Editorial - If My People Who Are Called By My Name

"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves ...

King Solomon was the God-appointed leader whom the Lord chose to follow King David, the "man after God's own heart." It was Solomon whom God commissioned to build Him a house for His name in Jerusalem – the wonderful First Temple.

When the building was finally completed in all its glory Solomon called the people together and prayed at its dedication, a lengthy prayer covering future national eventualities, and recorded in 1 Kings chapter 8. And "the glory of the LORD filled the temple" (2 Chronicles 7:1).

After the celebrations – the fire that came down, the rejoicing, the animal sacrifices, the music to praise the Lord, the total dedication of the priests, the Levites and the singers, then the feasting of the people – the Lord Himself appeared to Solomon.

And this is what God said to Solomon; this is what He promised, that no matter what evil should befall the people in years to come, "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" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

The Lord couldn't have been more specific, and He couldn't have made Himself clearer. His Word is replete with assurances of blessing for obedience and punishment for disobedience, and the main reason for the controversy He has with His people in these days is that they have rejected the One whom He sent to be their Messiah.

Their present situation, and their present agony, and their present dilemma at the end of two thousand years of dispersion all have to do with that event. It will be a very humbling experience for the nation when as their prophet Zechariah foretells: "They will look to me whom they have pierced; they will mourn for him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for him as one grieves for a first-born" (12:10).

And when that comes to pass, the Lord said:

... then I will hear from heaven"