2 Chronicles 7:14 “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.”

This verse has been picked up on and quoted many times in the 3000 or so years since it happened, but it’s still just as true today as when the Lord spoke it to Solomon. The incredible thing to me is that Solomon, even after having had and recorded this encounter, still did what he did in terms of idolatry with his foreign wives. As I’ve said before, the only explanation I can come up with is that he got so conceited he thought he was personally above God’s laws; they were just for “ordinary” people. It’s no accident that the first instruction in this verse is for us to humble ourselves. As Solomon demonstrated so tragically, pride is the surest tool of the devil to work our destruction. With humility as the foundation, we are next told to pray. It’s amazing how few people pray with any regularity. If nothing else, prayer reminds us that there is a God in heaven, and that’s extremely important. However, remembering God exists isn’t enough by itself: we need to seek His face. That means drawing close to Him, trying to find out what pleases Him. Then, naturally, we have to quit doing what doesn’t please Him and start being obedient to Him. Some people seem to get all the way to that point and then refuse to abandon their sin. That’s idolatry, because it’s placing the sin higher than God. There’s a big uproar in the US right now over precisely this issue, with even churches refusing to let go of things that are clearly in violation of the Bible. America currently has a president with a decidedly unrighteous past, but who is trying to get the nation away from some of the more prevalent, egregious sins that are so evident. The resistance he is encountering is tragic. He is flawed, certainly, and is not to be unquestioned, but I get the impression he has encountered this verse.

This verse was first trumpeted in my experience back in 1980 or so by Rock Church of Virginia Beach, Virginia. As close as they were to Washington, D.C., the message didn’t seem to penetrate! I heard it quoted again after the 9/11 terrorism, but again that didn’t seem to last long. It has rightly been said that the American system of government is suitable only for a righteous people, but righteousness is a choice that not many Americans seem to want to make. The government is indeed a swamp, but the problem is systemic, and comes down to individual choices. None of us are perfectly righteous, but we need to acknowledge that, which means acknowledging God’s standard and repenting when we fall from it. That’s what this verse is all about. As the Bible says very clearly, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)

Father, I never used to be emotionally involved in politics, or really in the “bigger picture” much at all. Help me know what my part is in Your plan, whether it’s just prayer and personal obedience or whether other things are involved. Thank You that You do care, about individuals and about nations. May Your name be acknowledged as holy and Your kingdom come as Your will is done, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!