RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-06-24	If My People (2 Chronicles 7:14)
		2Ch 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, 2Ch 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. 2 Chronicles 7:14 has got to be one of the most quoted Bible verse in America. We often try to tie America to Israel to appropriate Israel's promise. We must be careful to not apply Israel's covenant promise to America which has no such promise. The context is the temple being dedicated (v.1-9). Fire came down from Heaven which consumed the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple (v.1-3). God said He chose the temple to be “a house of sacrifice” (v.12). God is speaking from verse 12 till the end of the chapter at verse 22. This should be a time of great encouragement for Israel. God was promising to Solomon that at the temple in Jerusalem He would hear their prayer (v.15) 2Ch 7:16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. God's covenant theme is clearly seen in that if Solomon would obey (v.17) he would be assured of God's blessing in his kingly rule (v.18). Conversely, if Solomon and the nation should fall away from the Lord and serve other gods, they would be exiled from the temple (v.19-20). Later Solomon did worship other gods (1Ki.11:4-8), as did many of his successors. As a result, the nation was exiled (2Ch.6:36; 36:17-18, 20) to Babylon and the temple destroyed (2Ch.36:19). Everyone who witnessed the desolation of the land and temple would know it was God's judgment on His people because of their sin (2Ch.7:21-22). We (the church) have no temple to dedicate. Of course, there is the spiritual application that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1Co.6:19-20). But Israel had a literal and physical temple they dedicated to God. We don’t hear much about the surrounding verses that talk about bondage, dispersion and suffering that will occur if God is forsaken. The promise is made to “My people”. That is, the nation of Israel. Israel can claim this as a covenant promise. The church cannot claim the physical promise of healing our land. The promise to heal the “land” was exclusive to Israel. The church in no way replaced Israel and is distinct with different promises. Unlike ancient Israel, America is not a covenant nation. God has made no promise to our physical ancestors that guarantees our national status. But for those of us who are Christians, the covenant blessings do apply (Ga.3:29). Gal 3:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. All the promises of salvation, mercy, forgiveness of sins, and spiritual prosperity are ours to claim as long as we remain faithful to God. God blesses a nation, and has always done so, for the sake of His people. If the church is fit to receive God's blessing, the whole nation will be the beneficiary of that. When the Word of God is proclaimed with power, God will add to His church spiritual blessings. Spiritual blessings are the truest blessings of all. We should first pray that the church has a right relationship with the Lord. Then we can rightly pray for our nation. 1Sa 12:14 If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the LORD your God. So blessings go in two directions. When believers serve the Lord our leaders will be blessed. This trickles up. And when the leaders are spiritually blessed, we believers will also be blessed. This trickles downward. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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