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. (2 Chr. 7:14 ESV)
This scripture is part of an answer the Lord gave to King Solomon for his prayer dedicating the temple.
This scripture is divided into 2 parts, what God expected from the children of Israel, and how God would respond. Over the past 4 posts, I outlined the first part:
He told them that if they could do that, then:
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- He will hear from Heaven
- He will forgive their sin
- He will heal their land
I believe that the Holy Spirit put this in the scripture because it applies to us, today. The one major difference is that Jesus came.
The above scripture says that God will hear us from heaven, He will forgive our sin, and He will heal our land. Then Jesus came, and His work on the cross provided what we need. He doesn’t promise us a life without the trials and hardships:
A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:32-33 NIV)
Some people say this virus is a judgement from God and they use the 2 Chronicles verse as “proof”. Jesus did tell us that we will have trouble (He even said that we will be scattered “each to our own homes”) BUT He told us not to worry. Whatever trouble the world brings, He has overcome the world! That doesn’t sound like judgement, but rescue. Not rescue from the trouble, but the ability to live through it with our sanity intact. Notice also that His concern was that we would have peace.
Christian music artist Matthew West wrote this song a couple weeks ago because of Covid-19, social distancing, and the Stay-At-Home Orders. It is based on the scripture John 16:33.
Take Heart
by Matthew West
Woke up this morning and
And life as you know it
Looks nothing like the kinda life you knew before
All of a sudden
Fear stole the headlines
And it don’t feel safe to even step outside your door
In this world you will have trouble
But I have overcome the world
So take heart
And take a breath
Let me lift that heavy weight up off your chest
Take my hand
I know it’s lookin’ dark
But when the world falls all around you
I won’t let you fall apart
Take heart
Do you remember singin’?
Back when you were younger
He’s got the whole world in his hands
Well, that’s still true
I hold your family, all your friends, and all your loved ones
And even when you’re barely holdin’ on
I’m holdin’ you
So take heart
And take a breath
Let me lift that heavy weight up off your chest
Take my hand
I know it’s lookin’ dark
But when the world falls all around you
I won’t let you fall apart
Take heart
Take heart
Oh, take heart
Just take heart
In this world you will have trouble
But I have overcome the world
Oh, in this world you will have trouble
But I have overcome the world
So take heart
And take a breath
Let me lift that heavy weight up off your chest
Take my hand
I know it’s lookin’ dark
But when the world falls all around you
I won’t let you fall apart
So, take heart
Child, take heart
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