THURSDAY 22 September, 2016
Prayer for the Land
So he brought up the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from there; and they gathered the bones of those who had been hanged. They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the tomb of Kish his father. So they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God heeded the prayer for the land. - 2 Samuel 21:13-14
David gathered the bones of Saul and Jonathan along with the seven men the Gibeonites hung from Saul’s household. Saul and his son were buried in Benjamin, in Zelah, a town which was thought to be his birthplace. Rizpah’s heart must have been relieved to finally have a proper burial for her sons. God answered the prayer for the land as they did exactly what they were told to do––obedience, obedience.
Notice, in California, there is no rain––we are suffering a terrible drought. What is the reason for the land’s lack of water? Have you ever thought about that? Then again, why is it that across America and the world there are enormous tornadoes and tempests? It is not mother nature––I can tell you that. God is in control. Why then? Sin!
What does God require for the land to be healed? It is genuine humility before the Lord in prayer, true repentance and a people who would fully seek the face of their God. Then once more, He would open His ears to them, forgive their sin and heal their land. It all hinges on one word––if:
…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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land - (2 Chronicles 2:14).
Real repentance produces confession and forsaking of sin, reconciliation and restitution, separation from the world, submission to the lordship of Christ and filling of the Holy Spirit.
~Vance Havner~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!
