Let’s go back before the event in 2 Chronicles 7 so that we might understand more fully what is going on in that chapter. Although David was a man ‘after God’s own heart’, he was also a man of war. Because of this, even though he desired to build a house for the Lord, he was not allowed. The Lord determined that David’s son, Solomon, would build this house for the Lord…the Temple. We read of this in 1 Chronicles 22:9-10, “Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. HE SHALL BUILD AN HOUSE FOR MY NAME; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.”

Solomon wrote in 1 Kings 5:5, “And, behold, I PURPOSE TO BUILD AN HOUSE UNTO THE NAME OF THE LORD MY GOD, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.”

Now let’s move ahead and read 2 Chronicles 3:1, “Then Solomon BEGAN TO BUILD THE HOUSE OF THE LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.” Chapters 3-4 tell of the building of this great house. Then, we read in 2 Chronicles 5:1, “Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God.” Chapter 5 tells us of the Ark of the Covenant being brought and set up in the Temple, the house of God.

Chapter six contains the dedication of the Temple. We read in the first three verses, “Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever. And the king turned his face, and blessed THE WHOLE CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL: and ALL THE CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL stood.” This shows us the audience that Solomon addressed. It was Israel. We read again in verse 12 that Solomon “…stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of ALL THE CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL…” I encourage you to spend time reading Solomon’s prayer in verses 14-42. Time and space do not allow us to read that prayer, but it is a wonderful prayer, seeking the Lord’s mercy for His people when they are repentant of their sins.

Chapter 7 tells us that “the glory of the LORD filled the house.” The Lord had occupied His house! Now, let’s read 2 Chronicles 7:12-14, “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. 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; 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.” Once we learn the background, we can easily see that the words of the Lord here apply to His earthly people, Israel. He is promising forgiveness and restoration to Israel if they would “humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways.” It is important to see that the Lord is addressing Israel AS A NATION, so this promise is to the people as a whole. The Lord’s promise to “heal their land” shows He is addressing an earthly people with an earthly inheritance.

Today, the Lord’s people (the church) have “no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” (Hebrews 13:14) Our inheritance is HEAVENLY, not EARTHLY. Philippines 3:20 is crystal clear. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV) Today, believers do not have ‘a land’. We find Christians in every land, yet the world is not our home. Even as Abraham did, we look for “a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (Hebrews 11:10). We long to be with our savior in Heaven. As individual members of the BODY OF CHRIST, we do have a wonderful promise concerning repentance and forgiveness when we sin. We read in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is a marvelous promise for us today! (267.6)