“if my people, who belong to me, humble themselves, pray, seek to please me, and repudiate their sinful practices, then I will respond from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”
— 2 Chronicles 7:14
Lengthy but necessary exercise: Read all of Chapter 6 and 7 to this point for full context. YHWH reuses Solomon’s language about plagues, war, natural disasters, etc which would come because of Israel’s disobedience. (This is all based, of course, on the Mosaic Covenant at the end of Deuteronomy). Solomon begged God to honor their building “of this house” and when they prayed/repented at/toward “this house” that should be enough for healing of the land and restoration of blessing. Here, God says, “Deal, except it’s not really about the house, though I appreciate your building it (cause I deserve it). It’s really just the heart of the people.”
NOT ABOUT AMERICA
If we really wanted to apply it, “my people” would have to be “church.” (Or still Israel proper). Repentance. Pray. Problem is church doesn’t have a land. Church is global. We ARE living in exile, so some try to see correlation with phrasing in 1 Peter, etc. But there is no corporate solidarity between believers and the nations they inhabit. Kingdom is not from this world, though one day it will break into this world finally and fully. I can’t attack God’s faithfulness for not bringing blessing/prosperity to any nation regardless of its citizens’ ethics because they do not have the covenant that Israel did. Nor do I want church to “reign” and enforce legal code. Repentance. Spread news of Messiah. Discipleship.
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