“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.” –II Chronicles
7:14. (NKJV) “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, and the people whom He
has chosen as His own inheritance. The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the
sons of men. From the place of His
habitation He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their
hearts individually; He considers all their works.” -Psalm 33:12-15 (NKJV).
The context of II Chronicles 7:14
is exciting. King Solomon had just led
in a masterful prayer for the people. It
was the occasion of the dedication of the magnificent temple in Jerusalem. Solomon had offered sacrifices on the altar
and fire had come down from heaven and consumed the offering, and “the glory of the Lord filled the temple” (II
Chron. 7:1). The people worshiped, feasted and celebrated for seven days. And then they left Jerusalem to return to
their respective villages and homes. We
are told in II Chronicles 7:11 that “all
Solomon had planned to do in the house of the Lord and in his own house he
successfully accomplished.” That
night in a vision the Lord came to King Solomon
and told him that during times of draught, pestilence, locusts and other
calamities, He would hear from Heaven and be attentive to their prayers. The message of II Chronicles 7:14, written by
the chronicler in the annals of the King of Israel, was a message from God
Himself. And here in the twenty-first
century, in America, it is still a message from God to be heard, heeded and
acted upon:
“If my people who are called by May 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.” What are the conditions? Humility before God. We can do nothing in our own power. “My
(our) help comes from the Lord.” (Ps. 121:3). I read with what humility the
founders of America approached the major task of building a nation. They pledged “their lives, their fortunes and
their sacred honor” and with humility proceeded to do what they could under
God’s power to form a nation. Now we
cannot mention God’s name lest we offend some.
God help us to return to humility and dependence! The next requirement is to pray.
The great poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote, “More things are wrought through prayer than this world dreams of.” By returning to God and seeking His face
in sincere prayer, America may yet have an opportunity to be healed. It happened during the periods of America’s
Great Awakening, the spiritual revivals that swept our country at a time of
great need. Prayer sustained a nation during the crisis of World War II. God told Solomon two more requirements: seek
Gods face and turn from wicked
ways. Repentance is necessary;
then we can truly seek God’s face after we admit our wrong-doings and
rebellion.
The rewards of humility, prayer,
seeking God, confession and repentance are that God will hear from heaven,
forgive our sin and heal our land. The
Psalmist in 33:12-15 adds emphasis to the word of the Lord to King
Solomon: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, and the people He has
chosen for His own inheritance.” Our
founding fathers considered this nation to be blessed and chosen of God. Can we regain that spirit of purpose and
destiny for our nation? Is it too late
to fulfill God’s requirements and turn again to the Sovereign Lord for
direction and blessing? The Psalmist
recognized that God sees from Heaven and knows the affairs of men on
earth. He is not remote and
uncaring. “Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear Him, on those who
hope in His steadfast love, that He may deliver their soul from death and keep
them alive in famine.” On our
nation’s birthday, and in all subsequent days, may we remember, as did King
Solomon, the God who is our Sovereign Lord.
If we meet His conditions, then He will hear from Heaven as He promised,
and heal our land. May we sincerely pray
to this end, meet His conditions (for they are indeed for our best good), and
anticipate His healing and blessings upon America.
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