Turn - Max Lucado [0]
applauding your faith, vision and leadership.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
TURN #1 Toward God’s Glory
TURN #2 Toward God in Prayer
TURN #3 Toward God’s Word
TURN #4 Toward God in Repentance
CONCLUSION
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
NOTES
“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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
(2 Chronicles 7:14)
INTRODUCTION
Solomon beamed. This was the greatest day of his life—arguably the greatest day in the history of Israel. The temple, the long-awaited temple, the vision of his father David, the dream of his ancestors, the temple of Israel was finally complete. The work of 70,000 laborers, 80,000 stonecutters, and 3,600 foremen finished. Pure gold covered parts of the interior. Precious inlaid stones sparkled. The ark of the covenant inhabited the Holy of Holies. From the golden altar to the woven curtains the work was finished.
ONLY THE PRESENCE OF GOD WAS MISSING.
SO SOLOMON REQUESTED IT.
In a passionate prayer of dedication, the king cried out.
“Arise, O LORD God, to Your renting place, You and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests, O LORD God, he clothed with salvation. And let Your saints rejoice in goodness.”
(2 CHRONICLES 6:41, NKJV)
The king of Israel requested the arrival of the King of the universe. And how did God respond? “When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple” (2 Chronicles 7:1).
God Himself entered the temple. The people fell face-first on the pavement, declaring, “He is good; his love endures forever” (7:3). They stayed, not for one day, or two, but for fifteen days. They ate. They worshiped. They prayed and then, finally, “[Solomon] sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad in heart for the good things the LORD had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel” (2 Chronicles 7:10).
Solomon retreated to his palace, probably anticipating a welcome rest.
But God had other plans.
In the privacy of the royal chambers, God spoke again. “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. 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” (2 Chronicles 7:12—13).
Shut up the heavens? Command locusts? Why would God use such language? Why the harsh words? Because he heard the prayer of Solomon. In his prayer of dedication Solomon had pleaded,
“When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them.”
(2 CHRONICLES 6:26, NKJV)
The king understood the frailty of people’s faith. And he knew God’s justice does not slumber forever. God chastens His children. And when it awakens, Solomon in essence prayed, and when You chasten, call us home.
God said yes. And more than yes. He answered Solomon—and men and women down through the millennia—
in what has become one of the most beloved verses in the Bible:
“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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
(2 CHORNICLES 7:14)
What stirs God to heal a land?
What conditions trigger refreshing rains?
What prompts the Almighty to cure a country?
The answer is the same today as it was in Solomon’s time. God simply asks us to turn. He asks us…
TO TURN FROM SELF-PROMOTION TO GOD-PROMOTION (“CALLED BY MY NAME”).
TO TURN FROM SELF-RELIANCE TO GOD-DEPENDENCE (“HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY”).
TO TURN FROM SELF-DIRECTION TO GOD-DIRECTION (“SEEK MY FACE”).
TO TURN FROM SELF-SERVICE TO REPENTANCE (“TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS”).
WHEN WILL GOD HEAL THE LAND?
WHEN PEOPLE TURN BACK