2 Chronicles 6:22-27: a reflection

22“If a man sins against his neighbor, and an oath is laid on him to cause him to swear, and he comes and swears before your altar in this house, 23then hear from heaven, act, and judge your servants, bringing retribution to the wicked, to bring his way on his own head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness. 24“If your people Israel are struck down before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and they turn again and confess your name, and pray and make supplication before you in this house, 25then hear from heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again to the land which you gave to them and to their fathers. 26“When the sky is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and confess your name, and turn from their sin when you afflict them, 27then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk, and send rain on your land, which you have given to your people for an inheritance.

In his prayer at the dedication of the temple, Solomon anticipates the times when the people will sin and suffer for it, defeated by enemies or afflicted by drought; and he asks God, in those times, to hear and forgive. If they turn again and confess your name, and pray and make supplication before you, then hear from heaven, and forgive the sin of your people, and bring them again to the land. Solomon does not presume the people will never sin; he counts on God's readiness to forgive and restore those who, having sinned, turn back to him in repentance. God's hearing and forgiving await the penitent who turn again to him.

Notice the pattern Solomon counts on: when they turn again, confess, and pray, God will hear and forgive and restore. He assumes the people will sin and suffer for it; but he also counts on God's readiness, when they turn back, to hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and restore them. The turning back, the confessing, the praying, are met by God's forgiving and restoring. Solomon's confidence rested not on the people's never sinning, but on God's faithfulness to forgive and restore the penitent who turn again to him. The way back was always open: turn again, confess, pray, and God would hear and forgive.

That is worth taking to heart, for God is ready to hear, forgive, and restore us when we turn back to him in repentance. We sin, and suffer for it, and can feel that we have forfeited our place with God, that there is no way back; but Solomon counted on God's readiness to forgive and restore those who turn again, confess, and pray. The way back is open: God hears the penitent, forgives their sin, and restores them. When you have sinned and suffered for it, do not think there is no way back; turn again to God, confess, and pray, and he is ready to hear, forgive, and restore. Turn back to God in repentance when you have sinned, confessing and praying, trusting his readiness to hear, forgive, and restore, as Solomon counted on God to forgive his people when they turned again to him; for God is ready to forgive and restore the penitent, and the way back to him is always open to those who turn again, confess, and pray.

Lord, in his prayer at the dedication of the temple, Solomon anticipates the times when the people will sin and suffer for it, defeated by enemies or afflicted by drought; and he asks you, in those times, to hear and forgive. If they turn again and confess your name, and pray and make supplication before you, then hear from heaven, and forgive the sin of your people, and bring them again to the land. Solomon does not presume the people will never sin; he counts on your readiness to forgive and restore those who turn back to you in repentance. Show me the pattern Solomon counts on: when they turn again, confess, and pray, you will hear and forgive and restore. He assumes the people will sin; but he also counts on your readiness, when they turn back, to hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and restore them. Solomon's confidence rested not on the people's never sinning, but on your faithfulness to forgive and restore the penitent. The way back was always open. Take that to my heart, for you are ready to hear, forgive, and restore me when I turn back to you in repentance. I sin, and suffer for it, and can feel that I have forfeited my place with you, that there is no way back; but Solomon counted on your readiness to forgive and restore those who turn again. When I have sinned and suffered for it, keep me from thinking there is no way back; help me turn again to you, Lord, confess, and pray, trusting your readiness to hear, forgive, and restore.