My morning routine includes listening to passages of Scripture while I dress and prepare for my day.  This morning’s passage included the familiar verse from 2 Chronicles 7:14, yet I was drawn to the context and reminded that God issued this promise at a time of celebration and joy in Israel.  We often turn to this verse when our nation is in a mess and we need a miracle, yet I’m not sure that’s what the Lord intended!

A closer look at 2 Chronicles 7 reveals that Solomon, who had just completed the building of the Temple, was praying when the shekinah glory of the Lord came down and filled the Temple.  Verse 3 indicates that all the sons of Israel fell to their knees in worship of the God of glory.  In response to that glory, the people offered sacrifices, sang praises, and dedicated the Temple to the Lord.

Ultimately, Solomon “sent the people to their tents, rejoicing and happy of heart because of the goodness that the Lord had shown to David and to Solomon and to His people Israel.” (Verse 10)

It was following all that when the Lord issued the infamous promise:

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, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
~2 Chronicles 7:14

Often on this blog I have exhorted believers to pray for our country.  In fact, we are following along with Franklin Graham’s Decision America Tour, as he makes stops in every state capital city in America, encouraging believers to live out their faith at home, in public, and at the ballot box.

However, while I agree that 2 Chronicles 7:14 provides appropriate principles of prayer for our nation, I wonder if we are overlooking God’s true desire for us.  Yes, He wants us to call upon Him, humble ourselves, pray, and seek His face.  But I don’t believe we’ve completed the same preparation as the audience to whom God issued the promise in verse 14!

First, the Temple had just been completed.  As believers, the Bible tells us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).  If the Holy Spirit is not indwelling us, then our Temple is empty!  Our first prayer should be, individually, for fresh filling of the Holy Spirit!  (Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, John 20:19-22, Acts 1:4-8, Acts 4:31)  Is our Temple complete, and filled with the Holy Spirit?

Secondly, Solomon and the people were offering sacrifices of praise and worship to the Lord.  What is our sacrifice?  The apostle Paul answered that question in Romans 12:1-2:

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Are we offering our entire selves as living and holy sacrifices to God?  That is our spiritual service of worship.  That is the sacrifice which is pleasing to Him.  Have we fallen to our knees in worship?

Thirdly, after dedicating the Temple, Solomon sent the people home rejoicing and happy of heart because of the goodness God had shown.  Have we failed to see the goodness of God in blessing our nation with incredibly rich heritage?  Are we failing to rejoice in that goodness?

So, perhaps before we call upon His name, we would be well-served to seek a fresh indwelling of the Holy Spirit, offer our bodies a living and holy sacrifice to Him, and rejoice in God’s goodness and longsuffering for our nation.  At that point, perhaps we’ll hear the Lord drawing us to humble ourselves, pray, and seek His face, so that He might hear from heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our land.

Let’s give it a try!