Humbly Before God
Humbly Before God • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king’s house; and Solomon successfully accomplished all that came into his heart to make in the house of the Lord and in his own house.
12 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.’
New Sermon Series entitled “Humbly Before God”
We will explore one of the greatest virtues ever.
The word for humble found in verse 14 of today’s passage is Kana - which means to submit, it also means to be subdued or to be brought low.
Kana image here.
Directions of Humility:
The Church’s Humility before God.
The World’s Humble Need for a Savior.
Our Humility in relation to our fellowmen.
As we tackle first direction of humility, our humility as the church, the people of God: We will explore three postures of humility:
Three Postures of Humility:
Bowing humbly to God.
Walking humbly before God.
Serving God humbly.
Background of this passage: Solomon the son of David.. completed the building of the temple (where sacrifices will be offered to God). He honored the Lord by dedicating the temple and he offered a prayer of dedication.
The main theme of his prayer is found in
40 Now, my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and let Your ears be attentive to the prayer made in this place.
Solomon demonstrated humility.. in verse 11:
11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king’s house; and Solomon successfully accomplished all that came into his heart to make in the house of the Lord and in his own house.
How easy it was for someone with the wisdom of Solomon with such a monumental accomplishment to be extremely proud.. but in those days of being king, Solomon remained humble.
"The true way to be humble is not to stoop until you are smaller than yourself, but to stand at your real height against some higher nature that will show you what the real smallness of your greatness is." - Phillips Brooks (American Clergyman, 1835-1893)
And God appeared to him:
12 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 the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people,
Then we come to this very familiar verse, often used to inspire prayer for a Spiritual Revival.
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.
Unpack this very familiar passage:
“If” - There is a condition,
God’s love is unconditional, but His promise is not.
Grace does not free believers from obedience.
Who holds the key?
“My People who are called by My Name” (Israel, church)
What is the requirement?
“Will Humble themselves”
The three ‘R’s Components of Humbling ourselves before God.
Recognition of our need for Him. (by praying)
Return to Him. (seek His face)
Repentance Before Him. (Turn from their wicked ways)
The Outcome of Humility:
God will hear from Heaven.
Forgiveness of sins.
Healing of the land.
There is a very popular interpretation of 2 Chronicles 7:14. (explain)
Specific to the nation of Israel, National repentance,
We, the church are people of God
We are still called to humble ourselves, and pray, seek His face and turn from our wicked ways..
God will still hear the prayers of his people.. if we humble ourselves before Him.. verses
I would think that the present day church resembles more Israel in exile, than Israel in its own land. We are mere pilgrims, we are not of this world.
7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.
“True blessing comes to a Nation through the people of God - the church.”
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Two interesting perspectives in the study of 2 Chronicles 7:14
The timing of the writing and compiling of 2 Chronicles.
God’s eternal foreknowledge.
The timing of the writing and compiling of 2 Chronicles.
This passage was not written as the events happened like a reporter’s acccount. History of the disobedience of the people of Judah, exile to Babylon, after 70 years, they will return from exile.. 2 Chronicles was written and compiled hundreds of years after the building of the temple.
Reminder of the faithfulness of God (they have better understanding, as they were already humbled)
God is consistent, He never changed.
Gives hope that if they repent, God will still hear, forgive and heal.
2. God’s eternal foreknowledge.
Later Solomon, would personally disobey the Lord and serve other gods. So instead of blessing, the land of Israel was cursed and his kingdom was later divided.
One thing that is interesting, is that God knew..
Certain human explanations - Open Theism - A theological perspective that claims that there are events in the future that God chose not to know.
There are personal and corporate implications.
God decreed the promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14 to remain true and applicable to all generations of His people.
God honors man’s free will.
God’s promise demonstrates the extent of God’s love, when it comes to God’s love, it’s immeasurable — ASTRONOMICAL.
Although He knew
Although His heart will be so disappointed.
The degree of disappointment is proportional to the degree of the love.
Jesus on the cross.
His love remains steadfast and pursues His children
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.
He keeps His Covenant Promise
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.’
Recognize your need for Him - in response to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
Let us humble ourselves before the Lord today.
As I mentioned, we are mere pilgrims, from that text in Jeremiah we just read..
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
God is faithful and He is consistent in His love for you.. no one is as faithful and consistent and persistent in love than God.. have you been let down, have you felt used?? We have been all the time, it’s the nature of the world (not necessarily a person) … there are people but there’s one who uses me all the time — and the name is APPLE.
Hold up your smart phones.
THERE ARE NO DOWNGRADES AND UPGRADES WITH GOD - He remains the same, He will never change.
HE HAS GOOD PLANS for You!
