Repent – Old Testament Survey

2 Chronicles 7.12-22 (1 Kings 9.1-9)

The most quoted portion of 2 Chronicles is found in these verses. It is also the most commonly misquoted portion of 2 Chronicles. 1 Kings does not contain verses 14-16 because it is looking forward and 2 Chronicles is looking back. The writer’s audience in 2 Chronicles is the post-exilic nation.

The gist of verses 12-18 is when sin happens, repentance must follow. It is also implicit that God is faithful to His Word, even when we are not faithful to follow. The promises of God are both conditional (blessings, etc) and unconditional (salvation, etc). Here God presents both promises. The success of Israel is based on their turning from sin and turning toward God. It is not enough to say that sin is wrong, they need to define it and turn from it and turn to God. The promise of the coming Messiah is unconditional.

What we can do with this passage is realize that God is calling us to do three things: humble ourselves, repent, and turn to Him. He, then, will do three things for us: hear our prayers, forgive our sins in restoring fellowship, and heal the land. The last one is debatable outside of Israel (see McGee, 1997). However, if God’s people today, the church, were to turn back to Him, the land would be healed. Not from pestilence, drought, etc. but from the socialism and other ungodly pursuits she has undertaken. This would be due to the character change of God’s people producing a change where the live. This truth is evident in James 4.7-10.

A good read on the evils of America is Dennis Prager’s Still the Best Hope.

Psalm 6

The circumstances for the writing of this psalm are unknown. It appears that David is sick and feels he is about to die. In this state he writes this penitential psalm (Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143). When seeking to confess sins, these are great psalms to read as part of confession when asking God to restore our fellowship with Him (1 John 1.9).

Verses 1-3-David feels as though his bones are melting away within him (Psalm 32) or are broken in pieces (Psalm 51). When we are not feeling well, both physically and spiritually, we feel like this. This call for healing his bones is actually a call for forgiveness. David sounds like he is depressed because of the attacks of his family, friends, and enemies. David is also depressed due to his sin. What does depression do to us?

Verses 4-5-David calls to God to heal him because of the praise that would be given Him and because of His goodness, His loving-kindness (Psalm 88.10-12 and Isaiah 38.18).

Verses 6-7-David weeps over his illness just as Job did (Job 17.7).

Verses 8-10-After the tears come praises.

Think about this Psalm. David is in grief. He presents his petition to God. He then turns to praising God. This is how it should be. Is it how it is with you?