2 Chronicles 7:14
2 Chronicles 7:14 has been cycling around the religious circles lately. It appears almost daily on social media outlets.
The implication is that the current COVID-19 pandemic is a result of the sinfulness of world. So, the world needs to repent.
The chosen passage supporting what the world needs to do is 2 Chronicles 7:14.
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, 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
NRSV
The Problem
There is one big problem with quoting this verse as if the world needs to listen up. The verse wasn’t written to the world. The verse was written to God’s people.
2 Chronicles 7:14 was God’s instruction to King Solomon after the completion and dedication of the Temple.
God appeared to Solomon and told King Solomon that when things get rough, the people of Israel were to gather at the Temple to pray to God (in the manner instructed in this verse) and God would heal the land.
God's People
The part missed is who was to pray and why they were to pray.
If my people who are called by my name…
The verse clearly states that it was God’s people who were to pray, not the world or other nations that didn’t follow God.
“…and turn from their wicked ways,”
The verse also states that the wickedness that was to be turned from was that of God’s people. Again, doesn’t say anything about the world or other nations that didn’t follow God.
…then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Further, it was the sins of God’s people that would be forgiven. Need I say it, not the sins of the world or the nations that do not follow God.
In fact, if we read the preceding verse which sets the stage for verse 14, we will discover the drought, locusts, and pestilence God says he will bring. These are brought among the people of God not upon the world.
Can't Blame Others
You see, in this passage God is dealing with God’s people, not anybody else.
So, if 2 Chronicles 7:14 is our go-to verse during our current global pandemic, the reasons for it rests with God’s people, not the sins of the world.
It is not the world that needs to listen up and pay attention, it is God’s people. Apparently, we have sinned greatly. We are so wicked that God’s punishment upon us (assuming that is what COVID-19 is) has spilled over to the world and those who do not follow God.
What’s more! It is God’s people who now must pray. This verse does not call the world to repent of their sinfulness (though that is wise). The verse calls us to repent! Our sins are the fault (if we follow this logic). Our wickedness is the cause.
So, if we use 2 Chronicles 7:14 to cast stones at an unbelieving and sinful world, we do so inappropriately.
Now, if we want to look in the mirror and ask ourselves, as God’s people, is God calling us, God’s people, to repentance, maybe we are getting somewhere and appropriately applying 2 Chronicles 7:14.
3 Questions
This leaves us with 3 big questions to ponder:
- 1How have we, God’s people, become wicked?
- 2What is the wickedness we, God’s people, need to turn from?
- 3What sin do we, God’s people, need to be forgiven of?
4 Steps
- 1Humble ourselves (quit blaming the world).
- 2Pray.
- 3Seek God.
- 4Stop our own wickedness.
