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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
Over the years this verse has become a rallying cry for Christians who desire that their nation return to God. While that desire is admirable, the 2 Chronicles 7:14 meaning is not a roadmap for how to save a modern nation. The problem with this interpretation is that it ignores the context.
So, I want to take a closer look at this verse and see what it really means and how we should apply it to our lives today. Let’s start by looking at the surrounding verses.
The Context Of 2 Chronicles 7:14
When we are seeking to understand the meaning of 2 Chronicles 7:14 it’s important to look at the context. When we read a verse in isolation it can lead to misusing the verse.
In 2 Chronicles 7:11-22, we see Solomon has finished building the temple and has dedicated it to God. The Lord appears to him and responds to his prayer of dedication over the temple.
The first thing we should recognize about this verse is who it’s addressed to. God is speaking to Solomon regarding the nation of Israel.
The second thing we should recognize from this larger section of Scripture is the covenant relationships God had entered into with Israel. Back in Deuteronomy 28 God promised that he would care for them, and they would prosper IF they obeyed him. If they failed to obey he would bring curses upon them.
In 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 God is reminding Solomon of this covenant agreement. Obey and be blessed; disobey and be judged. It’s important to note, that God intended for judgment to lead to repentance, not punishment.
As we seek to understand what 2 Chronicles 7:14 means we must view it in light of this context. Many Christians take this verse as a rallying cry for us today, primarily in America. But this verse is addressed to the nation of Israel who was living under the Old Covenant. This covenant was unique and exclusive, and today we live under the law of grace because of Jesus.
This doesn’t mean 2 Chronicles 7:14 doesn’t have anything for us; there’s still a lot we can learn. But it does mean this verse wasn’t written to us. And it’s important to keep that in mind as we dive into what it does mean.
The 2 Chronicles 7:14 Meaning
Now that we understand more about the context, let’s take a look at the 2 Chronicles 7:14 meaning. There’s a lot packed into this verse so I’ve broken it up into three parts.
If My People Who Are Called By My Name Meaning…
If my people, who are called by my name…
Remember the context, in this verse “my people” refers to the nation of Israel who were in a covenant relationship with God. Again, that doesn’t mean this verse isn’t for us, but it’s not written to us.
So to properly understand what 2 Chronicles 7:14 means we must keep this context in mind.
If My People Will Humble Themselves Meaning…
Will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways.
This refers back to the covenant agreement. When the nation of Israel obeyed they were blessed; when they disobeyed they were under judgment.
In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God is showing Israel how they can enter back into a right relationship with him after they’ve disobeyed. First, they humble themselves, meaning they admit their mistakes. Second, they seek his face while turning from their wickedness, meaning they repent.
God is giving the nation of Israel a roadmap back to him after they have sinned. Even though the nation of Israel failed to obey, God is still willing to show them how they can return to him.
I Will Forgive Their Sin And Will Heal Their Land Meaning…
Then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
This shows God’s heart. When his people failed to live up to their end of the bargain, he would still pour out his grace. This shows that judgment isn’t meant to just be punishment, it’s meant to bring God’s people back to him.
What 2 Chronicles 7:14 is saying is that if God’s people repent he will forgive them and heal their land of the judgment that has been placed on it.
This is grace. When God’s people sin, they suffer the consequences of their sin. They deserve what comes their way. But God is willing to forgive when they return to him. He gives them what they need and not what they deserve.
How 2 Chronicles 7:14 Applies To Our Lives Today
Many Christians today look at the meaning of 2 Chronicles 7:14 as a roadmap for bringing America, or any other modern nation, to repentance. Thus saving the nation and the people. The problem is this verse was addressed to Israel who was under a covenant relationship with God. We are not. There is no promise that if every Christian prayed and repented our nation, or any other, would be blessed and saved.
Now, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t confess our sins or pray for our nation. It’s never bad to do those things. But the promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14 cannot be broadly applied to any modern nation because they are not in a covenant relationship with God.
Because of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, we now live under the law of grace. Christians are guaranteed a personal salvation in Christ. That means that each person has the opportunity to repent and step into the blessings that God has for them. The Bible doesn’t guarantee salvation for a nation, but rather for each individual. Thus this verse can be applied more on an individual level.
2 Chronicles 7:14 reveals to us today a path that we can take as individuals to get back into right standing with God. Because of Jesus, we are God’s people. And if we humble ourselves and seek his face he will forgive us and restore us.
The church today still has the power to impact all the people in a nation, but we do so by changing individual lives. By accepting the forgiveness God gives us and by living in the calling he places on us we can change the lives of those around us. Seek God and go love someone around you. I bet you will be surprised at what God can do through you.
BA in Biblical Studies - Ozark Christian College (2012)
MA in Theology - Regent University (2019)
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