2 Chronicles 7:14

[RickD]

2 Chronicles 7:14New American Standard Bible (NASB)

14 and My people [a]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, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.


I'd like to hear why it's dangerous, theologically or otherwise, when someone takes this verse out of context, and applies it to the United States.

Some Australian pastor used the verse out of context in an article I read today.

For one, I think when the verse is used out of context to refer to the US, it implies something about the US that isn't true. And can be very dangerous, theologically.

[abelcainsbrother]

2 Chronicles 7:14New American Standard Bible (NASB)

14 and My people [a]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, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.


I'd like to hear why it's dangerous, theologically or otherwise, when someone takes this verse out of context, and applies it to the United States.

Some Australian pastor used the verse out of context in an article I read today.

For one, I think when the verse is used out of context to refer to the US, it implies something about the US that isn't true. And can be very dangerous, theologically.

I think you are on to something about this.I believe as long as there is a remnant of believers in the US for their sake America will be blessed.Now after the rapture that is different but as long as believers are here America is pretty safe. And God is not going to pour out any kind of judgments until the tribulation period.We are under grace now and not the law like they were in the OT. Now I do believe America is and has been going in the wrong direction for atleast about the last 50 years but that is because of our own doing and has nothing to do with God.

[Nicki]

I think back then it applied to the people of Israel, who were a nation set apart by God, and now if it applies at all it's to all his people everywhere. Who are the people called by his name now? Not the US as a whole but all his people wherever they are.

[RickD]

I think back then it applied to the people of Israel, who were a nation set apart by God, and now if it applies at all it's to all his people everywhere. Who are the people called by his name now? Not the US as a whole but all his people wherever they are.

Nicki,

I think that's the "taking out of context" I was referring to. It was a specific promise to Israel. It wasn't meant for anyone else.

The US isn't a Christian nation where the US is "our(Christian's) land".

I think it becomes dangerous with a mindset like that, because if we believe this verse is meant for us, it leads us to think the US is a God ordained theocracy, similar to Israel.

[PaulSacramento]

Specific passages address to Israel should ALWAYS be viewed in that way.
Look at the WHOLE context:

God’s Promise and Warning
11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king’s palace, and successfully completed all that [c]he had planned on doing in the house of the Lord and in his palace.

12 Then the Lord appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, 14 and My people [d]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, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the [e]prayer offered in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. 17 As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, even to do according to all that I have commanded you, and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, 18 then I will establish your royal throne as I covenanted with your father David, saying, ‘[f]You shall not lack a man to be ruler in Israel.’

19 “But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot you from My land which I have given [g]you, and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 21 As for this house, which was exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ 22 And they will say, ‘Because they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers who brought them from the land of Egypt, and they adopted other gods and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this adversity on them.’”

It is direct to Israel AFTER the building of the temple AND the warning is complete with this part:

19 “But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot you from My land which I have given [g]you, and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 21 As for this house, which was exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ 22 And they will say, ‘Because they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers who brought them from the land of Egypt, and they adopted other gods and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this adversity on them.’”

[B. W.]

2 Chronicles 7:14New American Standard Bible (NASB)

14 and My people [a]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, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.


I'd like to hear why it's dangerous, theologically or otherwise, when someone takes this verse out of context, and applies it to the United States.

Some Australian pastor used the verse out of context in an article I read today.

For one, I think when the verse is used out of context to refer to the US, it implies something about the US that isn't true. And can be very dangerous, theologically.

2 Timothy 3:16


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[crochet1949]

Another perspective could be that 'we' Need to humble ourselves and pray and seek God face and turn from our evil ways -- the U. S. has made some really poor decisions / Bad decisions regarding freedom OF religion / taking praying out of our schools, subscribing to same-sex unions, etc. and now the mess with Presidential candidates.
We Do need to realize that this world is Not going to 'get better' -- it will continue to get worse -- at some point - all born-again believers will be taken out of this world / raptured out/ and then those who are still here Will feel the wrath of God. And at some point, Jesus Christ Will come back to rule physically here for 1,000 yrs. And Then there will be the Final war -- satan vs God and satan will be cast forever into the Abyss and God will bring the New Jerusalem down from heaven and believers will be there Forever.

Ultimately the land Will be healed -- but that's more for later on.