Prayer And Revival

We know that prayer is the Christians vital breath of life. How is your prayer life? How long has it been since you really dwelt in the presence of God? It can be convicting to come to the realization we have drifted, and our prayer life is not what it once was. What can we do about it? The answer is not complicated. We start praying right now.

Think about how Jesus prayed. Remember how he rose up early while it was still dark to get away to a solitary place and pray. Before Jesus chose his disciples, he spent the whole night in prayer.

The night he was betrayed Jesus was on his face before God. It was an intense time of prayer. Twice he told his disciples to watch and pray and they fell asleep. 2 Chronicles 7:14 is often the verse we go to when we are seeking to stir more prayer and revival.

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

This verse is often quoted in connection with various prayer campaigns, like National Day of Prayer and other times when we are called to seasons of prayer. We are familiar with this verse, but now let’s look at the background of this verse.

The context is the triumphant moment for Israel. These words are said at the dedication of Solomon’s Temple. It is considered the costliest and most magnificent structure ever built. There is a great national gathering at the event. There is the sacrifice of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats.

In the previous chapter Solomon knelt as King of Israel before the whole assembly and prayed. His prayer is recorded in 2 Chronicles 6:14-42. When Solomon finished praying fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice on the alter. God’s glory filled the temple.

When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2 The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it. 3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying,

“He is good; his love endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 7:1-3)

This is how I have applied Solomon’s words into a poem:

He is good, He is good,

His love endures forever, He is good.

Then the Temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud,

And the glory of the Lord filled that place.

He is good, He is good,

His love endures forever, He is good.

Then the Temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud,

Let the glory of the Lord fill this place.

He is good, He is good,

His love endures forever, He is good.

Then the Temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud,

Let the glory of the Lord fill my life.

When the people saw this, they all knelt with their faces to the ground, celebrated with praise. The instruments played and they went out with joy.

So the context of our passage is God appearing to Solomon in response to His prayer.

When Solomon had finished the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the Lord and in his own palace, 12 the Lord appeared to him at night and said: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. (2 Chronicles 7:11)

We see the responsibility of God’s people. The Lord said, “if my people, who are called by my name.” The focus here is not on the actions of those who do not worship God. The focus is on the action of God’s people. Why would God, at the historical highpoint of His people, put his finger on the point they may go wrong? The clue is in this verse.

“When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near “ (2 Chronicles 6:36)

Solomon says, it is inevitable that God’s people will sin, but when they turn back to God He will restore them. Part of being God’s people means being submissive to God. We must continually humble ourselves. We must realize that our own existence is totally dependent on God.