READING TIME: 2-3 MINUTES
March 27, 2020
2 Chr 7:13-14 was written specifically for Israel. God gave Israel in Deut 28 (also Lev 26, but here I’ll focus on Deut 28) the blessings (Deut 28:1-4) and curses (Deut 28:15-68) of the Law. In verse 14, the phrase “heal their land” means to restore the damage done by the drought, locusts, and plague mentioned in v. 13.
More detail about the blessings Israel was promised if they would obey the Lord: if the Israelites heed God’s laws, they would experience blessings in their towns and the country. They would have many children, ample crops, and large flocks and herds. They would have victory in war and lend to many nations, borrowing from none. They would be the head and not the tail.
Disobedience would result in diseases, plagues, famine, drought, dust storms, defeat in war, infertility, constant fear and frustration, and the enslavement of their children. Disobedience would also cause the Israelites to be surrounded by their enemies, reduced to cannibalism, removed from the land, enslaved, and dispersed among the nations. They would become a proverb and an object of horror and mockery among the nations, and they would find no rest there. The Lord would cause them to tremble and despair. They would live in constant fear, with no reason to believe that they would survive.
What’s the “healing” of verse 13? This verse reveals that the “healing” pertained to providing rain and removing locusts and pestilence, again in Israel.
But we can derive several theological principles from the passage that we can apply to believers now. God desires to have a relationship with us and vv. 12, 15-16 testify to God’s gracious disposition. He will show mercy to those who humbly seek him. Chronicles’ story repetitively demonstrates this principle—Rehoboam (2 Chr 12:12), Asa (2 Chr 15:1–15), the northern pilgrims (2 Chr 30:11, 18–20), Hezekiah (2 Chr 32:24–26), Manasseh (2 Chr 33:12), and Josiah (2 Chr 34:27). Chronicles’ story provides the confidence that God will show mercy. When his people seek him, he will be found (cf. 2 Chr 15:2).
This passage shows how to avoid the consequences of disobedience: submit to God, pray, and repent (i.e., a change of mind; v. 14). God has not promised specifically to heal the land of other believers who obey His will. However, He has promised to bless generally those who do so (Ps. 1; Matt 6:33; Gal 6:7-8; et al.).
A good summary of 2 Chr 7:11-22 (that we can apply to us) is: sin plus repentance equals restoration (vv. 11-18) and sin minus repentance equals loss of fellowship with the Lord (vv. 19-22).
In conclusion, the principles of prayer, repentance, seeking God’s face, and humility are prescribed for believers now (James 5:13-18). However, since neither the church or any nation is a theocracy, healing of the physical land is not guaranteed. As part of the Mosaic covenant with the nation of Israel, God’s blessings are attached to obedience and the curses are connected to disobedience (Lev 26 and Deut 28).
Sources Used
Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible First Edition Notes. Biblical Studies Press, 2006.
Constable, Dr. Thomas L. “Notes on 2 Chronicles.” 2020 Edition. < https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/ot/2chronicles/2chronicles.htm>.
Hicks, John Mark. 1 & 2 Chronicles. Joplin, MO: College Press Pub. Co., 2001. The College Press NIV Commentary.
Taylor, Jonathan G. “The Application of 2 Chronicles 7:13-15.” Bibliotheca Sacra 168:670 (April-June 2011): 146-61.
Willmington, H. L. The Outline Bible. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1999.