Sunrise time w/ the Lord on the 25th floor can truly change your point of view!
Every few years we hear a Bible verse (2 Chronicles 7:14) tossed around . Many bible study students will notice that this Old Testament verse is a “conditional” promise verse beginning with the word at the beginning “IF” and at the end of the verse with the word “THEN.” (Translation: If you obey, you will be blessed. If you disobey, you will not.) These “conditional” covenants are called the “Mosaic ” covenant and the “David” covenant. Interestingly , the first covenant (“Abrahamic”) & the last covenant (“New ” ) are entirely unconditional with God amazing us with the phrase “I WILL!” It’s the unconditional covenants that usually astound us because God is the Giver of the covenant and the actual provider of the ability to fulfill it! Jesus fulfilled everything and we walk in newness of life.
So, how do we read an Old Testament “conditional” verse? We look for a timeless principle! Even though we don’t live under the Mosaic or Davidic law like the people of Israel in the OT, we can look throughout the New Testament for spiritual parallels that link the believers in Abraham’s day to the believers today under the New Covenant . The faith of Abe in Genesis 12 & 15 is similar to our faith in Matthew through Revelation. God initiates the covenant and fulfills it. We can compare the covenant and ask ourselves: “Is the character of God similar here as in the NT?” “Is the way God operates here similar in the NT?” ”
NOW, we can read this text with fresh eyes! It’s a conditional covenant verse given to Israel under the Mosaic (Old Testament) covenant. Yet, we see all throughout the New covenant (New Testament) the similar way God responds to His people. He responds to true humility, He answers desperate prayer, & He delights to show Himself strong when we seek only Him!
In the verse below, we realize we can obey the OT call to humble ourselves &trust our good God to show up for His NT people! I wrote this out and wrote my personal application next to each phrase. Let’s pray expectantly!
2 Chronicles 7:14
“IF my people who are called by My Name will:
HUMBLE themselves (This means go low in your relationships starting with God !)
PRAY (This means ask big -even miraculous-things of God!)
SEEK My face (lThis means sit with God , look up, & wait on God!)
TURN from wicked ways (I must ask God to change me. Personal revival must precede national revival!)
THEN
I will hear.
I will forgive.
I will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
Time to hit our knees!
#WindowsillWorship — with Brian G. Fisher at Hotel Beacon NYC.
