Repentance Works

When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed low before him. She fell at his feet and said, “I accept all blame in this matter, my lord. Please listen to what I have to say. I know Nabal is a wicked and ill-tempered man; please don’t pay any attention to him. He is a fool, just as his name suggests. But I never even saw the young men you sent. [1 Samuel 25.23-25]

As the subject of repentance is recurring for me lately, particularly as it relates to 2 Chronicles 7.14 and repentance for my nation in the midst of COVID-19, I find today a perfect example of 'one confessing the sin of another.'

Abigail said to David, "I accept all blame in this matter..." (the matter of her foolish husband Nabal offending David and his men).

Abigail had NOTHING to do with Nabal's wicked actions. And yet, David accepted her intercession on Nabal's behalf.

2 Chronicles 7.14 says:

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. [2 Chronicles 7.14]

It would seem "the land" needs "restoring" in the context of 2 Chronicles 7.14 (other translations use the word "heal"). In fact, the very preceding verse mentions drought and plagues as that which the land needs restoring from. COVID-19, certainly valid and scientifically explainable as just a virus, is, spiritually speaking, very much a plague (see Deuteronomy 28).

The thing about 2 Chronicles 7.14 is that the responsibility of confessing sin for the plague upon "the land" does not fall upon all the residents of the land, but upon God's people in that land.

But what if God's people did not commit the sin? Here is where God's people have to have spiritual eyesight and understanding: even if only a portion of the inhabitants of the land sin and the land consequently suffers, then all the inhabitants of the land suffer alike. In this regard, "inhabitant" qualifies even the sinless inhabitant to repent.

Lest anyone doubt what I am saying here, look back at the story of Abigail.

Abigail, although she had not sinned against David herself, still made this confession:

"Please forgive me if I have offended you in any way..." [1 Samuel 25.28a]

The point is: repentance works. Repentance on behalf of others works. Repentance is GOOD in this regard!

Father, help us to get it in regard to repentance for our land...