If My People Who are Called by My Name…
(Can verse in 2Chronicles be used in reference to U.S.?)
“…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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” 2Chron. 7:14 (NIV).
Many people use the above verse as a plea for America to examine herself and repent. There is no doubt that America is at an all time low when it comes to godliness. But is it really with the nation as a whole that God is most concerned? Can we properly use 2Chron. 7:14 in reference to America?
First, we must understand the verse in its context. To whom did God originally speak these words? This was a promise God spoke to His covenant nation Israel. God-fearing men founded America on biblical principles; nevertheless, America is not God’s nation in the same way in which Israel was.
We see God’s call to Israel through Moses in Exodus 19:3-6 (NIV). “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
Israel, as a nation, broke her covenant with God and He divorced her. (See Rom. 8-11). Not that God has permanently forsaken Israel, but God does not have a physical chosen nation today through which He is witnessing to the world. In these Last Days, God is working though His Church. God’s nation is now spiritual. It consists of those who are born-again and scattered among the world’s nations. To be American does not mean you are automatically Christian—or part of God’s new nation. Our Apostle Peter explains:
1Pet. 2:4-8 (NIV), “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,” and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.”
In the preceding verses, Peter explains how Israel rejected her Messiah through unbelief, thereby losing her position as God’s chosen nation. He also explains that God’s new chosen nation is those who believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. He clearly states this in verses 9 and 10. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
So, what is the point to all of this? Simply this: If we are going to use 2Chron. 7:14 as a call to repentance, it must be directed at the Church and not America. The verse clearly states, “…if my people, who are called by my name…”
As we saw in 1Peter, God’s people are now a spiritual nation, not possessing a land of their own, but scattered among the world’s nations. But, there is a high concentration of God’s people in America. And in that sense, this is their land—it is where they live. So, if God heals America it will not come from the people at large cleaning up their act. God’s healing of America will come only when the Church is brought to her knees in repentance and cries out to her God, just as He said.
The Church loves to point fingers at the wicked and blame them for God’s judgment. Some favorite targets are homosexuality, abortion, pornography and the like. But God holds His people accountable first and foremost. Yes, God judges the sins of the nations, but judgment begins with the house of God. Yes, we need to speak out against the sins of the world, but we must judge ourselves first. Paul makes this point clear when correcting the worldly Church at Corinth. “But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world” 1Cor. 11:31-32 (NIV).
In John 12:47-48 (NIV), Jesus said, “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.” We are not the world’s judge, but His Word that we speak to them—if they reject it—will judge them at the last day.
We need not expect sinners to stop sinning in order to stay the judgment of God or bring His blessing. Sinners cannot stop sinning—that is why they need a Savior. When God’s people—His Church—repent, start living godly lives, and start spreading the Gospel; then sinners are saved, God’s judgment is stayed, and His blessing flows. But, so long as the Church is full of sins such as apathy, complacency, pride, greed, materialism, self-centeredness, lack of love, etc, God cannot bless us.
Continuing in 1Pet. 2:11-12, “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” Peter urges God’s people to live godly lives, not in order to stay God’s hand or receive His blessing, but that His name is glorified. Peter also knew that the key to our witness to a lost world is that we live a life that matches the message we bring.
In the verses preceding 2Chron. 7:14, we see that the reason there was a need for a healing of the land was God’s own people’s idolatry and wickedness. God was saying, “I have brought these disasters upon you because of your sin. Now, if you will confess, repent, and ask, I will relent and heal you. Otherwise, you will continue to suffer my wrath.”
Israel had the same problem the Church has today—they could not see their own sin, and would not listen to those God sent to tell them.
Now, God says to the Church today, “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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
