Humble Themselves
Date: January 10, 2023
Bible Scripture Verse
2 Chronicles 7:14 - "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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
Listen for God’s Voice
Heavenly Father, Help me to recognize the ways in which I may be turning from your path and guide me back towards righteousness. May I learn to humble myself and seek your face in all that I do. Please grant me the wisdom and strength to turn away from wickedness and towards your love and grace. Amen.
Explore History – Who wrote it, when and to what audience? Key people in the story?
2 Chronicles was likely written by the prophet Ezra in the 5th century BC. The book is a record of the history of the Israelites, with a focus on the kings of Judah. It covers a period of time from the beginning of Solomon's reign to the fall of the Kingdom of Judah to the Babylonians.
The key people in the story are the Israelites, who are referred to as "my people" in the verse. The verse is a promise from God to the Israelites that if they humble themselves, pray, seek his face, and turn away from their wicked ways, he will hear their prayers, forgive their sins, and heal their land. The verse is intended to encourage the Israelites to repent and return to a right relationship with God.
Study and Savor – Key Words
Humble themselves and pray
Seek God’s face
Turn from their wicked ways
God will forgive their sin
Summarize and Share
This verse tells us about the importance of humility, prayer, and repentance in our relationship with God. It reminds us that if we seek God's face and turn away from our wicked ways, he will hear us and forgive us too, just like he did for the Israelites.
What does humble ourselves before God mean? To me it means recognizing my own limitations, imperfections and sin. It means I need to recognize that God is all-powerful, and all-knowing, and that I am just an ordinary person who is dependent on Him for everything.
So we are to humble ourselves, pray and seek his guidance, and to strive to live in accordance with his will. We need to confess our sins and turn away from wrongdoing in order to maintain a right relationship with God. We can and will draw closer to God and experience his forgiveness and healing in our own lives if we just listen to Him.
Bible Cross Reference
James 4:10 - "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
Psalm 34:18 - "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Isaiah 57:15 - "For this is what the high and lofty One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite."
2 Timothy 2:25 - "Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth."