The True Meaning of 2 Chronicles 7:14 for Christians

by Joshua updated on 2 Comments

On a dark and stormy night in 1938, millions of Americans huddled around their radios, listening to a broadcast that would forever change the way we think about truth and the power of storytelling.

The program was called “The War of the Worlds,” and it was a fictional drama about a Martian invasion of Earth.

But for some listeners who tuned in late and missed the introduction, the show was all too real.

As the program progressed, panic and hysteria spread across the nation, with many people believing that the United States was actually under attack. People fled their homes, packed their belongings, and begged for salvation.

The illusion of truth had taken hold, and even though the broadcast was a work of fiction, listeners were convinced that it was real.

The War of the Worlds radio broadcast was a landmark moment in the history of media and psychology. It demonstrated the power of storytelling to shape our beliefs and perceptions, and it highlighted the dangers of the illusion of truth effect.

The broadcast sparked a national conversation about the responsibilities of media outlets and the importance of critical thinking, and it remains a cautionary tale to this day.

First identified by Villanova University in a 1977 study, the illusion of truth effect is what happens when people hear false information enough that they begin to believe it. Unfortunately, 2 Chronicles 7:14 has suffered this fate in America as people repeatedly quote and teach the passage without its original context.

What then is an appropriate application of 2 Chronicles 7:14 for Christians in today’s world?

The Original Audience

Israel Wailing WallGod promised to bless Israel if they loved and obeyed him in several places in the Old Testament. One of the most well-known passages is Deuteronomy 28, where Moses lists both blessings and curses that would come upon Israel depending on whether they obeyed or disobeyed God’s commands.

Here are some specific verses from Deuteronomy 28 that talk about God’s promise to bless Israel:

“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God.

“The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you. 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” (Deuteronomy 28:1-2,7-9).

Other passages in the Old Testament that talk about God’s promise to bless Israel include Leviticus 26:3-13 and Psalm 81:10-16.

These promises were given specifically to the nation of Israel, as part of God’s covenant with them.

While Christians are certainly referred to as God’s people in the New Testament, we are not a nation in the same way that Israel was. The promises and blessings that God gave to Israel were specifically tailored to their unique situation and history.

Furthermore, the blessings and curses that God promised to Israel in these passages were tied to specific physical blessings and hardships that would come upon them in the Promised Land. While God indeed blesses and provides for his people today, it would be inappropriate to apply these promises to Christians in America (or any other country) in a literal, physical sense.

Christians, on the other hand, are also called to love and obey God, but our salvation and standing before God are not based on our ability to keep the Law or earn blessings through obedience.

The New Testament emphasizes that our salvation and relationship with God are based on faith in Jesus Christ, rather than obedience to the Mosaic Law or the specific promises given to Israel.

Universal Principles

When interpreting Scripture, it is important to distinguish between the cultural and historical context of a passage and its universal principles.

The cultural and historical context refers to the specific circumstances, customs, and beliefs of the original audience for whom the passage was written. This context is important because it helps us understand the intended meaning of the passage within its historical and cultural setting.

However, universal principles are those principles in any passage of Scripture that can apply to both the original audience and all Christians of all time, even if their immediate situations are different and require different forms of personal application. These universal principles are timeless truths that transcend cultural and historical contexts and are relevant to all believers of all ages.

For example, in Genesis 2:16-17, God tells Adam, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Does this mean that if anyone eats of that specific tree today, they will die, and those of us who don’t eat of the tree will not die? Does it mean that if I find a beautiful garden with a fruit tree in the middle, I will sin if I eat its fruit?

Of course not! Most people would not seriously interpret those verses in that way. But we derive universal principles from that passage that are applicable to us today. First, we recognize that God has given each of us a free will to choose good or evil. Second, we know that sin results in death, so we should strive to do what is good and right.

Interpreting Scripture requires careful attention to the cultural and historical context of a passage as well as an intention to search for universal principles that apply to all believers. This is how we gain a deeper understanding of God’s Word and its relevance to our lives today.

These are the universal principles in 2 Chronicles 7:14 (and its surrounding context):

  1. God answers prayer
  2. God keeps his promises
  3. God is pleased when people humble themselves, pray, turn from sin, and seek him
  4. God has unique plans and purposes for his people Israel

How should we respond to this passage of Scripture? Here are a few ideas:

  1. We should praise God because he answers prayer and keeps his promises
  2. We should rest in the goodness of God knowing that he never changes and will answer our prayers and keep his promises to us
  3. We should exemplify humility rather than pride
  4. We should pray
  5. We should turn from our sin
  6. We should seek God

Israel Green FieldsAs for the healing of the land? That refers to favourable weather and healthy crops for Israel and their physical land. That promise is not for us in any sense.

Some of the most adamant “literal interpreters” of Scripture will spiritualize this passage every single time.

Conclusion

While the promises of blessing and prosperity given to Israel in the Old Testament are a reminder of God’s faithfulness and love for his people, they cannot be applied directly to Christians in America or any other nation today. Our relationship with God is based on faith in Jesus Christ and not on our nationality or ability to keep the Law.

Therefore, while we still see the importance of obeying God, praying to him, and seeking his face, we should not promote 2 Chronicles 7:14 as a recipe for spiritual healing and nationwide revival.

Doing so merely adds us to the number of countless people who have perpetrated an illusion of truth.

2 Chronicles 7:14 Is Not Written to You

by Joshua on add a comment

I am the oldest of 12 children, and I have 7 brothers.

It has been 7 years since I last lived in my parents’ home, and I now have a family and a house of my own.

As with almost every home with children, bedrooms become messy and need cleaning at my home. It’s not unusual for parents to tell a child to clean his room.

Imagine if my dad told me, “Son, I want you to clean your room. If you go and do it, tonight we will make your favourite meal for supper.” The instructions are clear. If I went and cleaned my room, we would eat my favourite food for supper.

But what if my little brother overheard my dad talking to me and decided that his room was also somewhat messy and decided to clean it? If he cleaned his room, would we eat his favourite food for supper?

Of course not! The directions and promised result were given to me, not my brother. Yes, we both are legitimately his son, but he was speaking specifically to me, not any of my other brothers.

This does not mean that my dad does not want my other brothers to clean their rooms, nor does it mean that he won’t ever reward them for doing what is good. But in this specific context, he was promising my favourite meal to me if I did something specific at his request.

“If My People…”

Let’s get straight to the point: 2 Chronicles 7:14 is not a promise given to you unless you are of Jewish descent and live in the area of ancient Canaan.

Fort McHenry American FlagI love America, and I am so grateful that God allowed me to be born in this amazing country. Furthermore, I am thankful for my family’s Christian heritage and the many aspects of America that have been influenced by biblical principles and ideals.

But one downside of being a Christian in America is the tendency that we have to think that we are God’s chosen people and that America is the promised land (i.e., the greatest country ever).

A prime example of this mindset is our hijacking of 2 Chronicles 7:14 which says, “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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

This verse is often quoted in discussions about national revival and repentance, and you can find it embedded in songs, social media images, and inspirational plaques in homes and church buildings.

But there are several reasons why it is inappropriate to apply this verse specifically to America.

First, the context of this verse is the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem, which was a specific event in Israel’s history. The verse was addressed to the people of Israel, not to any other nation, and the promise of healing the land was given in the context of God’s covenant with Israel.

Second, the verse specifically addresses the sins of God’s people Israel and calls for them to repent and turn from their wicked ways. While America is a nation that has benefited from some Christian ideals, it is not a theocracy, and not all Americans are Christians. Therefore, it is horrible theology to apply this verse to America as a whole.

Third, the promise of healing the land is a reference to God providing fruitfulness to Israel’s physical land. It is not a formula for automatic revival or national restoration. If Christians in America were to seek revival, they would need to do so with sincere repentance and a genuine desire to follow God’s will, rather than simply invoking a verse as a magic formula for national renewal, especially when this passage refers to a physical healing, not a spiritual healing.

While this verse certainly contains powerful promises of forgiveness and healing, it is important to understand its context and how it relates to the nation of Israel specifically.

Who Are God’s People?

In the Old Testament, “God’s people” generally referred to the Israelites, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, whom God chose to be His special people and entered into a covenant with.

For those of us who are not of Jewish descent but have placed our faith in Jesus Christ, yes, we too can now refer to ourselves as God’s people.

In the New Testament, the term “God’s people” is used to refer to Christians who have believed in Christ.  We find examples of this Galatians 3:26-29, Ephesians 2:19, and 1 Peter 2:9-10.

These verses, among others, emphasize that through faith in Jesus Christ, believers become part of God’s family and are considered his people.

However, 2 Chronicles 7:14 is not a promise given to all of God’s people of all time. It is specifically given to his special chosen people of Israel.

Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

The Israelites were a chosen nation, set apart from other nations to be a holy people and to fulfill God’s purposes on earth. Throughout the Old Testament, God made many promises and gave many commands to the Israelites as His chosen people, and the history of the Israelites as recorded in the Old Testament is the story of their relationship with God and their efforts to fulfill their role as His chosen people.

If you’re still not convinced, take a look at the 14 references to people in 2 Chronicles 6:5,6,21,24,25,27,29,32,33,34,39. These verses in Solomon’s prayer all make references to God’s people, and there is no doubt that every single one is a reference to the children of Israel.

“Heal Their Land”

The book of 2 Chronicles is a historical account of the reigns of various kings of Israel and Judah. In chapter 7, King Solomon has just finished building the Temple in Jerusalem, and God appears to him in a dream, promising to bless the nation if they remain faithful to him.

2 Chronicles 7:14 is part of God’s response to Solomon’s prayer in 2 Chronicles 6. God lays out the conditions for blessing and protection for the nation of Israel. These conditions are specifically tied to the Temple in Jerusalem and the relationship between God and the Israelites.

In fact, during his prayer in 2 Chronicles 6:26-31, Solomon acknowledged that Israel’s physical land would suffer if they disobeyed God, and he asked God to provide physical healing in the event that Israel turned back to God with repentant hearts.

So God responded directly to Solomon’s specific request.

Conclusion

If my dad asked me to clean my room and promised me a certain result if I did, he is not also promising that another brother of mine would receive the same result if he cleaned his room.

Likewise, it is important to understand that 2 Chronicles 7:14 is descriptive of God’s relationship with Israel, not prescriptive for other nations or individuals.

While the principles of humility, prayer, seeking God’s face, and turning from wickedness are certainly relevant for all believers, the specific promises of forgiveness and healing for a nation are tied to the unique covenant relationship between God and Israel.

If you want a similar passage that is written to all believers and not just Israel, take a look at Colossians 3.

2 Chronicles 7:14 is a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness and desire to bless his people, but it must be understood in the context of God’s unique relationship with Israel and cannot be simply applied as a formula for national revival or repentance.

While God certainly desires for all people to turn to him in repentance and seek his face, it is not appropriate to take this verse out of its context and apply it to the United States or any other country that is not Israel.

Now if 2 Chronicles 7:14 was not given to directly to us, but all Scripture is profitable for us (2 Timothy 3:16-17), what application can we get from it? Well, we will discuss that in my next blog post 🙂

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree, and why?