Seeds for 08/06/2024 - Repent - 2 Chronicles 7:14
In this series on prayer and scripture, we are following the acronym P.R.A.Y. as a guide for prayer. We are considering scriptures throughout the Bible on each theme. My prayer is that studying scriptures on these themes will give us biblical words to use as our own and simple insights for our praying.
Scripture:
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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Observation:
This is a famous verse on repentance. The context is Solomon’s prayer of dedication celebrating and consecrating the Temple to the worship of God. It will be a focal point for the Israelites to understand and experience the presence of God in their midst. For the nation of Israel, the prayer was concerned with their faithfulness to the covenant and God’s provision of the land. For the church, it is connected not to a particular land, but to healing our relationship with God. Here are my observations.
First, this is a call for believers. It is not for those who are converting. Rather, it is for those who are already among the Lord’s people, but who have turned away and been unfaithful. It is an invitation to the restoration that repentance makes possible.
Second, this verse spells out the essential dynamics of repentance. Perhaps we could call it a recipe for repentance: “humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways.” Humility, prayer, seeking God, turning away from sin. This is a simply stated, but robust prescription for good, hearty, effective repentance—repentance that is about authentic change.
Third, the verse includes a wonderful promise and assurance. God says, “then I will hear… I will forgive… I will heal.” That’s what we’re worried about, right? We can be nervous about confession and repentance, lacking confidence about God’s response. We need assurance and that’s what we are given.
Application:
Do you need assurance of God’s promised forgiveness today? Are you willing to believe Him?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, when I turn from you, in large or small ways, draw me back. Lead me to humble myself, pray, seek you, and turn away from sin in the confidence that you hear, forgive, and heal. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
If you liked this post from Seeds of Faith, why not share it and/or subscribe?
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™