"Droughts 'n locusts, 'n sickness, oh my!"

It goes without saying that we deeply need a spiritual revival to help us face the crisis of today. But with so many voices vying for our attention, maybe it needs to be said louder, and stronger, and with even more conviction! This book is my attempt to do just that. It's an urgent call for spiritual restoration. It's a plea for fellow believers and fellow citizens to "pray" the price for nation-wide revival.

In the book, there's one verse from the Old Testament that I emphasize from cover to cover. It's found in 2 Chronicles 7:14. The King James Version reads ...

"If my people, who 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."

This one verse of Holy Writ encapsulates the four key ingredients of revival: humility, prayer, devotion and repentance. I argue in the book that even though this verse is not a direct promise to New Testament believers, it is, however, a universal precept or principle. In other words, this verse carries a truth that's applicable to believers in all times and in all places, which is, God responds when His people humble themselves before Him. Our LORD responds when we call upon Him, and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways. That's a principle that's woven throughout the OT and NT.

Because this verse is so powerful and brilliant and so straight forward, it can stand high and alone, the way a diamond stands high and alone on the crest of a wedding ring. 2 Chronicles 7:14 is a jewel, a sparkling action plan, and a shining reason to keep looking up.

When people sell diamonds and precious stones, they often show their wares from different angles and against various backdrops. Most would agree that a dark background is the best way to display a diamond. Why so? Because the stark contrast emphasizes the brilliance of the jewel. A diamond is radiant, and glistening; it's precious. And yet, these qualities are not fully seen and appreciated until they are put against a backdrop of darkness.

I learned many moons ago in Bible College, when it comes to proper biblical interpretation, "context is king." And when we read our "jewel verse" in the context of the entire passage, we gain a better glimpse of its true beauty and relevance for today.

Consider the context. After the people of Israel completed the construction of God's house in Jerusalem, King Solomon prays during the "dedication service." The following is an excerpt of what the king asked of the Lord:

"If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight or mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is - whatever prayer and supplication is made by any man, or by all your people Israel, who will each know his own plague and his own sorrow, and shall spread out his hands toward this house, then hear from heaven your dwelling place and forgive, and render to every man according to all his ways, whose heart you know (for you, even you only, know the hearts of the children of men), that they may fear you, to walk in your ways as long as they live in the land which you gave to our fathers." ~ 2 Chronicles 6:28-31

"If they sin against you (for there is no man who doesn't sin), and you are angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive to a land far off or near; yet if they come to their senses...saying, 'We have sinned, we have done perversely, and have dealt wickedly;"...then hear from heaven, even from your dwelling place, their prayer and their petitions, and maintain their cause, and forgive your people who have sinned against you. Now, my God, let, I beg you, your eyes be open, and let your ears be attentive to the prayer that is made in this place." ~ 2 Chronicles 6:36-37, 39-40

After the king of Israel prays on the behalf of his people, we read in chapter seven, verse one: "Now when Solomon had finishing praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and Yahweh's glory filled the house." And verse 11 tells us: Thus Solomon finished Yahweh's house and the king's house; and he successfully completed all that came into Solomon's heart to make in Yahweh's house and in his own house."

Okay. Now that we have a better grasp of the context, let's move the backstory closer to our "jewel." Just two more verses to go. Chapter seven, verses 12: "Then Yahweh appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him, 'I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for myself for a house of sacrifice.' God tells the king that his prayer has been received. Now please notice what God tells Solomon in verse 13:

"If I shut up the sky so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people..."! Stop right there! Look around. Listen. Do you hear it? "Droughts and locusts, and sickness, oh my! Droughts and locusts, and sickness, oh my!"

In the June 10, 2019 issue of "The New Humanitarian," the lack of rain has caused a drought in Africa leaving 45 million people in need across 14 countries, from Angola to Zimbabwe. Australia just came out of a one-in-a-thousand-year drought in late 2009. And according to the World Resources Institute, 54% of India faces high to extremely high water stress. Our vulnerability to global drought grows more acute with each passing day.

Furthermore, it was reported in E&E News on January 31, 2020, "Locust swarms of biblical proportions are threatening crops across a wide swath of Africa and southwest Asia." Weather.com called the locust swarms "unprecedented." NPR, February 21, 2020, "Why are swarms of locusts wreaking havoc in East Africa?"

And now we have the global coronavirus crisis. "Droughts and locusts, and sickness, oh my!" So, it's against this dismal backdrop that God gives us a radiant and precious jewel, 2 Chronicles 7:14 - "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

When seen in its proper context, this verse is a bright, shining light in our darkest night. As I state in the book, "God's people in all nations have taken hold of this one powerful verse as a principle of revival, a pattern for restoration, a catalyst for change, and a spark to ignite the flames of renewal." America must embrace this principle today!

But if we don't, I also share this admonition at the end of the book. It's a somber quotation from Daniel Webster, a dynamic national leader from the nineteenth century. He warns ...

"If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity."

The Rise or Fall of America!

Note: The title has been changed to The Spiritual Awakening of America: How God Uses Pain to Prepare Us for Revival. Click on title to order today!