Does 2 Chronicles 7:14 Apply to Us Today?

"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves......then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Context is the most important thing in rightly dividing the Word.This was a promise given to Solomon at the dedication of the temple. The "land" referred to was the land of Israel. Verse 13 mentions God's judgment on the land - famine, locusts and pestilence - when the Israelites sinned. But if they would turn to God in repentance, seek His face, God would be merciful to them and heal their land. Yes, in the context, the promise is all about Israel and not about us/our land. But can we find a valid and appropriate application for us? I believe so.

In an ultimate spiritual sense, this is a timeless truth for God's people. "All Scripture is inspired and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and training in righteousness" (2 Tim.3:16). By Scripture, Paul meant the Old Testament Scripture, which includes 2 Chro.7:14. The OT Scripture was written for our instruction, for the benefit of Christians (1 Cor.10:11). Though 2 Chro.7:14 in its context is not about us, the spirit and principle of this verse is applicable to us in a general sense. We,as the people of God (1 Peter 2;10) in any nation, should humble ourselves, pray , seek the Lord's face, and turn from our wicked ways, Then He will forgive us our sins, and will bring spiritual healing to us. During this time of unprecedented panic and uncertainties, this is what we also should do.

"Heal our land" in this verse is tied to the "land" promise of the Abrahamic covenant and we cannot apply that in the same sense that it applied to Israel. But we are called upon to pray for all people, Kings, and all those in authority (in our land) that we may live peaceful and quite lives in all godliness and holiness(1Tim.2:1-4). There is emphasis in Scripture on the power of gathered prayer. Humble, pray, Seek His face, Turn from wicked ways are the things which we also should do. These spiritual exercises are the condition for personal and corporate revival. When the world around us is crumbling in chaos, this is how God wants His people to respond. A fundamental spiritual principle is obvious in this promise of 2 Chro.7:14 - any person regardless of race, color, nationality, and geography can come to the Lord with a repentant heart and find forgiveness and spiritual healing/restoration. As William MacDonald wrote, "It is the sure road to restoration and revival for all times" (Believer's Bible Commentary, 449). By way of spiritual application, I cannot think of a better verse in the Bible which gives the guidelines for a revival than 2 Chro.7:14. Avoid the consequences of disobedience by repenting and turning to God for mercy. This remedy is applicable today as it was in the days of Solomon.

Appropriate spiritual applications can be drawn from this verse (as we normally do from many other verses) though we have to stick with the right contextual interpretation.

Remember the old adage that "all Scripture is written FOR us, but not all Scripture is written TO us."