Context of 2 Chronicles 7:13-15, compiled by David Brewer
Verse 14 is taken out of context mainly because verses 13 and 15 are ignored. “My people” does not refer to “Christians” or a designated country. It’s a reference to Israel. Similarly, “heal their land” is often wrongly used as a prayer formula in an effort to initiate a revival or spiritual awakening.
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 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 in 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.
But we can derive a few theological principles from the passage that we can apply to Gentile 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’s 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’s 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., change direction, not just feeling; v. 14). 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 (Ps. 1; Matt 6:33; Gal. 6:7-8; et al.).
Summary of 2 Chr 7:11-22 (that we can apply to us): even though this passage is not a blanket promise, the principles of humbling oneself, praying, seeking, and repenting are as applicable today as they were in Solomon’s era. Being humble, praying, seeking God’s face, and turning (repenting) are necessary for forgiveness. However, since no nation on earth is a theocracy, no guarantee exists that if those four conditions are met by believers, their nation will be healed.