The Real Meaning of 2 Chronicles 7:14
During holiday weekends like July 4, we often think about the things we love about our country and the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. However, there is also a tendency to think about the things that aren’t so great in our country right now.
The immorality that we see taking place, the violence, the way politicians carry themselves, the decisions they are making that impact us, the rising costs of food, insurance, housing, etc. There’s so much to be discouraged about right now.
But this is also a presidential election year, and these are the things that are also being talked about in that realm of things as we think about the future of our country.
And during these times, there is a tendency to see one particular Bible verse used a lot.
It’s used in speeches, placed on billboards, shared on social media, and even used in our conversations with other people.
And that verse is 2 Chronicles 7:14.
14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
(2 Chronicles 7:14)
Many will quote this verse and say that this is the way to turn our country around.
If we humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from our wicked ways, then we will have fewer natural disasters, less violence, and less immorality. Our political landscape will get better, the economy will improve, and we’ll begin to prosper again!
In sum, 2 Chronicles 7:14 becomes our strategy to get moral, political, and economic healing for our country.
But is that the meaning of this verse?
No, that’s not what this verse means.
So, what is the real meaning of 2 Chronicles 7:14?
THE REAL MEANING OF 2 CHRONICLES 7:14
This verse was addressed to the nation of Israel under the Old Covenant. God had made a covenant with Moses and the Israelite nation that was a conditional covenant (Exodus 19:5-8).
This covenant included blessings for the nation of Israel and the land they were living in if they obeyed the God’s commandments, but it also included curses for disobeying His commands (Deuteronomy 28).
In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God was addressing King Solomon and sharing with him what the Israelite nation was to do when they disobeyed and were under one of God’s curses. This is evident from what God says in 2 Chronicles 7:13.
13 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
(2 Chronicles 7:13-14)
If the Israelites disobey God and He must send these curses, what they must do then is humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways. When they do those four things, then God will forgive them and heal their land. They’ll begin to receive the blessings He promised in Deuteronomy 28.
IS 2 CHRONICLES 7:14 APPLICABLE TO US TODAY?
If 2 Chronicles 7:14 was addressed to the nation of Israel under the Old Covenant, then it does not apply to you and me today.
First, we are not the nation of Israel. Second, we are no longer under the Old Covenant.
With the finished work of Jesus on the cross, we live under the New Covenant. The old has been replaced with the new (Hebrews 8:13; 10:1).
As a matter of fact, Galatians 3 reveals to us that Jesus fulfilled the curses and promises of the Old Covenant, including of course, those found in 2 Chronicles 7.
Therefore, when we try to use 2 Chronicles 7:14 to find moral, political, and economic healing in our country and our own lives, we are taking this verse out of context. This verse does not apply to us today.
CONCLUSION
We should not use 2 Chronicles 7:14 as our strategy to turn our country around and find prosperity again.
As we’ve seen, this verse is addressed to the nation of Israel under the Old Covenant, but also there is no guarantee that we find political and economic healing as Jesus expresses His life in us and through us.
If there was ever anyone who had humbled themselves, prayed, sought the Lord, and turned from their wicked ways, it was the disciples and the early church. But did they receive healing for their land?
No, they received persecution. They were threatened, and some were even thrown in jail for their faith. Eventually most were even scattered from their land (Acts 8:1-3).
But despite all these terrible situations and circumstances in their lives, they were blessed with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). They had the peace and abundant life of Christ.
And this is the promise for all who believe. We don’t have to find economic and political healing in our land to enjoy God’s blessings. Our blessings are found in a Person.
Does that mean we shouldn’t pray for our country and hope things get better?
Absolutely not! We can love our country and be thankful we get to live here. We can be grateful for the men and women who sacrificed their lives to protect our freedom. We can pray for our country and hope things get better.
But as we pray for our country, our ultimate hope is not that our lives get more comfortable through prosperity but that more people come to know Jesus and the abundant life that can only be found in Him.