Our world is riddled with violence, the shedding of innocent blood, immoralities, pestilences, sicknesses, diseases, disasters such as hurricanes, fire, earthquakes, cyclones, tornados, and floods because of sin on the land.

The earth is groaning with the weight of sin. It trembles and shakes while it tries to spew out mankind along with their baggages off its surface.

The heavens also groan and send turbulent storms to wash away the grime of sin.

But, men continue to sin and will not repent.

Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by 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 heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, ¹⁴ if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and 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 prayer made in this place. ¹⁶ For now, I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. ¹⁷ As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, ¹⁸ then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man as ruler in Israel.’ (2 Chronicles 7:12-18)

Verse fourteen of the above passage is often quoted when we are encouraging repentance on our land so that it will heal. However, most times we ignore the entire context of the scripture.

This passage was God’s answer to Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple. What was the content of Solomon’s prayer?

You will find Solomon’s prayer in the previous chapter (2 Chronicles 6).

The key things that must be done

• Choice

It was King David’s greatest desire to build a house for the Lord, but God did not want him to build it so He assigned this great task to David’s son, Solomon.

God did not ask David to build a temple for His dwelling place. David chose to do it.

• Preparation

King Solomon carefully selected the best material and diligently built a temple for God’s dwelling place. Then he placed all the items of furniture and treasures that his father had dedicated to the Lord in the temple.

The most important item was the Ark of the Covenant which they placed in the holiest place under the wings of the cherubim.

• Praise and Thanksgiving

The priests, Levites, singers, and musician sang praises to God saying, “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.” They praised in unity until the glory of God filled the tabernacle.

• Dedication

Then Solomon knelt in humility before the people and publicly prayed to God. The following are the main points of his prayer.

• Acknowledging God as the God of his life and territory.
• Requesting that the Lord’s eyes would always be opened to the temple day and night.
• He asked the Lord to always forgive the people when they sinned and prayed towards the temple.
• God will judge his people by bringing retribution on the head of the wicked and justifying the righteous by rewarding them according to their righteousness.
• If the enemy defeated the people because of sin when they prayed and asked God for forgiveness, He will hear from heaven and forgive their sins.
• If God stopped the rain and there is famine on the land, pestilences, and diseases because of sin when the people pray and repent, God will hear from heaven and forgive their sins.
• Even the strangers and foreigners in the land when they visited the temple and pray the Lor will hear and answer their petitions.
• Before going to battle when the people prayed the Lord will hear and give them victory.
• When they sinned and are captured by the enemy if they repented with all their heart and soul in the land of captivity the Lord will hear and forgive them.

The Lord is displeased with the perpetual wickedness on the land and it needs healing.

For healing to take place in our land or even in our body, we first have to choose God to be God of our lives. We have to choose to live for Him even after we are healed.

Remember, God knows our hearts so we cant blackmail Him.

We have to prepare our body to be God’s dwelling. This is done by cleansing, sanctification, prayer, fasting, and dedication to the Word of God.

When you prepare your body to be God’s holy tabernacle you will become a praise to God who will then place you under the wings of the Cherubim who will continually sing praises to God on your behalf.

Humility must replace pride in the hearts of the people so that they are always willing and ready to repent when they sin.

Repentance involves humility, praying, seeking the face of God and turning from doing wickedness. Repentance is a package and you cannot do one without the other.

You have to be willing to turn from doing all the things that are displeasing to God and return to the lifestyle of holiness to God.

Having a big repentance service then returning to ungodliness will not work. Only when full repentance is done will God hear, forgive and heal the land.

If unrighteousness continues to prevail in your country or personal life without genuine repentance then the supplication of Solomon in 2 Chronicles 6:22-23 will become effective.

“If anyone sins against his neighbor, and is forced to take an oath, and comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple, then hear from heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, bringing retribution on the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness. (2 Chronicles 6:22-23)

If we remain stubborn and refused to repent we are heading for the fourth catastrophic event upon the land.

Return tomorrow evening to learn about the other three catastrophes on the earth.

Repent O Backsliding Church!

Repent, rededicate your life back to God and rebuild your body as God’s holy tabernacle. Then ask the Lord to: