Monday Morning Music Ministry

Start Your Week with a Spiritual Song in Your Heart

“I Will Heal Their Land”

7-18-16

Our recent essay “Welcome To the Revolution” has excited a bit of discussion, some readers claiming I am an alarmist, and others granting that I might be predicting the future instead of, as I believe, reporting on the present. To the charge that I am an alarmist, I would reply that doctors operate when there is disease; firemen rush to houses on fire; when I see alarming things, I sound the alarm.

There are many subjects that American schools do not teach any more, and we generally are an anti-intellectual society. In that vein – specifically, the danger of even right-thinking Americans being ignorant of the Current Crisis – I recall what Alexander Boot wrote about Hellenistic Man, that “he was not ignorant of history; he simply did not see how it affected his life.”

For the immediate future, I believe we are headed for the Summer of Our Discontent. Where once a polite diving-line was drawn between Democrats and Republicans, even liberals and conservatives, now there are bottomless chasms between family members. Ugly schisms divide former friends. “Occupy” and “Black Lives Matter” partisans ascribe blood libels to Tea Partiers, and vice-versa.

Those who think murdered soldiers and policemen are victims of random gunfire, and those who think we are seeing war in the streets. Now, Baton Rouge. Next?

The conventions and campaigns will be ugly – and the Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas parties of many families likely will be bloodier. These rifts will slowly – if ever – heal: people must first desire healing; and for all the empty clichés about Getting Along, the contemporary American is quite happy to excoriate his opponent. Hate Thy Neighbor.

So this is a classic case of “inability to see the forest for the trees,” America’s fatal state of decline. We have gone from decadence to destruction, and when we catch a glimpse of the “forest” – an active society where things continue to happen, where we still wake up, go to sleep, and scurry about our affairs – it is rather a case of inertia that masks the crisis.

Our fall has not been the result of a sudden explosion, but gradual poisons in our cultural water supplies.

One of the favorite Bible verses of Christians in recent years has been II Chronicles 7:14: “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.”

How many of us are guilty of quoting that verse, even applying it, superficially? For one thing, it seems, in a forest-for-the-trees manner, like a fortune-cookie aphorism. “Straighten up your act, people,” to be followed by spontaneous revival and Heaven on earth.

But the verse needs to be parsed – examined phrase by phrase. In the first place, linguistically, it strictly is not a promise of God. It is a conditional statement: “If… then.” The Bible is filled with many such conditions, warnings, threats, and yes, promises. But God requires things of His people. Humility. Prayer. Seeking Him. Repentance. All of them “big time.”

THEN He will forgive transgressions and heal the land.

“If.” That is the condition – a big “if.”

“My people.” Not necessarily the entire population, but the Children of God. The saved; today, Christ-followers.

“Who are called.” All of us must be open to the specific call of God on our lives: His will for us.

“Humble themselves.” This does not mean to stop being haughty in church, but to adopt true servants’ hearts.

“Pray.” Jesus Himself prayed fervently before every important act. How less should we?

“Seek My face.” Request guidance and acknowledge God as the source of all good things.

“Turn from their wicked ways.” Here God means true repentance… transformative changes in our personal lives.

Then you “will hear from heaven.” Prayers will be answered.

Then He will “Forgive your sins.”

Then He will “heal your land.”

That makes this verse more than “words to live by.” Or something for Christians to claim in agreement or to memorize for a Bible study or Sunday School class. Not those things alone – good start – but incomplete. Even the famous verse is incomplete! It is the second half of a sentence, not a new sentence in Two Chronicles, as Donald Trump would call it.

Can we, o average American and Christian Patriot, read the context, and learn what the Lord was really saying? Starting with Chapter 7, verse 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.

First, that is a lot of IFs. Second, there are severe warnings. A third point might be that these are specific instructions to David’s son Solomon and the people of ancient Israel. However, it is valid for us to draw lessons.

The most sobering of lessons, chastisements, and warnings of punishment (indeed, God’s promise) is a few verses later:

19 …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 everyone 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.

In effect: We bring this evil upon ourselves.

+ + +

Click: Leaning On the Everlasting Arms

+ + +

Real Clear Religion, on whose site many readers have followed Monday Music Ministry, has been for many people an indispensible part of their daily fare. It is going through changes right now after almost seven years.

For those who have followed us on RCR, please be sure to continue receiving our weekly essays by Subscribing to Monday Morning Music Ministry. (See link under “Pages” at right.)

Category: End Times, Patriotism, Service

Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

4 Responses

  1. Susan Hammond says:

    I remember seeing 2 Chronicles 7:14 being emphasized in Christian literature in the days of the “Jesus movement.” I became a Christian during my high school years in the 70’s. I think that the Church in the U.S. took that verse to heart because Christian influence began to grow, though the very dark spot in our society was the new law legalizing abortion, and, of course, there was a war on as well. But, where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more. We elected a professing Christian President, and then another.
    We Christians made mistakes during that time – we were not so wise, nor humble, as we should have been. I think that things were taken for granted – as if this is the way (with decided Christian influence), that it was always going to be – so naive.
    Now, it is good to be reminded of this verse again. Oh, how we all need to repent before the Lord for both sins of commission and sins of omission. I have been silent when I should have spoken. I have not prayed as much as I should have, or could have. There is more, of course. Father, please forgive me…
    The Church needs true revival! Jesus is the (only), Way, Truth and Life – and our only Hope. May we repent, and receive His forgiveness. May we have the the joy of our salvation restored to us – and live lives worthy of Jesus. May we have boldness to speak the Truth in love, and may we earnestly, earnestly pray for our families, our friends, our neighborhoods, our nation, that our land may be healed, for His glory.
    The sermon at church this morning touched on several of these points. It seems to me that the Holy Spirit is speaking this into many hearts at this time. May we have ears to hear. Thank you, Rick, for your faithful ministry.

  2. Oh, Rick, I was just speaking with my children after the last meal we shared when Benjamin was home . . . explaining our great need to watch and pray–to be alert and ready at this time in history. I emphasized what Jesus taught about how things will be for His people at the end. His Word says that all nations would hate us because of “that Name.” All nations. Even this one that we love so dearly.

    One of my kids brought up this verse to remind all of us to pray humbly and hopefully for healing for the USA. But I wasn’t encouraged. Rather, my heart ached even more, for I see what you’ve described here, which is an unrepentant refusal to love the truth and walk in it.

    Even though we can and should and will pray, that won’t bring change for any nation filled with vast numbers of people who claim His Name, yet refuse His righteous ways.

    Can our nation be “saved?” Only if we do these things that are in keeping with repentance that you’ve described above. And Jesus said that at the last, the hearts of most will grow cold towards Him.

    Okay, some translations say many, not most. But it will become overwhelmingly true of the masses, even those who attend, or who used to attend church. Even many of those who have studied in Christian schools. Even in some homeschooled families.

    Maybe the end isn’t yet. Maybe we’ll get a reprieve. But history doesn’t teach us that’s likely. No nation that has gone this far down, away from God and even reason, has ever recovered.

    Do I wish this upon us? Of course not! We have grandchildren who are growing up in this mess, and we wish things would change!

    But this world is not our home. I’ve known for several years that my call isn’t to spend my few hours each day, nor the meager years I have left on this earth, to try to recapture a political dominance of Christian leaders. Of course, I will study the voting records of those who are running, and I will vote.

    But my call is for another Kingdom. Even though I don’t believe our society at large will change for the better, I know there are individuals who are still questioning and hungry and hoping for more. The person next door, or the person who comes into our ministry thrift store–the folks taking a walk by our house, and those who stay in our home/bed and breakfast–and yes, the precious children and widows and others in our beloved Swaziland who need our aide–these are the groups I’m called to.

    We can quote the sand dollar story until we’re tired of the seeming triteness of it, but it still holds an eternal truth: we can’t change the entire culture of Swaziland, nor of the USA. But sharing God’s love in word and in practical ways can, and will, bring change for at least those He puts in our lives for His eternal purposes.

    Some of them might be Christians who’ve gotten confused about who they really are. Some maybe haven’t ever heard the Good News of what Jesus provided for them. Some might have begged Him in the dark of night to answer their pleas for food or shelter or protection from evil.

    We share while there is still time. In my humble opinion, there isn’t time to change the crumbling mudslide of what even short years ago was only a slippery slope. But there is still time, as long as it is called “Today,” to change the life of one person at a time.

    God, give us ears to hear and eyes to see as You do. You withhold judgment because You long for more to hear and respond to Your goodness and love. Before the cup of Your wrath is full, may we be effective in the harvest field of souls.

    Let us put our efforts into the Kingdom that is already within us, and is soon to come around us.

  3. Wonderful, Becky. From the heart. Among the remnant. Being realistic about our nation’s sins is not to trust God less.
    It is to use the eyes He gave us… and not give up, but realize where He has placed us. Your clarity is wonderful!
    “But there is still time, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ to change the life of one person at a time.” Yes.
    That is not surrendering, but answering the call: what He expects of us. Thank you!

  4. Sally Jadlow says:

    True words to be heeded!

Leave a Reply

Welcome to MMMM!

Categories

About The Author

... Rick Marschall is the author of 74 books and hundreds of magazine articles in many fields, from popular culture (Bostonia magazine called him "perhaps America's foremost authority on popular culture") to history and criticism; country music; television history; biography; and children's books. He is a former political cartoonist, editor of Marvel Comics, and writer for Disney comics. For 20 years he has been active in the Christian field, writing devotionals and magazine articles; he was co-author of "The Secret Revealed" with Dr Jim Garlow. His biography of Johann Sebastian Bach for the “Christian Encounters” series was published by Thomas Nelson. He currently is writing a biography of the Rev Jimmy Swaggart and his cousin Jerry Lee Lewis. Read More