“If My people…” – the back story.
I think it is fair to say that most North American Christians know and have probably used II Chron. 7:14 as a prayer at some time or another.
Many years ago I was approached by someone in our church about this passage. They said that they knew of vast numbers of Christians who had humbled themselves before God and prayed for our nation.
They prayed this very prayer that God would change or replace our current leadership in America. Yet, time and again men with ungodly agendas have been re-elected for another term.
This person then asked quite sincerely, “How many have to pray to get this prayer answered?”
I didn’t have an immediate answer, which in this case was to my shame. The passage has been used SO MUCH in modern Christian circles that for me as a seasoned Christian and Pastor to be ignorant of how to reply was inexcusable.
Oh, I could have offered the party line I’ve often heard…
“Well if God’s people WOULD actually humble themselves and seek God He would! The fact that He has not is a testimony to the fact that WE have not.”
But that seemed glib and quite frankly a little defensive.
I knew that in fact there were a great number of Christians who had and were following what this passage requires.
Even using the ratio of 10 righteous to 1.5 million unrighteous in Sodom and Gomorrah, I figured we met the criteria. North America has approximately 400 million citizens so we would only need 2,667 sincere Christians by that account. I had not taken an official poll, but I was pretty certain North America had at least that many sincere Christians. So the answer had to be something else entirely!
So I told them I honestly did not know. I confessed that I had thought for some time that this verse was widely misused, but now that they had confronted me with it I was determined to dive into the passage and answer that question and others like it, once and for all.
My first discovery
To my embarrassment, this was the first time I had actually gone to this passage, backed up to where the topic began and read it through completely. {Mark hangs head in shame}
Here is a challenge. Before reading this article, go do the same – even if you have done so before. Only this time, read it without a preconceived idea as to its meaning. Read it the way we always should read scripture. Approaching it without an agenda and with a heart which wants to know God for Who He really is rather than Who we want Him to be.
Once you have done that, come back and finish reading this article…
To my surprise, upon READING THE PASSAGE INSIDE ITS CONTEXT, the answer to the question presented to me in my church wasn’t even hard to find.
In fact, the real mystery was whatever possessed Christians to start praying this as a prayer in the first place?
If you, the reader, will do the following…
- divorce yourself from any emotional attachment you have to your current understanding of these verses
- be willing out of respect for God and His word to walk with me through them
Then I believe you will see that we have been misusing this passage and that God says something entirely different and better to His church.
Let me be clear. Faith is essential in prayer.
God says that what we ask we must ask in faith – believing. Faith, which is to say trust in God, always begins where we know His will and God’s will is revealed in His word.
So before we pray this prayer, we MUST be aware of the who, what, why, where, whens and hows of this promise.
Many will say, “It doesn’t matter. God does not change, so if He promised it to Israel, He is promising it to us as well.”
Oh really? Then why did God tell us through the writer of Hebrews that Jesus is the mediator of a better covenant which has been legally enacted upon BETTER promises?
Promises cannot be better if they are not different!
There has been a lot of talk in modern Christianity about “blending covenants”. What is meant by this is that Christians will often approach the word of God like a delicatessen. They will peruse the scriptures (or more likely a Bible promise book or scripture from a friend’s social media page) and find one they like, treating it in prayer as if it was spoken to them in their situation. May I suggest that this is not treating God and His word with respect.
The first rule of understanding ANY text is discovering its context which is found in II Chron. 3:1.
Solomon had just finished building the Temple. Details of which are found between II Chron. 3-6.
Once the Temple was fully furnished and the Ark of the Covenant (the OLD COVENANT) was placed in the Holy of Holies, Solomon blessed the people of Israel and prayed a prayer of dedication for the Temple.
Many do not realize that in praying II Chron. 7:14 we are not actually praying the prayer Solomon prayed, but rather the answer God spoke in reply to Solomon’s prayer.
Solomon’s actual prayer is found in II Chron. 6:12-42. Which is where we will also discover the answer to the who, what, why, where, whens and hows of this promise/prayer.
For the sake of space I summarize what was prayed but will link a picture of the actual passage for your examination – HERE.
The setting of the prayer:
Solomon was addressing God in regard to the Temple.
He did this because God had said that the Temple which was to be in Jerusalem was where He would place His name and that His presence would dwell in the Holy of Holies between the Cherub above the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant. [See Deuteronomy 12:5; 2 Kings 32:4-7; Exodus 25:22; 1 Samuel 4:4 & 1 Chron. 13:6]
The content of the prayer
As for WHAT Solomon prayed, I think most would be shocked to discover he got it from Moses in the book of Deuteronomy! If you were to go read Deuteronomy 27-30 you would discover that this prayer is DIRECTLY addressing the physical land of Cannan given in promise to Israel.
Through Moses, God had told Israel, that if they would keep the law, being meticulous in their observance of all it said, He would bless them and the land He was giving them. If however they walked in disobedience then famine, plague (sickness) or exile from the land would be the result.
These are PRECISELY the words Solomon used in prayer to God at this dedication of the Temple.
I will list the details here point by point:
Solomon was “reminding” God in prayer of His promise to Moses to bless or curse THE PHYSICAL LAND PROMISED TO ISRAEL contingent on their obedience to the law.
This is why in Solomon’s prayer and God’s corresponding answer in 2 Chron. 7, they both specifically address cursing or healing THE LAND of famine, plague (sickness) or exile due to being conquered by their enemies.
Those who know their Bible will remember that Daniel the Prophet modeled this when he and all of Judah had been exiled to Babylon.
Daily Daniel would turn and geologically orient himself to face the Temple in Jerusalem and pray just like Solomon said in 2 Chron. 6:20, 21, 26, 34 & 38 “when they pray to You TOWARDthis city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name, then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication”
Another example which might surprise you is the infamous battle where Jehoshaphat sent the singers ahead of the armies of Israel to face the enemy in battle. This is found in 2 Chron. 20:1-9. What we see is that Jehoshaphat followed the precise same formula as Solomon laid out in his prayer here in 2 Chron. 6 and that God responded by delivering Israel from their enemies just as He promised Solomon in 2 Chron. 7.
God’s reply to Solomon was LITERALLY to take Solomon’s words spoken in prayer WORD FOR WORD and promise to heal the physical land promised to Israel if they would repent and pray toward the Temple where God had placed His name and where He dwelt.
[For more on this see – Where Solomon got his Prayer & If My People – Where Solomon got his Prayer]
The purpose of the prayer
To reorient Israel’s heart and devotion back to God again.
The desired and promised outcome of the prayer
God would reverse His curse and bless the LAND.
What was meant by this is made clear both by Solomon in His prayer and God in His reply. They both specifically addressed healing THE PHYSICAL LAND OF ISRAEL from famine, plague (sickness) or enemy occupation in returning them to their own land.
Amazingly NOTHING about this prayer is about changing the political landscape of the nation.
In fact, if taken literally, in order for this prayer to be prayed and answered you must BEGIN with a godly leader and godly people! This was not and was never intended to be used as a means of establishing Godly leadership or judges in the land!
To use it this way is to remove it from its context and replace its focus and meaning with something entirely foreign to the passage!
The one thing you NEVER see is this FAILING to work which is what drove my dear sister-in-Christ to ask me about this prayer in the first place those many years ago.
When the right people – namely Israel and their leader, under the right covenant – namely the Old Covenant and God’s addition to it at Horeb (see Deut. 29:1), repent in humility and pray in this specific way God ALWAYS healed their physical LAND or returned them to their land from exile.
What about us? What does the Bible say to Christians who are living in a land which is hostile to the Gospel and to God’s children?
First off, we were warned that such was our calling.
Jesus said,
“(18) If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
(19) If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
(20) Remember the word that I said to you,
‘A servant is not greater than his master.’
If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.
If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
(21) But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
(1) These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.
(2) They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. (3) And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.”– John 15:18-16:3
And Peter said,
“(19) For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
(20) For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, THIS IS COMMENDABLE BEFORE GOD.
(21) FOR TO THIS YOU WERE CALLED, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
(22) “WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH”; (23) Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him Who judges righteously;” – 1 Peter 2:19-23
This Peter said in reference to those we serve – be they masters or employers but the greater context is those with authority regarding us.
“(8) Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; (9) not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, KNOWING THAT YOU WERE CALLED TO THIS, that you may inherit a blessing.
(10) For “HE WHO WOULD LOVE LIFE AND SEE GOOD DAYS, LET HIM REFRAIN HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL, AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.
(11) LET HIM TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; LET HIM SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT. (12) FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE ON THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ARE OPEN TO THEIR PRAYERS; BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.”
(13) And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
(14) But EVEN IF YOU SHOULD SUFFER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ SAKE, YOU ARE BLESSED.
“AND DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR THREATS, NOR BE TROUBLED.” (15) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (16) having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
(17) FOR IT IS BETTER, IF IT IS THE WILL OF GOD, TO SUFFER FOR DOING GOOD THAN FOR DOING EVIL.” – 1 Peter 3:8-17
So you might ask, what exactly CAN we pray?
Well Paul, who was not only a Jew, but a Roman citizen by birth NEVER prayed or taught anyone to pray II Chron. 7:14. What we ARE instructed to do and pray are found here:
1 Timothy 2:1-4, “(1) Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, (2) for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, (4) who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
The next piece of instruction is something I believe is something gravely lacking in many politically minded Christians (if there be such a thing).
Romans 12:9-21, “(9) Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. (10) Show family affection to one another with brotherly love.
Outdo one another in showing honor.
(11) Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord.
(12) Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.
(13) Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.
(14) BLESS THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU; BLESS AND DO NOT CURSE.
(15) Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. (16) Be in agreement with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
(17) DO NOT REPAY ANYONE EVIL FOR EVIL.
Try to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. (18) If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.
(19) Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord.
(20) But IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM. IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM SOMETHING TO DRINK.
For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. (21) Do not be conquered by evil, but CONQUER EVIL WITH GOOD.”
Here we are told by the Holy Spirit through Paul that we are to NEVER curse even our enemies but pray for and bless them! I cannot tell you how many terrible posts I have witnessed by professing Christians espousing the evils of those in government and literally praying against them. Cursing them as it were, in the name of our Lord and Saviour.
May I suggest to you that such is NEVER sanctioned by Jesus the Lord of our Salvation and of the Kingdom of God.
Many would be shocked I’m sure to realize that the above inspired words from Paul were written while Nero was in power. Arguably the most ruthless and dangerous ruler against Christians that the world has ever known. We are talking about a man who would impale Christians on tall poles and light them on fire to light his gardens at night.
Paul commands us to bless and pray for people like him! THAT is Christianity!
What is NOT Christianity is attempting to conform the world to Biblical morals without conformity to Christ. We are to preach the gospel but before we preach we are to live it out – as salt and light to those around us! Sure we are to warn them, but not seek to dominate them by means of secular legislation. They are sons and daughters of the world and devil. What do you think we would inspire in them by forcing righteous behavior on them without the Love of Christ in their hearts. All we will do is enrage them further against Christ and His kingdom and increase persecution for ourselves!
We are encouraged to live among them, but not be OF them.
Jesus said,
“Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be shrewd as serpents and harmless as doves.”
This Jesus said to his disciples while assuring them that the world would hate and persecute them. He told them if the world DOES persecute you – flee! (Matthew 10:16-23).
What Jesus did NOT say is seek to change their legislation. Neither did any other New Testament writer.
Now do not mistake me. I am not saying we have no voice in nations where there is some form of democracy. What I am saying is that we need to seek first God’s kingdom and if that requires that we relinquish other bonafide earthly rights then we are called to do so with joy!
We will not win the world by forcing godly behavior upon them.
Finally are the words of our Commander in Chief, the Lord Jesus Himself Who told us how we should pray…
“(5) Whenever you pray, YOU MUST NOT BE LIKE THE HYPOCRITES, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners TO BE SEEN BY PEOPLE.
I assure you: They’ve got their reward!
(6) But when you pray, GO INTO YOUR PRIVATE ROOM, SHUT YOUR DOOR, AND PRAY TO YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN SECRET.
And your Father Who sees in secret will reward you.
(7) When you pray, don’t babble like the idolaters, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. (8) Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.
(9) “Therefore, YOU SHOULD PRAY LIKE THIS:
Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as holy.
(10) Your kingdom come.
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
(11) Give us today our daily bread. (12) And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
(13) And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]
(14) “For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. (15) But if you don’t forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing.”
So what were His instructions and counsel?
- Don’t draw attention to yourself but rather seek God in private.
- Don’t ramble endlessly
- Center your prayer on God’s Kingdom not on earthly kingdoms
- Seek Him for provision, regardless of your circumstances
- Forgive others their debts and wrongs against you
- Ask that YOU are not overtaken in temptation but delivered from it
Nothing is said about seeking God to change the state, but rather to change and keep us and that we love and forgive.
This is NOT the gospel the 21st century believer wants to hear, but it is the ONLY true gospel we have!
There is much more to this study but these are the high points which give you all you really need to know.
If however you are interested in more, you can read the more developed study – HERE.
Blessings!
