2 Chronicles 6-7; Psalm 136

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%206-7;%20Psalm%20136&version=ESV

2 Chronicles 7:14 "if my people 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 and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

The above verse is a very famous verse that is often claimed during our time today by the universal church. They claim that this verse is the remedy for our ailing nation.

But is this verse to be interpreted in this way? I would say no. This verse, while it has application for us in a great degree, is not meant for us. It was meant for Solomon and the people of Israel.

In the Bible, there is a difference between Israel and the church. Some do not believe this to be, but I do, and I will go ahead and tell you that this in one of the tenets of dispensationalism, that Israel and the church are not the same. I do not hold to all of the tenets of dispensationalism, but on this tenet I do.

Even if you do not hold that Israel and the church are not different, and that they are the same, look at the context of the verse. The Lord is speaking to Solomon and in the next verse, verse 15 the Lord says, "Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place."

The place is the temple. This is not possible today as Solomon's temple was destroyed in 586 B.C. by the Babylonians and Herod's temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D.

Now, this verse does apply to us today in that if we humble ourselves, pray, seek God's face, turn from our sins - then the Lord will forgive us. But the last part of the verse is not for us today.

J, Veron Mcgee writes, " That does not apply to us. I can't find anywhere in the New Testament where the Lord has promised to bless a piece of real estate....Nowhere does God promise material blessing to us. We are blessed with all spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. (See Ephesians 1:3) ... I don't know why folk will lift out of context one verse of Scripture and claim it for themselves. It was never intended that way. This promise was given to Israel at the dedication of the temple. Although it has application for us, it is better to go to the New Testament and find God's promises to us directly."

I am not saying the Old Testament is not applicable for us today. It most definitely is. However, as the old adage goes "All Scripture is written for us, but not all Scripture was written to us." Part of interpreting the Bible correctly is by knowing when the Lord is writing to us and when He is not.

Try this out. When you read a verse, read the verse above it and then below it. Then read the whole chapter. If you have time, read the whole Book and then consider what kind of genre of literature the book is, i.e. is it a Gospel, a Historical narrative (book of Joshua), an epistle (Romans), Wisdom literature (Psalms and Proverbs), or is it Apocalyptic literature (i.e. the book of Revelation), or a Prophetic book (the book of Jeremiah)? By doing the above, and finding out the basic rules of interpreting these types of genres in the Bible, this will go along way in helping you not interpret verses out of context and to interpret them properly to ascertain the proper meaning of the verse.

For those who would like to get an overview of this process, see the following article from Bible.org: http://bible.org/seriespage/interpreting-bible


Just for fun, do this on another famous verse, Jeremiah 29:11. Next read the whole chapter 29 of Jeremiah. Then focus on verses 10 to 14. Who is the Lord speaking to hear? I will let you decide.

I hope you do not think I am trying to take away from you a favorite verse. For many, this verse has great meaning. Yet, they in all likelihood, are misinterpreting the verse.

Here is another verse that I think captures all of what so many want Jeremiah 29:11 to mean to them.

" The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

(John 10:10)

Soli Deo Gloria.

Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.