TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE
Memorize this verse: (Cover the verse text and using just the first letters of each word try to recite the entire passage.)
14. I M P W A C B M N S H T A P A S M F A T F T W W T W I H F H A W F T S A W H T L
Thus, national repentance and reformation are required. God expects, that if his people, who are called by his name, have dishonored his name by their iniquity, they should honor it by accepting the punishment of their iniquity. They must humble themselves under his hand, must pray for the removal of the judgment, must seek his face and favor. And yet all this will not be sufficient, unless they turn from their wicked ways, and return to him from whom they have revolted. National mercy is then promised.
“Humble themselves”: (Lev. 26:41), in a similar context.
“Seek my face”: (Psalms 24:6; 27:8).
“Turn from their wicked ways”: (Hosea 6:1; Isa. 6:10; Jer. 25:5).
“Then will I hear from heaven”: God will first forgive their sin, which brought the judgment upon them, and then will heal their land, and redress their grievances.
This verse serves as the guiding statement for the rest of (2 Chron. 12:6-7; James 4:10). It would apply not only to the people as a whole but to individual kings such as Manasseh. God’s people cannot appropriately confront sin in other people’s lives if they have not done so in their own. Jesus speaks to this issue in (Matthew 7:1-6).
Solomon had asked God to hear their prayers and forgive them, and this was the answer. Notice the big “if”. The blessings of God are conditional. The people must repent and turn from their wicked ways and then the LORD will hear, and will answer their prayers. Our country needs to heed this very Scripture today.
Old Testament
Genesis 5-8 — 8.0 minutes
Psalms 3 — 1.5 minutes
New Testament
Matthew 2:1-12 — 3.0 minutes
Acts 2:1-21 — 4.5 minutes
Total Average Read Time — 17.0 minutes
