ATP 14 Heal Their Land
Q: What does 2 Chronicles 7:14 mean for Christians today?
2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people who are called by my name 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.
A: In the context of this passage, healing of the land is a promise of blessing as a result of obedience. It is directed at the nation of Israel upon the dedication of the Temple built by King Solomon.
Can we today claim this promise even if we are not of Israel?
- Who are ‘My people’? In the Old Testament this referred solely to Israel as a nation. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ reveals that ‘My People’ now refers to all who are obedient to God through submission of the will.
- “This a test of faith, a motive to obedience, and a rule of discipline. “If ye walk in my statutes … then I will give you. But if ye will not hearken unto me … I will set my face against you” (Leviticus 26:1-20)”
- Principle of the Promise: Healing comes when we obey God with a right heart.
- Keys: called by God, humble before God, pray to God, seek God, turn / repent from old nature (evil)
- Results: God hears, God forgives, God heals
- Hears: God hears all (Psalm 139) and answers as He wills, but there are times when repentance must come before God will listen to requests for help.
Proverbs 28:9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.
- Forgives: not free from consequences, but free of the penalty (Christ paid that on the cross) and free of guilt.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- Heals: that which is broken as a consequence of sin is healed. For Israel, there was drought which God would reverse to a good harvest (healing the land)
1 Peter 2:24-25 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (From Isaiah 53:5)
- Are God’s blessings physical / material today?
- John Piper says: “The application we make of this verse is not that if Christians will repent God will heal America [or Canada]. We have no such promise in the Bible. Rather, if Christians repent, turn from their wicked ways, humble themselves, and pray to God, He will do a mighty work in and through the church however He pleases.”
- Israel was promised a physical land. Christians are not promised land here on Earth, but rather a portion of the New Jerusalem in Eternity.
- Final Application: Genuine repentance and humility before God will bring about blessing in the form of healing … and what that looks like depends on the situation.