervently pursuing homosexuality, abortion, murder and turning away from God.
Yes, church…when the Bible says, “My people who are called by My name,” it is referring to us. We want to say that if we can somehow, politically or legally, convince pregnant mothers to change their desires for abortions, we can heal our land. If we can elect a good Christian to be President, we can fix all the sins of those around us. If we can get enough sinners into the church (there’s plenty there now), and get them saved, we can turn this mess around. That isn’t what this truth is telling us.
If WE will humble ourselves, PRAY and seek the Lord’s face…if WE will turn from our own wicked ways (yes, many of us are still walking in wicked ways, even while we might be saved), THEN the Lord promises He will hear from heaven, forgive our sins and heal our land.
Quickly, look then at 2 Chron 7:15. The Lord says to Solomon, as He would say to us, “My eyes are open and my ears are attentive to our prayers, made in this place.” Jesus is watching, listening and waiting to hear the voices of His people doing the “IF” part of this conditional verse so that He can do the “THEN” part of it. If we want Him to hear from heaven, then we Christians need to humble ourselves and pray. If we want Him to forgive the sins of our nation, we need to turn from our own wicked ways, whatever they might be. If we want Him to heal our land, then we need to do a lot more seeking His face.
I do not know how God uses our own repentance to convince a sinful nation…those who are not seeking His face…to change their ways. But, I have seen Him do it. I have seen those who seem to be so far beyond redemption turn from their evil ways to pursue righteousness. When the Bible tells us that He works ALL things together, I know there is a lot of His workings that we do not see that go into that end result. That kind of confirms the very real possibility that if God’s people will do the pursuing, God will produce a healing result on the nation around us.
How badly do you want to see our nation healed? How much do we want revival? God is sovereign and He can heal any nation anytime He wants to. But this verse leads me to believe that He has already provided everything He needs to heal our land. He’s probably just waiting for us, as Christians, to humble ourselves, pray and seek His face and turn from our own wicked ways. Do we want the healing of our nation that much?
Questions to ponder: Do we want the healing of our nation that much? What reasons do we believe God’s prescriptions for nations would only be limited to the nation of Israel? What other “universal” prescriptions from God are provided to us in the Bible for all our issues? Did Israel do what God told Solomon to tell them to do? Did Solomon follow the instructions God gave him in Verses 17-18? The great revivals of our nation in the 18th Century were preceded by great repentance and prayer. Could it be that God is just waiting on us to follow His instructions before He provides the answers?
Other Scriptures to consider: Matt 11:20-24, Jesus’ rebukes to cities where He did mighty works and the cities refused to repent. Acts 17:30, God now commands all men everywhere to repent. Hosea 5:15 “…then they will seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.” Psalm 27:8 “When you said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek.” Job 36:10-12 “He opens their ear to instruction and commands that they turn from iniquity. If they obey and serve Him….”
Song to remember: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MXbn1yhXwc, Terry Blackwood and the Imperials, “If My People”
 
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