The Bible is full of promises that God made to Israel, and by extension, for his people today, which would be the church. One of the promises that people love the quote is,
2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.What is amazing about this is that every time I’ve heard this used in a sermon or a teaching session the context of the passage is totally ignored. This promise of renewal and revival was given to Solomon right after he dedicated the temple. In other words, this promise of renewal was given at the high point of Israel’s history. This was not a call to repentance declared in the midst of apostasy and degeneration. This was a statement made when God’s house had finally been finished and sanctified for worship.
God gives promises. His promises are not limited to the time in which they are offered. His promises are looking down through history, based on knowing what people are like, and how we live our lives. In the previous verses, God points out His awareness of what will probably come. In the verse just before this, He lays out the possibility that He might be forced to put Israel in time out. He might be forced to send pestilence and disease and weakness. And the promise is that when that happens God is waiting for our repentance and is ready to restore.
I think of other promises given that extend over millennium. I think of Genesis 3:15 where God promises to send the seed of Adam to crush the head of Satan. I think of the promises in the prophets of a new covenant and a new heart.
Some promises are more quickly fulfilled, but also have an extended lifespan. I think of the promise of the Holy Spirit, and how He was to come at Pentecost. Although that was the birth of the church and a new age in spiritual life, the promise of the filling of the spirit is still extend it to us today. So you have the promise then that is still alive today.
Then you have promises that are just almost perpetual motion machine. I think of I John 1:9 and how we are promised forgiveness for confessing our sins.
Promises abound. Check out the expectations for application and rejoice.
homo unius libri
Good point. I have never considered this for the 2 Chronicles 7 psg. There are so many who claim NT promises without considering the context.
ReplyDeleteIt was a bit of a surprise for me too. I have a friend who gets so carried away with context that he discounts most of the OT. It is too bad that he goes that far. I keep working on him.
DeleteGrace and peace