2 Chronicles 6:12-42
2 Chronicles 6:12-42, just like 1 Kings 8:22-53 both provide very interesting details. The most obvious detail is that repentance is absolutely necessary.
However, there is something else accepted as fact in these passages that should confirm to readers a matter that has been subject to debate for far too long: God's will in circumstances. The if's and then's are revealing, to say the very least!
Look at verses 24-25 in 2 Chronicles 6:
“If your people Israel are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against you, and if they turn back and acknowledge your name and pray to you here in this Temple, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and return them to this land you gave to them and to their ancestors. [2 Chronicles 6.24-25]
What is the circumstance here? Defeat by enemies. We should see that there is no question about God's will here in the matter! Defeat by enemies is clearly a curse! How can we know that? Because we are told that the sincere prayer of repentance brings relief from it!
Likewise, verses 26-27 indicate that the circumstance of drought is a condition also requiring repentance and, genuine repentance "then" brings the relief of "rain."
Then, look at verse 28:
If there is a famine in the land or a plague or crop disease or attacks of locusts or caterpillars, or if your people’s enemies are in the land besieging their towns—whatever disaster or disease there is—
Note the "if" above. Famine, plague, crop disease, insect attacks, enemy invasion, disaster or disease are all listed as circumstances THAT REQUIRE REPENTANCE! There is no question about God's will in the presence of these conditions - they are clearly problematic (at very least) and are THEREFORE indicators of the presence of sin and the subsequent need for repentance...
and if your people Israel pray about their troubles or sorrow, raising their hands toward this Temple, then hear from heaven where you live, and forgive. Give your people what their actions deserve, for you alone know each human heart. [2 Chronicles 6.29-30]
What does it mean to pray and raise hands...? It means surrender! It means no matter what I have been doing, I now surrender my will to Your will - I turn from my ways to Your ways. AND THEN, those actions will get what they deserve!!! This is important! Real repentance deserves relief!
But wait, there's more... Look at the phrase: "for You alone know each human heart..." It has no bearing what the heart of the "circumstance-experience-r" feels! What matters is what God knows about the heart! God knows the secret sins we don't even know about ourselves but that tragedy and bad circumstances clearly reveal. And, God knows when the heart is genuinely repentant!
In all the circumstances listed in the two passages of scripture in focus here, never is the reason for those circumstances questioned! Never is God asked if it is because of sin (therefore requiring repentance) or just happenstance that must simply be endured! No! in every account, the reason for the bad circumstances is clearly understood to be SIN. And, sin has but one remedy: Repentance!
Let me just point out in a very timely manner here for those who are thinking, "Yeah, but that was Old Testament, and now we have Jesus..." Jesus started His earthly ministry (and necessarily repeated Himself throughout His ministry) these words: "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near."
The only reason we would believe bad circumstances (of any kind) are just random events and have nothing to do with sin, is because we would be absolutely ignorant of God's Word. Sorry, no punches pulled here... Ignorance of God's Word in Deuteronomy 28 about blessings and curses is the ONLY reason anyone would ever question bad circumstances. It's time we stop the stupid and start being astute!
Bad things are curses.
Curses come because of sin.
Sin requires repentance.
Repentance brings restoration.
That is God's Word and it is undisputed. It matters not what any of us "thinks." It only matters what the Bible teaches: Curses and sin go together and blessings and obedience go together. There is no yin and yang! Curses NEVER accompany obedience, and blessings NEVER accompany disobedience! Again, we are compelled to STOP THE IGNORANCE!
We must be educated to what the Bible says. Otherwise, we are bound to ignorance and all its confusion.
God help us.
Father, help us to get real with Your Word and sin. Help us to stop looking for every reason to justify ourselves when tragedies strike instead of simply repenting for that tragedy's root sin (whether we know our hearts or not).
