Healing the Land

If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7: 14

This is a very familiar passage to many bible students. It is often used to exemplify one of God’s promise to his people. Did you know that the context of this scripture was actually during the time of Solomon who was dedicating the house of God? Solomon had made a great prayer and then he and the attending priests performed great sacrifices before the Lord. At the same time, Solomon had a feast for all of Israel for 7 days. On the eighth day was a solemn assembly.

Afterward, the Lord appeared to Solomon and began to pour out his promises to him. As part of God’s “presentation” to Solomon, He gives instruction to both Solomon and all of Israel. What he said is very informative for today.

First, God is speaking to His people … and not just his people but those that were called by His name. He was being intimate with exactly those that He had chosen. He had yet to identify himself as their Father. This would come during the time of the appearance of his Son, Jesus. However, it was as close as an acknowledgement of His fatherhood as they would get at that time. The admonition that followed to His people “that were called by His name” was pretty profound.

God requested four things of his people in order to obtain the blessing; humility, pray, seeking His face, and turning from their wicked ways. Those four conditions are still true for God’s promises today. All of these “requests” are actually conditions of the heart. God wants us to be a people with a humble heart (James 4: 10). God wants us to have a heart of prayer (1 Thessalonians 5: 17). God wants us to having a heart that seeks Him (Matthew 7: 7). God wants a repentant heart (Acts 2: 38). These are all conditions of the heart that are expected of the “sinner” to obtain Christ’s approval and to get saved. However, these conditions need to remain in our hearts as “saints” in order to maintain what we have in Christ.

If we meet those conditions, God promises to “hear from heaven.” As He hears from heaven, He does two things; heals the souls of his people and heals the land (Those that are not His people). Sin can have both a damaging effect on the individual soul and on the society in which we live in. Remember, these were God’s people and they still needed a cleansing from sin … and they needed to maintain a cleansing from sin. The work comes in when we strive to maintain humility, prayer, seeking and a repentant heart. God himself is the one who forgives and heals!

This scripture has been quoted during this time of pandemic. It may be very appropriate to reflect upon during these times. However, just as in Solomon’s times, we need to really think about dedicating the temple. Not the dedication of the physical temple; But ourselves, as the individual temples of God (I Corinthians 3: 16-17). As we dedicate (or in some instances re-dedicate) our temples and as we meet the conditions of the heart that God requests of us, then true forgiveness and healing can come into our lands. These uncertain times should lead us, as a people of God, to a place of inward reflection. Is our heart right before God? Do we meet the conditions to receive the promises of God? If so then we can humbly pray for others that they might receive the same promises by meeting the same conditions. If not, then its never too late to turn from our wicked ways.

Unfortunately, Solomon and the children of Israel did not maintain their relationship with God. They turned back to their wicked ways and paid a heavy price. During this time, as we turn to God as our help and protection, let us learn the lesson of Solomon. To maintain out relationship with our heavenly Father, we MUST maintain a heart of humility, of prayer, of seeking God’s face and of a penitent heart. If we want to see our land healed, it must start with us first!