2 Chronicles 7:11-22

2 Chronicles 7:11-22

[11] Thus Solomon  finished  the house  of the LORD,  and the king's  house:  and all that came  into Solomon's  heart  to make  in the house  of the LORD,  and in his own house,  he prosperously effected.  [12] And the LORD  appeared  to Solomon  by night,  and said  unto him, I have heard  thy prayer,  and have chosen  this place  to myself for an house  of sacrifice.  [13] If  I shut up  heaven  that there be no rain,  or if I command  the locusts  to devour  the land,  or if I send  pestilence  among my people;  [14] If my people,  which are called  by my name,  shall 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.  [15] Now mine eyes  shall be open,  and mine ears  attent  unto the prayer  that is made in this place.  [16] For now have I chosen  and sanctified  this house,  that my name  may be there for  ever:  and mine eyes  and mine heart  shall be there perpetually.  [17] before  me, as David  thy father  walked,  and do  according to all that I have commanded  thee, and shalt observe  my statutes  and my judgments;  [18] Then will I stablish  the throne  of thy kingdom,  according as I have covenanted  with David  thy father,  saying,  There shall not fail  thee a man  to be ruler  in Israel.  [19] But if ye turn away,  and forsake  my statutes  and my commandments,  which I have set  before  you, and shall go  and serve  other  gods,  and worship  them; [20] Then will I pluck them up by the roots  out of my land  which I have given  them; and this house,  which I have sanctified  for my name,  will I cast out  of my sight,  and will make  it to be a proverb  and a byword  among all nations.  [21] And this house,  which is high,  shall be an astonishment  to every one that passeth  by it; so that he shall say,  Why hath the LORD  done  thus unto this land,  and unto this house?  [22] And it shall be answered,  Because they forsook  the LORD  God  of their fathers,  which brought them forth  out of the land  of Egypt,  and laid hold  on other  gods,  and worshipped  them, and served  them: therefore hath he brought  all this evil  upon them.

What does 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

God responded to Solomon"s prayer with a special revelation. He promised to grant the petitions of the people, as Solomon had requested, if they manifested a true heart for Him ( 2 Chronicles 7:12-14). 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 are a short summary of the message of Chronicles. Raymond Dillard argued that 2 Chronicles 7:14 was also a "charter" for the rest of Israel"s history. [1]
"This verse [1]7 is of vital significance for the Chronicler"s theology. Four avenues of repentance are mentioned that will lead God to forgive and restore. Each of these is taken up at appropriate places in the later narrative of Chronicles, often in connection with one of the remarkable interventions of God." [3]
God would establish Solomon"s kingdom if he fully obeyed God"s Word ( 2 Chronicles 7:17-18). However, if Solomon proved unfaithful, the nation might go into exile, and Israel"s enemies might destroy the temple ( 2 Chronicles 7:19-22).
This passage shows how to avoid the consequences of disobedience: submit to God, pray, and repent (i.e, change direction, not just feeling; 2 Chronicles 7:14). This remedy is as applicable today as it was in postexilic Israel and in the days of Israel"s monarchy. The promise that God would "heal their land" ties in with His earlier promise to bless the Israelites" land with rain and fertility if they obeyed His commandments in the Mosaic Law ( Deuteronomy 28:11-12). God has not promised specifically to heal the land of other believers who obey His will for them. However, He has promised to bless generally those who do so ( Psalm 1; Matthew 6:33; Galatians 6:7-8; et al.). [4]
"Solomon"s prayer at the dedication of the temple and God"s response to that prayer ( 2 Chronicles 6:1 to 2 Chronicles 7:22) constitute a kind of "charter" for the subsequent history of the nation." [1]4