In the United States, at times like Memorial Day or Independence Day, we often hear or read this important quote from II Chronicles 7:14:

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

We must remember that all of the citizens of the United States are not followers of Christ. Though God would be pleased if all citizens of the United States would humble themselves and pray, and seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways, we need to see the context of this passage as God speaks to Israel, His covenant people. Then we can more accurately apply this passage to our situation today.

Looking at II Chronicles 7:11-16, let us consider the passage in its context. We are discussing the dedication of the temple in Solomon's day.

"Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected. And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard [your] prayer and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears [attentive] unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually."

So God showed His commitment to establish a working relationship with His covenant people. He would bless this house of worship, where God and man would come together. Men would be able to harmonize with God and worship Him. God will be attentive to their prayers when those prayers come from hearts that are humble and repentant. God's mind and heart will focus on them, who seek Him at His house. He will not neglect them.

Today, we do not need a physical building to have this kind of intimate working relationship with God. Christ has made a way for us to worship the Father in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24; 14:6). We are not limited to any geographical location or any man-made structure. We have two aspects to consider.

Consider the believer's body in I Corinthians 6:19-20.

"What? Know [you] not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which [you] have of God, and [you] are not your own? For [you] are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

Consider the local church in I Timothy 3:14-15 & Ephesians 2:22ff (NKJV)

"These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth… you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit."

Whether we are talking about the individual believer and his body being God's temple, or if we are talking about multiple believers assembling as a church (The people, not a building, are the "house of God"), the burden of handling the sin and corruption that is in our nation must first be handled by God's people. It is we who must humble ourselves and pray and seek the Lord in prayer. We must repent and turn from our sin before we go to the unsaved / unbelieving people of our nation and try to humble them and get them to repent, pray, and seek the Lord. God wants to meet with us first. Judgment must first begin in God's house (I Peter 4:17). Then we might have His power to reach the unbelieving society around us with the gospel (II Timothy 2:22-26).