2 Chron. 7:14 Gospel Fulfillment In a Familiar Verse

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Melvin Potter
5 years ago
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1 1 2 Chron. 7:14 Gospel Fulfillment In a Familiar Verse 2 Chronicles 7:14 says: If my people who are called by my name 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. How many of you have heard this verse before? It may be the most popular revival text in the OT. Today, it is even the title of a website promoting an event right before the DNC. What comes to your mind when you hear this verse? Is it repentance? Is it humility? Is if forgiveness of sins? Maybe these words make you think more broadly as you consider our land, the country we live in, and think, If only our country would turn to the Lord, then, in some way our land would be healed. Oh, how easily this verse applies to some of the most fundamental truths in the Scriptures concerning our approach to God in humility and repentance as well as God s response to us in blessings. We see it over and over in the Scriptures. So, I am going to try and preach this verse today. But, I am going to do it differently than the way most of us have heard it. You see, I could stand up here and have 3 or 4 points from the text saying, God s people have a calling. Humble yourselves. Pray. Seek God s face. Turn from your wicked ways. And, if we do this, God will hear. He will forgive. And, our land will be healed. It will be a message you ve heard a hundred times. It is easy to see that this text preaches very easily. And, it is practical. I do not deny these truths. But, what I hope makes this sermon different is that I want to preach it in a fuller sense. I want to preach it in light of the Gospel of Christ who said, All the Scriptures speak about Me (Luke 24; John 5). You see, we live after the cross and the resurrection. We live after the Scriptures have come to us fully in the Bible. Therefore, we must preach this passage (and all other OT passages) through the lens of the Gospel of Christ. If not, we simply preach morality and good deeds, but miss the power behind our morality and our deeds. So, I want to be very specific today. I will begin with context. Then, I have 3 Gospel Truths from the passage. Finally, I will make some points of application. 1. Context. Our passage is found in the book of 2 Chronicles. We aren t sure about the author (Jewish tradition gives credit to Ezra). But, it was written after the Israel s return from exile in Babylon and after the 2 nd temple was built. The books of Chronicles were written simply to retell the history of Israel. When the books of Chronicles were written Israel was in their land, but they were still ruled by foreigners (Persians). Some good things were happening with the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and the new temple. But, the same truths from God s Word remained. The writer wanted God s people, Israel, to know that if they sought God in humility and turned from their ways God would hear and blessings would follow. These two books are full of such verses. 1 Chron. 16:11: Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! 2 Chron. 6:27: then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance. 2 Chron. 12:7: When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah: They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. Examples abound. 2 Chr. 7:14 just seems to pull it all together clearly in one verse. So, the immediate context is Israel and their covenantal relationship with God, their obedience, or lack of, tied to their blessings in the Land of Caanan. And, this made perfect sense to Israel, in their

2 2 time. But, there is SO much more to this passage. There are some truths found in this passage that can only find fulfillment in something much bigger than an earthly king and an earthly land and an earthly temple. It is the mystery of the Gospel. So, I have three truths that are fulfilled in the Gospel. 1. The Gospel is fulfilled in a heavenly king. The words from 2 Chron. 7:14 were spoken at the height of Israel s prosperity as a nation. There was peace in the land. The wars of King David s rule were finished. There were no real threats. The Kingdom was greater than it ever had been. Foreign nations looked to Israel as a leader and wanted to be on their side. All 12 tribes of Israel were united. The great city of Jerusalem was established. The most beautiful temple the world had ever seen was recently finished. And, Solomon was their king. His wisdom and his wealth were unmatched in the known world. What a most glorious king he was and how happy were those in his kingdom! But, you see, Solomon was only a part in the fulfillment of God s plan to bless the world with their real King. Do you remember God s covenant with David in 2 Sam. 7: God said to David, When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. Directly, this prophecy speaks of Solomon. This is obvious. Solomon was David s son. Solomon became the king. Solomon built the temple. But, there is one word in v. 13 that tells us this earthly kingship will fail. It is the word forever. Solomon died. And, yes, there were other kings. But, all of them died, and none of their kingdoms lasted. And, if you look at the history of Israel, their kingship ended with their defeat and exile into Babylon. At this point, we must ask, Did God s word fail? Did He fail in his covenant with David to establish an everlasting kingdom? No! The reason is that the Gospel, which is called the great mystery in the NT, is fulfilled in a heavenly king. His name is King Jesus! The first Christian sermon by the Apostle Peter makes this point. Speaking to his Jewish brethren after the death and resurrection of Christ, he said, Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. (We might add Solomon and all the other kings.) Then he continues: Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne... Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified (Acts 2:29-36). Speaking to the Jewish leaders Jesus said, The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here (Matt. 12:42). How is he greater? He is not simply the ruler of a specific people like Israel. He is King and ruler of all the earth. He rules the universe! He laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of his hands. His throne is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of his kingdom. All the kings and the peoples of the earth will perish. But He remains and his years will have no end. (Heb. 1).

3 3 When you read about the Kings of Israel, what should immediately come to your mind? King Jesus! When you read 2 Chron. 7:14 in its context, you can only know that the sinful kingdoms of this world will fail, but the holy Son of God will rule. This means we mustn t look to the earth for our fulfillment. We must look to the king of heaven and earth. This is our problem in life. Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, 3 Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us. 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill (Ps. 2:1-6). Today, the same is true of yourself. Why does your heart rage within you? Maybe, Jesus isn t your king. And I would argue that even as Christians, the extent to which we understand this principle, affects our happiness, our joy, our contentment in this life, our stress level, etc. On Tuesday I watched the RNC and their theme was: We can build it. Listen, even Solomon in all his glory cannot build it. Jesus can build it. He has built it. And He will sustain his kingdom forever. 2. The Gospel is fulfilled in the very presence of God. Again, remember the context. 2 Chron. 7:14 was written in the context of the dedication of the temple. Do you remember what happened after Solomon s prayer of dedication? Look at 7:1-2: As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offerings and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord s house. The glory of the Lord filled the temple. The place of worship was the temple. It was the place where God met with his people. It was the place where prayers were answered. If we go back to 2 Chron. 6 we see in v. 24 that If Israel is defeated by their enemies because of the sins, they should repent and pray in this house. In v. 26, if there is no rain because of their sin against God, they should repent and pray toward this place. In v. 28, if there is famine, or plague, or sickness, they should repent and pray toward this house. In v. 34 if there is a battle, they should pray toward this house and God will answer. God has always spoken to his people in a particular place, the place of his presence. And in this place, God hears, God speaks, God forgives, God heals their land. Although the Scriptures say that the heavens cannot contain Him, He always speaks to his people in a place (garden of Eden, Mt. Sinai, Tabernacle, Temple in Jerusalem) Look at v. 15: Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. Now, I want you to notice something in v. 16. We read: For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. This verse points us to something permanent about this temple. This temple is the permanent dwelling place of God. Immediately, you should ask, How can this be? Solomon s temple was destroyed. Herod s Temple was destroyed. Today, there is no earthly temple. Today, when we come to this verse, our prayers are not offered up in the temple. So, how can it still be permanent? Today, someone greater than the temple is here. The place of the earthly temple was always a picture, a type, of the real thing. Jesus said, Someone greater than the temple is here (Matt. 12:6) He is greater because He is the very presence of God. John 1:14 says, And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory. You see, the glory they saw in Solomon s temple when the presence of God came down

4 4 from heaven and dwelt there, is today found in the Son of God. Look back at 6:18. It says, But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built! If we read this passage clearly, it speaks of something better than Solomon s temple as the place of worship for God s people. Do you remember Jesus conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4? She said: Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship. 21 Jesus said to her, Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father (John 4:20-21). The reason Jesus could say this is because He was God in the flesh. And the reason he spoke to the woman in the future tense is because he was yet to finish the work of God and complete his mission which was to die on the cross and take the wrath of God upon himself that sinners (like this woman) deserved. He came to die. And, 3 days later he rose from the dead. And with the perfect sacrificial death of the Son, the sacrificial system that was centered around the temple at Jerusalem was no longer necessary. Today, whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. And, we don t have to go to the temple in Jerusalem to worship because the presence of God dwells in the Son. If you want to meet with God, you must meet Him in the person and work of his Son because the gospel is fulfilled in the presence of God in the Son. 3. The Gospel is fulfilled in the new heavens and the new earth. This point flows from the previous point. So, I will be very brief. 2 Chron. 7:14 speaks about God healing the land. As far as history goes, the land of Israel has never been healed consistently. Yes, when they were obedient to the covenant of God, they were blessed. And, when they sinned is disobedience to God s covenant, there were great consequences in respect to the land of Caanan. But, the physical land of Caanan was always a picture of something much greater. God s purpose has always been to bless the entire earth. God s purpose has always been for his glory to shine throughout the earth and fill the heavens. Today, we first see this blessing with the nations. The Gospel is going forth to the world as Christians go and make disciples as we no longer worship in one specific place, but encompass the entire earth. And, this will not stop until the new heavens and the new earth come. Rev. 21:1-5 says, Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. Applications: 1. The land of any nation will ultimately be healed in the new heavens and the new earth. Honestly speaking, our land (America) has produced crops since the beginning of our existence

5 5 (and before). Yes, we ve had famines. Yes, we ve had wars. Yes, we ve had sickness. Yes, we ve had natural disasters. But, in these things, God is no respecter of persons or countries. God may heal our land in a particular sense. Think about Israel. They had an Israelite King with a theocracy with a law to live by and their own land. We may have blessings and yes, depending on how leadership goes, people go, and vice versa. But, this will only happen as the gospel permeates hearts. And, this happens not through rallies, but through the making of disciples. I am not saying we shouldn t stand up. We should. I would just consider different bases for my actions than 2 Chron. 7: True Revival comes through the power of the Gospel. What good is humility and prayer and seeking the Lord, if our understanding of these truths fall short of the Gospel of Christ? We need definitions. We need the full scope of biblical theology that focuses on the Gospel. All Christians believe these things. Our churches are full of people who believe these truths. But, they are not gospel truths. And, any truth, any work, anything not applied in the Gospel will fail. This is why we have so many churches that seem to say the same things we do. Yet, we wonder, Why do they look so much different? Where s the fruit? 3. When we quote OT texts as application, we must interpret them through the Gospel. The gospel may be assumed when people quote this verse. But, they need to be spelled out. As far as the world is concerned, people are meeting in a place for some agenda that God would heal our land, forgive our sins, etc. But, apart from the explicit gospel of Christ, what do we have? It may not even be a Christian gathering. We must not assume. The Scriptures must be preached in their fullness found in Christ. 4. Today, the gospel is spread through the church, not Israel or a particular nation. 5. Where is the Lord s House today? Have you ever heard the words: Welcome to the Lord s House? (We can t say that because we re in a gym, right?) Israel could say this because God always met with them in a place. Today, can we say this? Consider Jesus words in John 4. Also, does this mean that Christians need to gather in a specific place to pray the prayer of 7:14? No! It is the church because the church is filled with people who have the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent. And, where they are, He is there. How can he not be? So, is a gathering of people more effective than a gathering of church members in a gym? No, at least not in the answering of prayers. There may be the argument that a large gathering sends a bigger message. Yes, maybe. But, the power of God and the message that is sent from thousands of churches who love and care and make disciples (husbands, fathers, wives, mothers, children, community) is much greater, though not as visible quickly. Consider the parable of the mustard seed and the seed growing into plants in the field. 6. God s plan will go forth. What if God brings wrath upon our land? Does this mean that his promises won t be fulfilled in the Gospel? NO! We have a heavenly king. We have the very presence of God in the Son. And, as the Gospel goes forth through the church to the nations, we wait for the new heavens and the new earth. God s plan will come to fruition. It will succeed.

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