A Divine Plea Bargain
by Brenda Black
“But will God really dwell on earth
with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain
you...Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for
mercy, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant
is praying in your presence...Hear from heaven, your dwelling place;
and when you hear, forgive.” (2 Chronicles 6:18-21)
Solomon's prayer of dedication incites
the Lord's mercy and blessings, but it began with an agreement: “'O
Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on
earth—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who
continue wholeheartedly in your way.'” (2 Ch. 6:14) He quotes the
Lord's commitment, made to his father David, as contingent on the
servant's obedience: “...if only your sons are careful in all they
do to walk before me according to my law, as you have done.”
Lest you think God is all about
performance before He will impart His presence, take a look at all
the ways He waits to reach into our lives and save us from our own
self destruction. The rest of the chapter addresses a truck load of
foibles to which humanity succumbs. When a man wrongs his
neighbor...When your people have been defeated...When the heavens are
shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against
you...When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew,
locusts or grasshoppers, or when enemies besiege them in any of their
cities... The list is long and harrowing, yet as Solomon cites a
litany of ways we stray, he begs for God's mercy and believes in His
faithfulness.
“Whatever disaster or disease may
come, and when a prayer or plea is made...then hear from heaven, your
dwelling place. Forgive, and deal with each man according to all he
does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of
men), so that they will fear you and walk in your ways all the time
they live in the land you gave our fathers.” (2 Ch. 6:6:28b-31)
The plea in a criminal case is the
defendant's statement pleading “guilty” or “not guilty” in
answer to the charges. In a plea bargain, an arrangement is made
between a prosecutor and a defendant whereby the defendant pleads
guilty to a lesser charge in the expectation of leniency. The
miraculous factor in God's courtroom is that no matter the crime, an
honest confession renders mercy! I think I would rather take my case
before a perfectly holy, sovereign and just God!
Lest you think God is a pushover, heed
Solomon's invitation that asks the Lord to have eyes open and ears
attentive. God is watching, as judge. But He also desires to be your
Mighty Defender, when you come clean with Him, turn it over, and let
Him be your Counselor.
“The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether
righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is
your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
“Who can discern his errors? Forgive
my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they
not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great
transgression.
“May the words of my mouth and the
meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and
my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:9-14)
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