A THREE “P” PERSPECTIVE OF ONE POWERFUL PASSAGE

Chuck Northrop

One of the most powerful passages that God has blessed us with in His word is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14. For four hundred years, Israel was without a temple. The tabernacle, only a tent, was the dwelling place of God. Israel was dissatisfied, and David wanted to build a temple. But God would not allow David, a man of war, to build the temple. The temple was built by Solomon with great stones, cedar beams, gold and silver, and other precious metals and stones. No doubt, today, the cost would be in the billions of dollars for such a place of grandeur. Truly a magnificent building. Within the temple was the Most Holy Place, a thirty foot perfect cube with the ark of the covenant over-shadowed by two cherubims. It was at the dedication of Solomon’s Temple that God’s glory filled the temple. Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him concerning the nation of Israel:

“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. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attend unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually” (2 Chronicles 7:12-16).

One can readily see the powerfulness of this passage. Let us then turn our attention to a three “p” perspective of this powerful passage.

PROVISION

It is apparent as we read this passage that the promise is conditional. “If my people” will do these PROVISIONS or stipulations, then “I (i.e. God) will” fulfill the promise. There seems to be provisions to every promise God makes throughout the Bible. To the promise of peace, the provision is prayer and supplication (Philippians 4:6-7). To the promise of being supplied with mercy, we must be merciful (Matthew 6:14-15). And to the promise of justification, the condition is a faithful and righteous life like unto Abraham (Romans 3:21-5:11). These are just a few of many examples found in the Bible. In the case of 2 Chronicles 7:14, the provision is four-fold. The first condition is humility. The second is prayer. The third is to seek God. And the fourth is to repent or “turn from their wicked ways.”

PURSUE

It is our obligation to pursue after the provisions that God has established within His Word. We must pursue godliness or a god-like-ness kind of life. Jesus puts it this way, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). The Hebrew writer said; “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Paul exhorted to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). In every case, it meant an earnest effort on man’s part to realize who God is; that we are weak and sinful; and that we must come to Him in obedience.

PURIFY

If we acknowledge God’s provision for us and pursue after God and His will, then, and only then, God will purify and cleanse us. God promised the nation of Israel a purification and a healing. Webster says that healing is an act to make pure again or to restore to original purity. That is God’s part. Our passage in consideration has a three-fold promise. First, God promised “then will I hear from heaven.” Second, God promised that He “will forgive their sins.” And third, God promised that He “will heal their land.” Peter said in Acts 2:39, “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” The promise Peter was speaking of is in the preceding verse — “for the remission of sins.” In the same verse, we see two provisions that we must pursue — REPENTANCE and BAPTISM. After we pursue the provisions, then God purifies.

Remember this powerful passage and the three p perspective. It is, as they say, one you can live by. Its promise was for Israel, but its application is true for today.