Identity: If 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. 2 Chronicles 7:14 But if you turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments that I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will pluck you up from my land that I have given you, and this house that 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” 2 Chronicles 7: 14(19-20).

“If my people which are called by my name” it seems like a straight forward statement, yet let us consider the following. First and foremost, in all of 2 Chronicles 7 God was speaking directly to Solomon. God is responding to Solomon who prayed to Him after overseeing the building of the temple and dedicating it to the Lord. Secondly, God had chosen Israel and had them in mind when He was speaking to Solomon concerning them. Thirdly, a provision had been made for foreigners who would also abide in the ways of the Lord. After the temple had been built and consecrated to the Lord for His purposes and His Glory it was a place where He would dwell and rule from. Later, the temple would be destroyed and has yet to be rebuilt. Some believe that this is the end of the story and that the blessing ended with the Jews of that day. While it is true that the Jews are God’s chosen people that does not mean that He hasn’t chosen all of mankind to live under the same principles. John 1:12 tells us that as many as receive Jesus they have been given the power to become the sons of God. The New Testament paints a picture of “God’s people” as anyone who believes in the one and same Messiah that was promised first to the Jews and later received by the gentile nations. Therefore, I believe that the principle of this passage extends to all of the nations of the world: Europe, Asia, South America, Central America, North America, Africa and the Middle East. Furthermore, it should go without saying that when a nation obediently adheres to the Word of God His blessing follow.