The God Who Speaks
The God who Speaks
2 Chronicles 6-10
“Who has kept your servant David, my father, that which you have promised him; indeed, you have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day”
If God does not mean what he says, then why did he not say what he means? It is popular today to deconstruct the Bible by affirming the passages that we find agreeable but rejecting the portions of scripture that we find disagreeable. We naturally are drawn to the passages affirming God’s love and grace, but we are repelled by the verses we find unpleasant or threatening. However, Christ confirms that all the Bible is accurate, down to the smallest letter and mark (see Matthew 5:28 and 2 Timothy 3:16). Just as His promises of grace are true, so also are His promises of judgment.
In the passage before us, we find both a warning and a blessing given by God. In 2 Chronicles 6:15-16, we see the absolute certainty of God’s Word. God is always faithful and true to His Word. In verse 16, this involves a warning to Solomon and his descendants that if they wish to receive God’s blessing, they must walk in obedience to God’s law. God’s Word is true, and we will experience God’s blessing or judgment based upon our obedience to His Word. In verse 16, God further warns that if a person sins, God will bring punishment upon him. We cannot pick or choose what we want to believe. If we reject the reality of Hell and the warning in God’s Word, then we also have no assurance that Heaven exists. To reject the one is to deny the other. If we believe that part of God’s Word is false, then we have no assurance that any of the Bible is true. This is why God warns descendants to “take heed to their way, to walk in My law as you have walked before Me” (6:18).
Along with the warning of the necessity of obedience, Solomon also reminds the people of the promise of God’s blessing and providential care if people will trust in Him. Solomon lists several disasters (defeat vs. 24, drought vs. 27, natural disasters vs. 28, conflicts vs. 34) that will come upon the nation if it fails to obey God’s commands. However, he also gives hope that if they turn to God amid their trials, God will forgive and restore His blessing upon them. No matter how much we sin, God is willing to forgive and restore our relationship with him if we respond in repentance and seek His forgiveness. God says what He means, and He means what He says. This is the assurance that we have of salvation when we seek him. No matter how great our sin, he repeatedly promises that he will hear our prayer and respond to our need. The repeated statement “then hear” is more than a request for an audience to proclaim our woes; it is a promise that God will respond favorably to our request. For God to hear is synonymous with a response. This promise is especially relevant to those who were returning from exile. Israel had been cast into exile because of their sin, but now, if they seek him, Solomon’s prayer assures them that God will restore them to the land.
What was true of Israel is equally valid for us. God always has an attentive ear to our prayers and assures us that he will respond to our needs. Our salvation hopes that God means what He says and always remains faithful to His Word. No matter what trials you face, God will respond when you seek Him. Do you still struggle with the guilt of our sin? Are you facing the consequences of past sins? God will bring restoration if you just ask him.
2 Chronicles 6-10
“Who has kept your servant David, my father, that which you have promised him; indeed, you have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day”
If God does not mean what he says, then why did he not say what he means? It is popular today to deconstruct the Bible by affirming the passages that we find agreeable but rejecting the portions of scripture that we find disagreeable. We naturally are drawn to the passages affirming God’s love and grace, but we are repelled by the verses we find unpleasant or threatening. However, Christ confirms that all the Bible is accurate, down to the smallest letter and mark (see Matthew 5:28 and 2 Timothy 3:16). Just as His promises of grace are true, so also are His promises of judgment.
In the passage before us, we find both a warning and a blessing given by God. In 2 Chronicles 6:15-16, we see the absolute certainty of God’s Word. God is always faithful and true to His Word. In verse 16, this involves a warning to Solomon and his descendants that if they wish to receive God’s blessing, they must walk in obedience to God’s law. God’s Word is true, and we will experience God’s blessing or judgment based upon our obedience to His Word. In verse 16, God further warns that if a person sins, God will bring punishment upon him. We cannot pick or choose what we want to believe. If we reject the reality of Hell and the warning in God’s Word, then we also have no assurance that Heaven exists. To reject the one is to deny the other. If we believe that part of God’s Word is false, then we have no assurance that any of the Bible is true. This is why God warns descendants to “take heed to their way, to walk in My law as you have walked before Me” (6:18).
Along with the warning of the necessity of obedience, Solomon also reminds the people of the promise of God’s blessing and providential care if people will trust in Him. Solomon lists several disasters (defeat vs. 24, drought vs. 27, natural disasters vs. 28, conflicts vs. 34) that will come upon the nation if it fails to obey God’s commands. However, he also gives hope that if they turn to God amid their trials, God will forgive and restore His blessing upon them. No matter how much we sin, God is willing to forgive and restore our relationship with him if we respond in repentance and seek His forgiveness. God says what He means, and He means what He says. This is the assurance that we have of salvation when we seek him. No matter how great our sin, he repeatedly promises that he will hear our prayer and respond to our need. The repeated statement “then hear” is more than a request for an audience to proclaim our woes; it is a promise that God will respond favorably to our request. For God to hear is synonymous with a response. This promise is especially relevant to those who were returning from exile. Israel had been cast into exile because of their sin, but now, if they seek him, Solomon’s prayer assures them that God will restore them to the land.
What was true of Israel is equally valid for us. God always has an attentive ear to our prayers and assures us that he will respond to our needs. Our salvation hopes that God means what He says and always remains faithful to His Word. No matter what trials you face, God will respond when you seek Him. Do you still struggle with the guilt of our sin? Are you facing the consequences of past sins? God will bring restoration if you just ask him.
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January
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