 |
| Home | The Meaning of 'Faith's Confession' |
| Faith's Confession of God's Word |
|
| Silencing Unbelief |
|
| 'Acceptable' Speech Before God |
| 2 Chronicles
6:24-31 |
| 24 "Or if Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and return and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this temple, 25 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave them and their fathers. 26 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, 27 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance. 28 When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is: 29 whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows his own burden and his own grief, and spreads out his hands to this temple: 30 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and give to everyone according to his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men). 31 that they may fear You, to walk in Your ways as long as they live in the land which You gave to our fathers. |
In Solomon's prayer of dedication, he points to the importance of confessing the Lord's name (v.24). The power-packed word "confess" opens a great truth concerning God's hearing and answering prayers. It is an appropriate word in Christian tradition, historically used to describe a position in faith or belief. To confess belief is to say "I openly receive God's promise and choose to take my stand here, humbly, on God's promises and in worship of His Person." Yadah, the Hebrew word for "confess," contains and supports this idea. Derived from yad, meaning "an open or extended hand," the focus is on reaching to take hold of. Just as a closed hand or fist may represent struggle or rebellion, an open hand indicates peace, submitted service or surrender. As Solomon comes with lifted, open hands (v.12), he comes in peaceful submission to God. Yadah also involves worship-filled confessing of God's faithfulness with thanksgiving and praise. This is the true spirit of the idea of "faith's confession of God's Word": 1) to take a stand on what God says; 2) to speak what is believed with worship and praise; 3) to do so in the humble spirit of faith in God's Person and promise. Such a stance will never be loveless or arrogant, and neither Earth nor hell can successfully protest this confession of faith in heaven's power. |
|