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 will forgive their sin and heal their land (II Chron. 2: 14).
No. And yes. This well-known text is often quoted by those saddened by our nation’s cultural decline. Conservatives, both political and theological, find here comfort and hope. It doesn’t take long, however, before some more careful and precise exegete makes a salient point- this text is not a generic, proverbial truism, but a specific message to a specific people at a specific time. Said careful exegete will next point out that this nation is not this specific people and said time is not our time.
While the nation of Israel and our own nation have a great deal in common, they are not the same. Both nations were established that God’s people might be free to rightly worship Him. Both nations were founded by people motivated by a desire to please Him. Both nations, however, failed over the years to be faithful. Both nations experienced God’s judgment. That said, God actually commanded Israel to take the land. God actually made a covenant with Israel. God actually sent prophets to Israel. These United States can say none of these things. Therefore, this promise of God cannot rightly be lifted out of its context and its promises appropriated by just any nation.
That said, all of the above is just a bit too pedantic. No one, I suspect, who clings to this text, makes the mistake of equating Israel and these United States. Precious few would argue that God made a covenant with this nation as He did with Israel. Which doesn’t change the broad, proverbial, generic promise of the true and living God that those who repent will be blessed by Him. This is clearly true not just individually but corporately as well. Of course our nation, even if, in God’s economy it is of no more spiritual significance than Latvia, Indonesia or Nineveh, would receive blessing if there were widespread repentance here. If there were widespread repentance in Latvia, Indonesia or Nineveh there would be healing in those lands. Jesus is not just Lord of Israel, but of every tribe and tongue across the globe.
God promises blessings for all those who repent. To persons, to families, to churches, to communities, to states, to nations. Can institutions repent? Excellent question. I’m not sure. But the people in them certainly can, and such will always impact the institutions, for the good. Which means not only should we not be shy about owning this text and the promise therein, we ought to be eager to do so. Let us, as we see destruction all around us, repent to the living God. He will hear from heaven. He will forgive our sins and He will heal His land.