My people, My name

My people, My name

A familiar verse from 2Chronicles 7:14, is cited by Christians and often used to inspire people to humble themselves, turn away from sin, and make prayers for forgiveness and healing. The reading is: “If My people which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My presence, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 15 Now Mine eyes shall be open, and Mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this Place.”

This statement was originally made to Israel when the House of the Lord, was built in Jerusalem, the place which God had chosen to place His name (2Chronicles 6:6). King Solomon had built and dedicated that “House,” and God accepted it as a “place” of sacrifice, according to what was written in 2Chronicles 7:12 (I have chosen this place to Myself for an House of sacrifice).

Solomon had made many prayers and offered many sacrifices at the dedication ceremony, even 22,000 oxen, and an 120,000 sheep (2Chronicles 7:5). At that dedication service Solomon prayed for God’s blessing, and fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the House” (2Chronicles 7:1).

Solomon’s many prayers for Israel and the House of the Lord, as read in 2Chronicles chapter six, were specifically answered when the Lord appeared to Solomon by night and said unto him, "I have heard thy prayer” (2Chronicles 7:12). Those few verses I have given, are an appropriate background for the promise given the nation of Israel; the people called by His name.

Israel was the name God gave to Jacob in Genesis 32:28; thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel, for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. From such bible verses we have learned that the Hebrew term “EL” is a noun used to refer to God, and since EL is attached as suffix to the word Israel, we see a Hebrew construction which implies that Jacob being renamed Israel , means that Jacob is called by God’s name.

Beginning in Genesis 46:8, a list is given of the names of the sons of Jacob who came into Egypt, and in that same verse, all of Jacob’s descendants are rightfully called the children of Israel. Repeatedly, the Hebrew Bible makes reference to the children of Israel, and the prophets use the term Jacob and Israel interchangeably in many verses (see Isaiah 41:8). Thus, not only is Jacob called by God’s name, but all his seed line by virtue of the “EL” designation IsraEL , are the people called by his name.

Solomon, at the Temple dedication, was addressing the entire nation in regard to worship, sacrifice, placement of the Divine Name, God’s house, and trouble of any kind coming upon the nation. He related that prayer for help should be initiated by humility and turning from evil. He was assured by the Lord, that prayers made by the repentant nation would be heard.

Christians often borrow the verse of 2Chronicles 7:14, and apply it to their own agenda, or need. Maybe they feel justified in such interpretation, because of verses like Matthew 18:20: For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

With some, it doesn’t seem to matter that they take a verse out of context. I am saying that first and foremost, the people called by God’s name is Israel; and that it is the bible based nation to which the promises first apply. God assured Solomon that prayers made in the House of the Lord in Jerusalem by a humble people, confessing sins and turning away from them, would be heard. That is good news.

Israel is not destined to destruction and failure. Israel will not be overcome by hateful enemies.

Pestilence and plague will not obliterate the holy people. When Israel humbles itself and returns to God’s teaching, its prayers will be heard and its enemies shall not prevail against them. God will take away Israel’s reproach and shame when they return to Him.

The Temple was important to Solomon and Israel, and it was important to God, because it was there that God chose to place His name forever. It was so important that scripture called it simply the house (הַבָּיִת - ha bayit). This designation is noted in 2Chronicles 7:1 and 7:3. In that same chapter, it is called 4 times the House of the Lord (בֵּית יְהוָֹה- bait Yehovah) as follows: 2Chronicles 7:2, 7:7 and twice in 2Chronicles 7:11. It is also called the the House of God in 2Chronicles 7:5 (בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים-bait Elohim). God simply calls it this Place and this House (הַמָקוֹם הַבָּיִת הַזֶה- הַזֶה hamakom hazeh, habayit ha zeh) in 2Chronicles 7:12 and 2Chronicles 7:16.

Lastly, in chapter 7, it is called a House of Sacrifice ( bait zavach - בֵּית זַבַח) in 2Chronicles 7:12.

Thus, in chapter 7 we have: the House,
House of the Lord,
House of God,
this House,
this Place
House of sacrifice.

Every reference is specifically to the house of worship of the nation of Israel, located in Jerusalem, where God designated that His name be placed. It is also implied in 2Chronicles 6:40 and 2Chronicles 7:15, that the newly dedicated “House” be a House of Prayer.

In Second Chronicles chapter 6, Solomon’s prayer of dedication requested that prayers for forgiveness be heard and justice be given for God’s servants in recompensing the wicked. Likewise, as follows: And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this House; Then hear Thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of they people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which Thou gavest to them and to their fathers, (2Chronicles 6:24-25).

These verses bring hope to Israel, and to all the world Jewry, in a time when different hateful organizations like Hamas, and the PLO, would try to uproot Israel and Jews from the land God gave to the descendants of Jacob for ever. In spite of thousands of rockets being randomly fired by Hamas into Israel’s civilian population, with intent to wound and destroy Israelis, God will continue to sustain Israel in spite of the hardships inflicted upon them by both enemies and well meaning friends.

Truly Israel has, and is yet suffering much for the sake of the Divine Name, and the Divine Promises. It’s hardly known among Christians that Israel is written by scripture as God’s suffering servants in numerous verses (see Leviticus 25:42 and Leviticus 25:55). Although those verse refer to the plural form (servants), there are other verse locations that talk about Israel being God’s servant in the singular sense, as in Isaiah 41:8, 41:9, 44:21, etc.).

The Hebrew form ( avdi- - עַבְדִּי), is indeed singular reference to Israel, the lineage of Jacob, and the servant of Yehovah.

Many verses like these shown, are the reason why Jews believe that the famous verses in Isaiah 53, relate to Israel as God’s suffering servant, rather than to Yeshua (Jesus). Certainly, the case can be well made for the Jewish contention, by using many Hebrew Bible verses. We Christians take the New Testament as our source for Jesus as being the suffering servant, but with Jews, they take Old Testament verses and amply prove their contention that the he and him verses of Isaiah don’t contain the name Jesus, while in the servant passages of the Hebrew Bible, the servant is usually always named (such as Abraham, Jacob, Israel, David, etc.).

Reading from our Christian Bible, and taking the comments therein by faith, is our interpretive right and privilege, but it is not appropriate to wrest the Hebrew scriptures, and deny dual fulfillments of many prophetic verses, which happens so often in Christian circles. We need always to avoid certain exegesis which detracts from a simple and plain text statement.

In this time, Israel is yet the nation of God’s choosing in the world. We dare not take from them the right to pray, and to assemble and to humble themselves and seek God’s Presence (face). God has not forsaken them for ever, for it is written in Psalm 147:19- He sheweth His word unto Jacob, His statutes and judgments unto Israel. 20 He hath not dealt so with any nation, and as for His judgments, they have not known them. Halleluyah!

The people called by His name are Israel. They have suffered much under Faraoh and other evil regimes. Adolph Hitler tried to destroy Jews with a Holocaust. Now public opinion of the nations is turned against Israel for defending itself from wicked and hateful regimes. But I daresay that God will preserve Israel in spite of the suffering heaped upon them by the raging goyim.

Israel still has the open option of prayer and return, Not only the return to the land as foretold, but return to the teachings of Moses; return to the Torah of the Lord. This is what the last day Elijah will call for as stated in Malachi: Return unto Me and I will return unto you. Remember you the law of Moses My servant. which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold I send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of Yehovah; and he shall turn the heart.........

There is yet great hope for Israel, and the message of the hour is to be announced - If My people which are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face ---.

Yes, we can borrow those verses and use them as a pattern for our prayers, but, may we never forget in these troubling times, that the Lord spoke those promises to his treasured, holy people, the nation of Israel, for their time of need and forgiveness.

The Temple, the House, does not now fully exist (2009), yet Jews still make prayers at the Place where it once stood. The existing wall is properly known as the Western Wall, but has been known in time past as the wailing wall. Jews know that the existing wall is a place of prayer, because of verses made in the prophet-king Solomon’s dedication of God’s House. This is the Place in Israel where the Lord chose to establish His name. It was here that the people called by His name (Israel), were told that humility, repentance of sin, and seeking the Lord, would bring help from heaven in all possible situations. We agree. Shaalu shalom Yirushalayim (pray for the peace of Jerusalem).

In this time when Israel has finally decided to make an incursion into Gaza, after having suffered thousands of rocket attacks into its territory, and having concluded that the Hamas rockets attacks must be eliminated, we offer prayers for the brave Israeli troops who are the true freedom fighters of the conflict. And, we also offer prayers for their injuries and wounds and grieving families. May all non combatants who have become victims of such conflict, find relief and assistance.

Unlike their enemies, Israel has tried always to avoid targeting the innocent. For that and many other reasons, they hold the upper moral hand and sensitivity for the masses. They deserve our support and prayers.