2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
[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.
There’s that “Famous Verse” again! Seems like every preacher I listen to has used that verse in a message sometime in the past year or so. And it is true, God always honors His promises. The problem is God’s promises extend both ways. If you take that verse on face value not knowing anything else that was going on in David’s Kingdom at that time, one would think Israel was in a state of gross immoral sin. Now while it is always important to acknowledge that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, it must be pointed out that Israel as a nation was not in “Gross Immoral Sin” at this time. As a matter of fact, when Solomon took over the throne, Israel was actually at its zenith as a nation, not because of Solomon but because of his father David.
Israel was powerful and successful because King David had humbled himself and sought God’s heart. In short, David did what God asks all mankind to do. David proved his love for God by repenting of all his mistakes (sins). So, God honored His promise that one day a son of David would build an everlasting kingdom.
But it wasn’t Solomon! Solomon, the wisest man in the world, actually nearly messed it all up!
Now pay attention to the rest of the context regarding that often quoted famous 2 Chronicles 7:14.
2 Chronicles 7:12-16 KJV
[12] And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. [13] 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;
[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.
Please take note of verse 12 above, in which God puts a caveat on Solomon’s temple, when God calls it “an house of sacrifice”. Not a permanent dwelling place, but a temporary abode in which God’s Glory only comes at prescribed times (See Isaiah 66:1 among other places).
Keep paying attention:
[15] Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attentive unto the prayer that is made in this place. [16] 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.
NOTICE what God says in verse 16, "For now" have I chosen:
Don't let the word "perpetually confuse you. In this case, it is a temporal reference, meaning a general time period. In other words, it is conditional. Read the rest of God's dream conversation with Solomon, which in context proves that perpetual is conditional upon Solomon and Israel keeping God’s Law. If they don’t, God will allow the penalty clause to take effect upon Israel.
2 Chronicles 7:17-22 KJV
[17] And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; [18] Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel. [19] But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; [20] Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. [21] And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and unto this house? [22] And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST
Shortly after the Solomon's temple dedication, Solomon begins to forsake God! Which sets in motion the penalty clause in God's Covenant. The causal actions of Solomon's sin is detailed below.
1 Kings 11:1-13 KJV
[1] But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; [2] Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. [3] And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. [4] For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. [5] For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. [6] And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord , and went not fully after the Lord , as did David his father. [7] Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. [8] And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. [9] And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, [10] And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded. [11] Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. [12] Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. [13] Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.
FYI: Verse 13 is the “sure mercies of David”, because David was a man after God’s own heart and repented of his sins offering the same mercy God offered David unto Saul’s descendant’s Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth.

After Solomon's death the kingdom of Israel is split or divided. We now have Judah and Israel Solomon's son Rehoboam reigns as king of Judah, which contains Jerusalem and the temple, plus later the tribe of Benjamin also joins with Judah Jeroboam, a servants son reigns over ten tribes.
2 Peter 3:9 KJV
[9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
More to come…
Note: Salvation is simple! But the story leading up to our Savior’s atoning sacrifice on the cross is very detailed. Especially for people, that are “Too smart for their own good’!

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