Welfare Of A Nation Series

Theme: Welfare of a Nation

Text: 2 Chronicles 7:11-22

Introduction:

I greet you all in the name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Today we are going to mediate on the theme ‘Welfare of a Nation’ based on the scriptural verse 2 Chronicles 7:14. As on date according to the UN, there are 251 countries and states, around 7.8 billion people live on the globe, and there are about 6500 languages in the world (2020). A little study on the formation of nations gives us a clear understanding of nations and nationalities. The territories were divided according to language, culture, customs of the people, it is found in the Bible as well as in the modern era. Today, the world is politically divided by national borders, into separate sovereign and/or administrative divisions.

Biblical Understanding of the Nations:

Genesis 10:1 reports that there were only three sons to Noah after the flood, namely Shem, Ham and Japheth. The nations came out of them. Their territories were based on their clans, and languages (Genesis 10:4,20,31). Then the chapter ends with the words, “these are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their lines of descent, within their nations. From these the nations spread out over the earth after the flood” (Genesis 10:32). Some settled near seacoast and became Maritime (Genesis 10:5), some settled near rivers and green fields became farmers, shepherds and hunters (Genesis 10:8). They were scattered all over the earth according to the plan of God at Babel when God confused their languages (Genesis 11:8-9).

Welfare:

Welfare is defined as health, happiness, and fortunes of a person, or group, or a nation. The welfare of nation includes peace between various people groups, languages and ethnicities; wealth shared among all citizens, health and goodness maintained as one entity. The welfare of the nation also refers to the harvest of crops, cereals, and other products of the fields in due seasons (Leviticus 26:4-6). The welfare of the nation refers to the yielding of flocks, herds of a nation (Psalm 65:11-13). The welfare of a nation is being disturbed by outbreaks of wars and pestilence and failure of monsoon (Leviticus 26:16).

In this passage, the Lord spoke to Solomon about the cause and effect of loss and restoration of the welfare of a nation (2 Chronicles 7:11-22). In Ezekiel God declared that his four dreadful judgments are sword, famine, wild beasts and plagues (Ezekiel 14:21).

Today I would like to stick to verse 14, also do an Exegetical study of it. How can we be more blessing to our nation at this hour of CORONA crisis? Through three ways we can contribute to the welfare of our Nation by:

1. Being Humble and God-fearing persons

2. Being Prayer Warriors

3. Being Righteous persons

Spiritually now the land refers to our own life and vocation. The welfare of land is depended upon our true commitment to Christ and having a faith life. With mere Christian identity, nothing could be changed personally as well as in society. I pray and wish for a change in our nation through the good fortunes of our life and thriving in our vocations. Say it Govt. jobs or private sectors or own business. The welfare of our life depended upon our walk with God, belief in God and unshakable faith in God, in turn to leads to welfare of our nation.

1. The welfare of a nation is depended on GOD-FEARING people (2 Chronicles 7:14 a)

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves…

Humility is the trademark of a true believer and God-fearing person. They have great faith in God and his supplies, and his justice and in His promises. They practice humility, because humility is the life and mark of Christ. He emptied himself to become a human and he humbled himself to serve his disciples by washing their feet (Philippians 2:7 and John 13:4-5).

Here, God told Solomon that rise and fall of his nation depended upon his close walk with God. God cited David as an example and told him to be Like King David. Walk according to the commandments, decrees and laws. Don’t worry about people who do not observe, but first and foremost you as a leader of the Nation, walk before me (2 Chronicles 7:17). To raise a nation from poverty to prosperity, from destruction to development, from insecurity to safety, there is a need for God-fearing wise men and women.

Micah 7:2-7 gives a list of evil found in the nations: No godly, no one upright, both hands are skilled in doing evil, rulers demand gifts, the judge accepts bribes, powerful dictates, all conspire, best of the men are brier, most upright is worse than a thorn hedge, dishonesty with husband and wife, deceiving siblings, fighting in-laws were the nature of the land of Israel or the attitude and characters of the People on those days.