1 & 2 Chronicles Part One Deep Dive

THE PLAGUE OF GOD | NATHAN ROSS

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 

This scripture, as quoted from 2 Chronicles 7:13-15, is one that has certainly made the rounds in Christian circles this year. 2020 in Australia has been a testing time, to say the least. Tracing back to January this country has faced fires, droughts, floods, and the most recent Corona pandemic. In times such as this Christians are faced with a unique dilemma. If there is a good God who is in control over all the cosmos then why is there so much destruction and devastation? An obvious place to look for answers is the Word of God; therefore, the above scripture had gained so much traction. This scripture so clearly speaks of our current situation, right? It speaks of drought, the devastation of land, and even a plague among the population. Did Ezra (the traditional author) really write this around 400 BC or was it penned in the current year? So, since this scripture speaks of such a similar experience then it follows that the cause must be the same. That these disastrous circumstances we are facing this year are a direct result of our sin and the only solution is found in prayer and repentance. Easy, done right? Not quite. I would have to disagree with such an interpretation. The purpose of this deep dive is to suggest that this is a poor interpretation and is endangering to our perspective of the character of God. Rather with a proper exegetical lens, we see there is much more in view within this passage. 

To start with there are two necessary statements to be made. Firstly, when we are faced with dilemmas as Christians that the Word of God is the perfect place to run to for answers. I am not deconstructing the importance of the Word. But rather I would like to emphasize the importance of proper and sound biblical interpretation so we can uncover the truth to the questions we are faced with. Secondly is a brief note on sin and the state of the world. To understand the brokenness of the world is to understand the nature of sin. This brokenness not only affects individuals but the whole world itself. When we see in the Genesis story sin being introduced it was because of the deliberate disobedient actions of Adam and Eve, but this is not where it remained. Sin, by nature, will pervade its surroundings. So, in that instant when sin was introduced it didn’t only corrupt humanity but all the world too. Hence why we see so much brokenness in our environment. Therefore, the redemptive purpose of Christ and the cross was not only for humanity but for the whole cosmos, but that’s a topic for another day. So, the original sin is the cause of earthly destruction, but a poor interpretation of the 2 Chronicles passage does not suggest that. The poor interpretation suggests that our continual sin leads to God punishing us in forms or earthly destruction. And this doesn’t paint a picture of God that matches the remainder of scripture. When we understand God through his complete word, not just a few select scriptures, we see a God who seeks to bring redemption to all the world and humanity regardless of its sins and wrongdoings.  And now that these foundations are set, we can uncover what is going on in this passage. So, let’s begin. 

This passage is written in 2 Chronicles was in the context of the political state of Israel. That is, Israel lived in a community as a theocracy: a political state where God was their highest form of leadership. They still had lower levels of leadership such as priests and kings, but ultimately, they answered to God. The people of Israel were not only under God’s leadership but were also in covenant with him. A covenant was a kind of ancient agreement where two parties agreed upon mutual terms that were to be lived by. It also includes section both blessings and curses that were dependant on whether the covenant was upheld or not. And this relationship was the same between Israel and God. God had promised to bless if the people were obedient, and curses and destruction if they were not.

Now when we understand such a relationship the passage makes a lot more sense. In its context Solomon has completed the construction of his extravagant temple and is dedicating it to God who shows up and speaks to Solomon, reminding him of their covenant relationship. That if the people of Israel are to break the covenantal relationship through their sin, there will inevitably be curses and destruction that follow, it is just part of their agreement. (Go read the deep dive on Malachi, https://www.trashyourbible.com/malachi-blog/part-one-deep-dive, for a further study on this covenant relationship in context). So, the emphasis in this passage is not on the curses, but on God’s forgiveness and redemption. Under the covenant relationship if the people of Israel were to sin and be disobedient it expected and just of God to bring curses down upon his people. But he continues, stating, “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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (v.14). In no way is God obliged to forgive them or bring healing, it was not part of the covenant relationship. But God goes above and beyond and offers it up with only one condition – prayer and repentance. 

This is a perfect picture of salvation. In no way, God is obliged to offer us redemption. Us, being deep in our sins and transgressions, have been given the grace to enter the covenant with God through the doorway of prayer and repentance. So when we read such a passage in this light we don’t see the destruction and plagues as the emphasis, but rather we notice the shining light of redemption at work in the people Israel, foreshadowing our own individual salvation experience. 

Nathan Ross has a Bachelor of Theology and works at C3 College. As one of our key New Testament writers, Nathan teaches the book of Ephesians and Romans at C3 College and is a self-confessed history nerd. 

recommended

An Introduction to the Old Testament

Chronicles part One

Hosea part One