God’s hope for relationship with us
2 Chronicles 7:12-16
12 Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: ‘I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and consecrated this house so that my name may be there for ever; my eyes and my heart will be there for all time.”
Solomon’s great building project was completed, the temple, the house of God, was finished. The dedication service and celebration had taken place. In that moment, in the night, God came to Solomon in a dream. God said, “I will pay attention to what happens in this house, and what happens in this house will be reflected in what happens to the people of Israel.” What happens in God’s house impacts how God responds to human beings. When tough times come, and tough times will come, that is a certainty – how do the people of God respond? God lists a variety of troubles. No rain – natural disaster. Locusts eating all the crop – economic crisis, driving up the price of food. Pestilence – pandemic, disease. How will the people of God respond when these things happen?
God hopes the people of God will seek God out – that they will meet with him – that they will desire to enter into a restored relationship with God. God knows the relationship between himself and the people of God will break down, but a broken relationship does not mean the end to the relationship. The relationship can be fixed, as the people called by God’s name – humble themselves, pray, seek God’s presence, and choose to live the Jesus way – God’s mercy will flow. In other words, when we walk away from God, God stands always ready to welcome us back – giving us the opportunity to start the relationship anew.
Vs. 16, while spoken specifically of the temple carries a promise for all our homes as we seek to be people to humble ourselves to pray, seek God’s presence, and choose to live the Jesus way – God’s eyes and heart are with us – with us forever. In our heart, in our lives, forever.
PRAYER:
O Lord, in this Advent time we want to come back into relationship with you, we desire to be finished with our wandering away from you. We come praying, seeking your presence, and we choose to live the Jesus way. Thank you for your forgiveness and mercy. Thank you for your promise to have your eyes and heart with us always. In Jesus’ name. Amen.