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.
Is anyone else really tired of the campaigns yet? I know I am! It’s just horrible to see how people can be so ugly to one another. Regardless of how you vote, or who wins, we all need to be in serious prayer for our country. I have heard 2 Chronicles 7:14 a lot here lately, and I have been thinking about it quite a bit too. I know that in the context of this verse, the Temple has been completed and that the Children of Israel were still in subjection to Persia. So, keeping that in mind, I find it interesting that it says “If my people, which are called by my name”. It seems a bit redundant doesn’t it? But here’s a questions, by who’s name are you called? Do you follow Christ, are you called a Christian? Maybe the redundancy is to specify, those who are known among the people as followers of God. Just a thought. Hmmm…. So, if God’s people who are called by His name, shall humble themselves…let’s stop here for a second. Humbleness is not exactly a popular character trait in our society. No instead it’s “all about me”. (Just as a side note that is one of my favorite things to say to people “It’s not all about you!”) Let’s check out the definition of humble, shall we (like you have a choice:)
1: not proud or haughty : not arrogant or assertive
2: reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission
3 a: ranking low in a hierarchy or scale
Not assertive???? Not proud??? A spirit of submission! Wow! After becoming humble, we need to pray, and seek God’s face. Prayer and seeking God’s face are not the same thing. When I think of seeking God’s face, I think about getting to know God and His character. This can only be done by studying His Word, how He handles different situations, how much He loves the people He created, and the Holiness He possesses that requires purity. Last but not least, God’s people are told to turn from their wicked ways. Wicked:
1: morally very bad : evil
2 a: fierce, vicious b: disposed to or marked by mischief : roguish
3 a: disgustingly unpleasant : vile b: causing or likely to cause harm, distress, or trouble
4: going beyond reasonable or predictable limits : of exceptional quality or degree
Morally bad, evil, disgustingly unpleasant, causing harm, going beyond reasonable limits! Yuck! Let’s be real here for a minute, I do not think of myself as evil or disgustingly unpleasant. As a Christian, saved by the grace of God, I try my best each day to give my life as an offering to God. I fail daily, wait make that hourly, wait make that….! My thought for this part of the passage is, what area of my life is characterized by wickedness? Which area of my life am I choosing to be in conflict with the character of God? It will not be the same for me, as it will for you. We need to examine our hearts and lives and confess our wickedness to the Lord and make changes! Then, will the Lord hear from Heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our land. I know that this passage was written for the Children of Isreal, thousands of years ago. But we can learn about God’s character through it. He requires a change in our hearts and lives! Moaning and groaning about the next president won’t help! Prayer alone will not heal our land. God is calling for action from His people, action in our daily lives! He’s not asking us to campaign, to protest, or to endorse. He is asking for our hearts to be right with Him, for our lives to be a reflection of His character, with humility, and then, He will heal our land.