2 Chronicles 7:14 Meaning of If My People Who Are Called by My Name

2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Explanation and Commentary of 2 Chronicles 7:14

The occasion was the dedication of the Temple that David had desired to build for God, but that Solomon was the one to build (1 Chron 28:3). Solomon prayed to God for blessing and favor on his people and on this holy dwelling place. God responded to Solomon with these words and others, reiterating his promises of blessings according to the covenant made previously with their fathers.

God had plans to bless them from the very beginning, and he even had contingencies in place for their lapses in obedience. Here God was providing for their eventual return, assuming that the human heart is prone to wander and cannot help but stray. He makes a promise that when they do stray, if they will only repent in truth, God will always hear and forgive them. Especially for this occasion was the promise that though he doesn’t really dwell in a mad made construction, he will condescend to do so for the sake of his people.

God loves to forgive the true-hearted penitent. He will always forgive one who is truly sorry and sincere in their repentance. He knows our weaknesses, and while he calls us to perfection, he has sent his one and only Son, Jesus Christ to save us from our sins and bring us into peace with him.

Breaking Down the Key Parts of 2 Chronicles 7:14

#1 “if my people, who are called by my name,”
The Jews were the offspring of Abraham, who was the first vicarious man since Adam. This means that Abraham represented a nation that represented “all nations.” God had chosen a people to be the object of his love and blessing, but it was for the sake of the blessing of the whole world. At this point in redemptive history, the people of Abraham were the people of Yahweh, his chosen people, the people of the promise, God’s children.

#2 “will humble themselves and pray and seek my face…”
God knows that we will fall sometimes. The test to see if we belong to God or not is whether we will humbly acknowledge this when we’ve sinned, or will arrogantly go on as if God doesn’t see. God loves a humble heart that says, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” (Lk 18:13). Jesus said that the humble tax collector, rather than the arrogant and self-righteous Pharisee went home justified.

#3 “…and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin…”
Repentance that is true will come paired with turning from sin and “wicked ways.” Some have been taught that they can sin all they want so long as they repent every time. This is false, as an unwillingness to stop sinning is a probable sign of unbelief. Even though it may take multiple tries to change, with the help of the Holy Spirit and Christian community, the true believer has been given what he or she needs to turn and change.

#4 “…and heal their land.”
Especially in the days of David and Solomon, and the kings after them, one of the consequences of turning from God to worship idols was that the land would begin to suffer from famine, as promised by God for disobedience as a way to bring them to repentance. It was often fertility gods that were so enticing to the agrarian Israelites. In God’s mercy, he stunted the production in order to draw his wayward and adulterous people back to himself. Upon repentance, God promised to “heal the land” and lift the famine and infertility of the soil.

Expert Overview of Chronicles

Biblical Translations of 2 Chronicles 7:14

NIV
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

NLT
“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”

ESV
“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.”

KJV
“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.”

NKJV
“If My people who are called by My name will 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.”