February 2: 2 Chronicles 7:14

SO, HOW Can We Apply 2 Chronicles 7:14 Today?

There is the argument in biblical interpretation that this verse can only apply to the nation of Israel (and possibly, only to ancient Israel). The argument focuses on context, subjects and results. These interpreters say that the context is that of the nation Israel. This verse is found as God’s response to Solomon’s prayer at the consecration of the Temple. It is obvious that his prayer focuses on the nation, their backsliding and its consequences, and the remedy for the situation. Israel is the focus of Solomon’s prayer. The results include the healing of the land, a reference that these interpreters say can only apply to Israel. Israel, after all, had been promised and given the land, and would keep or forfeit it on the basis of their obedience to God. Dr. Kaiser, an Old Testament scholar, has anticipated this objection and replies:

No doubt a significant number of God’s people will object that 2 Chronicles 7:14 has no reference to them because it was addressed to Israel; it is strictly not their mail. But though the desire for a consistent hermeneutic, which underlies this objection, is admirable, the conclusion is wide of the mark on several counts.

Kaiser Jr., Walter C.. Revive Us Again . Christian Focus Publications. Kindle Edition.

Dr. Kaiser goes on to counter the objections with the following observations that are more fully developed in his book, Revive Us Again, Biblical Principles for Revival Today. This book is an expanded edition of his previous work, Quest for Renewal, Personal Revival in the Old Testament. The updated version includes the study of revivals in both the Old and New Testaments.

I will summarize his arguments here. I happen to agree with them, but I realize that not everyone will find them as convincing. I offer them for prayerful consideration.

1. The subjects are “My people, called by My name.” In the Bible, what someone named, they owned or protected, including cities, the temple, and men and women.

“”The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you.” (Deuteronomy 28:9-10, NKJV)

“Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.” (Acts 15:14, NKJV) [Then in the following two verses, James quotes Amos 9:11 as applying in the current situation]

The LORD promises “if My people, called by My name” not “if Israel.”

2, The same principle of interpretation is used that the New Testament authors used in applying the Old Covenant promises to New Covenant believers. On the day of Pentecost, Peter uses the promise of Joel 2:32, “all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved,” to call a new generation of people to respond to God’s call. Paul uses the same language in Romans 10:13. The New Covenant is originally found in the Old Testament and in the context of the house of Israel (Jeremiah 31:31). These promises are embraced by the people of God in the New Testament.

Dr. Kaiser notes: The “people of God” are one, even though we can distinguish several aspects, such as believing Israel and believers in the church.

Kaiser Jr., Walter C.. Revive Us Again . Christian Focus Publications. Kindle Edition.

3. We are given assurance from the New Testament that the Old is relevant and applicable to today’s Christian.

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4, NKJV)

“Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (1 Corinthians 10:11, NKJV)

APPLICATION

Certainly, we need to approach interpreting the Bible with careful analysis. We do not want to twist, undermine, or distort the Scriptures. That has often been the case with careless believers, and certainly with false teachers. However, the New Testament confirms these conditions as the way to seek God (see James 4:7-10 and 1 Peter 5:5-9).

As for consequences, we can readily see that God still uses defeat in battle, drought, famine, blight or mildew or insects, plague, and sickness to get the attention of His people and to drive them to their knees in pursuit of His relief (2 Chronicles 6). Solomon even asks that the prayer of the consecrated foreigner be answered (2 Chronicles 6:32-33). History is His Story and we should be alert to the ways that He is seeking to work in our circumstances and in our world to get our attention and call us back to Him.

We must cry out for revival in our generation. We see the marks of unfaithfulness to God and we are beginning to experience the consequences of a corrupt culture. We desperately need to apply 2 Chronicles 7:14, so that we can experience the forgiveness and blessing that only come as a result of obedience to God.