2 Chronicles 7

“When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying: ‘For He is good, for His mercy endures forever.’”  2 Chronicles 7:3 (NKJV)

There is a lot of talk in our Christian culture these days about God’s GRACE.  His grace is a good thing, indeed.  By His grace, we are saved when we faithful place our trust in Jesus’ atoning work instead of our own.  (Eph 2:8-9)  Often, we hear the words “grace & mercy” put together.  They go well together, but they are not the same thing, as if they were twins.  Grace and mercy are more like cousins.  GRACE is when we get something we do not deserve.  If I gave you a fancy watch, that would be gracious.  Mercy is when we don’t get what we do deserve.  For instance, if you stole a fancy watch, the owner would show you mercy by not calling the cops.  So, our salvation is a combination of both God’s grace and His mercy towards us.  When we enter into salvation, we 1) do not get what we deserve (eternal separation from God) for falling short of God’s perfect standard, while, at the same time, we 2) receive the gracious gift of atonement purchased by Jesus’ righteousness.

When the Temple was dedicated, the people did not sing of God’s grace.  They sang of His goodness and mercy.  Why?  They knew their guilt; each fell short of God’s perfect standard.  And when they saw that fire fall and consume the animal sacrifice (representing their sin, which leads to death), they knew that only His mercy could have redirected that fire from them to the sacrifice.  You know, sometimes people get roasted when God’s fire falls!  (Leviticus 10:1-3; 2 Kings 1:10)

God, in His grace, allowed the Temple to be built.  In His mercy, He allowed people to make right their relationships with Him.  The Lord knew on the day the Temple was dedicated that Israel would eventually forsake His grace and need His merciful reparation.  Immediately after confirming His satisfaction with the Temple and affirming His willingness to be met there, God gave the people very clear terms of how they must return to Him after rejecting His Word.  It is like receiving a new car as a gift for finishing rehab and immediately being told how to get it back after it is impounded when you drive drunk again.

“Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night and said to him: ‘I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven, and there is no rain, command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways.  I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.’”  2 Chronicles 7:12-15 (NKJV)

Take heed, America!  We have despised God’s grace.  I hope people will seek His mercy; it may endure forever, but it is only offered for a limited time.  (Isaiah 55:6-9)