Daily Bible Nugget #561, 2 Chronicles 7:13-14

The Nugget:

2Ch 7:13  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;
2Ch 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.

My Comment:

In the light of what is prominently in the current news cycle, the message of 2 Chronicles 7:13, 14 is very relevant.

2 Chronicles 7:13 mentions pestilence (today, we hear much about the Corona Virus) and locusts (today there are clouds of  locusts reported to be 500 feet high or thick and extending ten by thirty miles, if I recall correctly. 2 Chronicles 7:13 may not be as familiar as the following verse, 2 Chronicles 7:14.

The Bible has much more to say about plagues of locusts and pestilence, some of  which may be found by reading the cross references shared below from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury: 

2 Chronicles 7:13

If I shut up heaven. Note: Famine and pestilence were two severe punishments inflicted on the Jewish people by God for their sins. The former was sometimes caused by want of rain, and sometimes by locusts, which devoured all the fruits of the earth; and a pestilence not infrequently followed in their train. 2Ch 6:26, 27, 28, +*Deut 11:17, Job 11:10; Job 12:14, Psa 107:34, Amo 4:7, Zec 14:17, Luk 4:25, Rev 3:7; Rev 11:6.

that there be no rain. 2Ch 6:26, +*Deut 11:17, +Eze 22:24, Amo 4:7, +Hag 1:11, Zec 14:17.

I command the locusts. Exo 10:4, 5, 6, +Psa 78:46; Psa 105:34, Joe 1:4, 5, 6, 7; Joe 2:25.

devour. 2Sa 18:8 mg.

I send pestilence. Num 14:12; Num 16:46, 47, 2Sa 24:13, 14, 15, Eze 14:19, 20, 21. +Eze 38:22.

2 Chronicles 7:14

If. +Gen 4:7. On this text, Thomas Scott, in Scott’s Commentary, remarks: In the best state of nations favored with revelation, there has hitherto been a succession of prosperity, ingratitude, corrections, repentance, forgiveness, renewed mercies and prosperity, and renewed ingratitude and forgetfulness of God. Yet the Lord delights in those places where his ordinances are maintained and attended on, in some measure of purity and consistency. But in cases of apostasy, or general profaneness, or hypocrisy, he will glorify his justice by tremendous judgments upon those, who have thus abused his mercies, and forfeited their privileges, making them a warning to others, if not an infamy among the heathen. Let us then stand in awe of him; watch against all sin; and copy the examples of the most approved of his saints, in the brightest parts of their characters (vol. ii. p. 472, American edition, 1864). Surely the principles behind the blessings (Deut 28:1-14) and cursings (Deut 28:15-68) given to the nation of Israel are in force among not only Israel but the nations of the world, extending to the curse of mounting national debt and economic decline (Deut 28:44). This passage provides God’s recipe for genuine revival. That revival must start with serious attention to continuing systematic, personal, real Bible study (See the Notes at 2Ki 12:13 and Heb 6:9).

my people. Some questions have been raised about the applicability of this verse: are these promises only for natural, that is, national Israel, or are they valid for us today? The following Cross References should settle the issue once and for all. Isa 63:19; Isa 65:1, Act 15:17, +*Rom 15:4, Eph 2:12, **1Pe 2:9; **1Pe 2:10, Rev 1:5, 6.

which are called by my name. Heb. upon whom my name is called. 2Ch 6:33 mg. Gen 48:16, +*Num 6:27, Deut 28:10, Isa 63:19 mg. *Jer 15:16 mg.

humble. T1366, *2Ch 6:37-39; 2Ch 12:6-7; 2Ch 12:12; *2Ch 33:12; *2Ch 33:13; *2Ch 33:18; *2Ch 33:19; *%2Ch 33:23; *2Ch 34:27, Exo 10:3, *Lev 26:40; *Lev 26:41, *Deut 4:29; *Deut 4:30; *Deut 30:1-6, Jdg 20:26 note. 1Ki 21:27-29, 2Ki 22:18-19, 1Ch 17:16; 1Ch 29:14, Job 7:7; Job 7:18; Job 40:3, 4, 5; Job 42:5, 6, Psa 9:12; Psa 22:6; *Psa 25:9; Psa 34:18; +Psa 35:13; Psa 42:5; Psa 51:17, Ecc 5:2, Isa 57:15; Isa 66:2, Jer 1:6; Jer 45:3, Lam 3:20, *Eze 33:11, %Dan 5:22; +**Dan 10:12, Joe 2:13, +*Mic 6:8, *Zec 12:10, +*Mat 5:3; Mat 8:8, *Luk 18:13; Luk 22:41, 42, *2Co 7:10, *Jas 4:9; *Jas 4:10, 1Pe 5:6.

and pray. T1388, 2Ch 20:9, Deut 4:29, 30, 31, 2Ki 20:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Psa 17:1; *Psa 145:18; *Psa 145:19, **Isa 26:8; **Isa 26:9; Isa 58:9, **Jer 29:13, Dan 9:4, +*Hos 5:15; Hos 7:14, Mat 23:14, *Mar 11:23; *Mar 11:24, Luk 22:44, Joh 11:33, Act 9:11, **1Ti 2:1, 2, 3, 4, *Heb 10:22.

seek my face. FS22A4, +Gen 19:13, T1386, 1Ch 16:11; **1Ch 28:9, Job 8:5, 6, +**Psa 9:10; Psa 27:4; Psa 27:8, Pro 2:4, 5, 6; Pro 8:17, *Isa 26:9; Isa 45:19; **Isa 55:6; **Isa 55:7; *Isa 56:6; *Isa 56:7, *Jer 29:13; Jer 50:4, 5, Lam 3:40, 41, *Hos 5:6; *Hos 5:7; *Hos 5:15, Joe 2:12, Amo 5:4, 5, 6, Mat 7:7, 8, *Luk 11:9; *Luk 11:10, *Heb 11:6.

turn from. The mercies of God to sinners are communicated in a manner suited to impress all who receive them, with the most profound reverence of his majesty, justice, and holiness (+*Gen 18:25 note); thus leading them to unite humble confidence with fear of offending so holy a God. Especially, whoever beholds, with true faith, the divine Savior agonizing and dying for man’s sin, will, by that view, find his godly sorrow enlarged (2Co 7:10), his hatred of sin increased (Psa 119:104), his soul made more watchful, and his life more holy: and they are speculating hypocrites, who profess to expect salvation by the cross of Christ, while the world has their hearts, and sin is allowed in their habitual conduct (Scott, references added). T607, 2Ch 30:9, Jdg 10:16, 2Ki 17:13, Psa 34:18; Psa 51:17; Psa 147:3, *Pro 28:13, *Isa 55:6; *Isa 55:7; Isa 59:20; *Isa 66:2, +Jer 35:15, Eze 18:27, 28, 29, 30; Eze 33:12, **Hos 6:1, 2, 3, *Joe 2:12; *Joe 2:13, Zec 1:3, Mat 5:3, 4, +Luk 13:3; *Luk 15:21, 22, 23, Hos 5:15, Act 3:19, 20, 21, +Jas 4:10 (T357).

then will I hear. The Lord’s ready answers to our prayers should animate us to repeat, with deeper reverence and more lively gratitude, our praises of his mercy (Scott). 2Ch 6:27; 2Ch 6:30; 2Ch 6:39, Psa 91:15, *Isa 30:18; +*Isa 65:24, *Jer 33:3, *Zec 13:9, Joh 15:7, *Rev 3:20.

forgive their sin. The most endearing displays of the love of God, rightly understood, speak terror to hypocrites and presumptuous offenders (2Co 5:11); but the most tremendous discoveries of his righteous vengeance need not discourage the upright, humble believer. Every token of his favor should enlarge our hearts in his service: and those who are inspired with zeal for his glory, and who taste the joy of his salvation, will never think too much time or expense can be bestowed in communion with him and his saints, provided other duties be not neglected (Scott). Exo 34:7, +*Lev 4:20, 1Ki 8:30, +*Psa 103:3, *Isa 1:18; Isa 43:25; Isa 44:22; Isa 59:1, 2, +*Jer 31:34, **Hos 5:15; *Hos 6:1, Zep 3:15, Mat 9:2, Luk 24:47, +**Act 3:19, 20, 21; +*Act 10:36; +*Act 10:43, Jas 5:15, **1Jn 1:7; **1Jn 1:9.

heal their land. T1640, 2Ch 6:28, 29, 30, 31; *2Ch 30:20, +*Exo 15:26, Num 14:11, 13; Num 14:19, 2Sa 24:15, 16, 17, Psa 60:2, Isa 11:6; Isa 27:6; Isa 30:26; *Isa 35:1; Isa 53:5, Jer 8:22; *Jer 33:6; Jer 51:9, +*Amo 9:13, 14, 15, Mal 4:2, +*Mat 19:28, +**Act 3:19, +*Rom 8:19; +*Rom 8:21, +*Rev 22:3.

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One Response to Daily Bible Nugget #561, 2 Chronicles 7:13-14

  1. ken sagely says:

    jerry appreciate your comments and insights into the word of God.! i have been reading

    in 1 peter 5.8 an evil foe of this world and believers particularly. Be sober, be vigilant,
    because your adversary, the devil, like a roaring lion walketh about,seeking whom
    he may devour: vs 9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions
    are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world!! we are a spiritual warfare
    with satan the devil and he has already been defeated at the cross. “1 jn 3.8 for this
    purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil .”

    we appropriate that vistory by faith ! 5.4 For whatever is born of God, overcometh the
    world: and s is the vicgtory that overcometh the world, even our faith. amen!

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