Definition: When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; [yet] if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them;

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from 2 Chronicles 6:26. It’s a really important passage about God’s love and forgiveness, even when we mess up. Here’s the explanation in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a situation where Israel (the nation) has been sinning against God – they've disobeyed Him. But God doesn’t just punish them; He offers a chance for forgiveness and reconciliation. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain…” - This is a metaphor. It means God is withdrawing His protection – He’s stopping the rain (a symbol of God's blessing) because of our disobedience. It’s like when we stop playing outside in the rain – it’s not about us being punished right now , but that something bad is happening. “…because they have sinned against thee;” - This is a direct statement: "They have disobeyed me." “Sin” means doing wrong, breaking God's rules, or disrespecting Him. “[Yet] if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin…” – This is the key part . It’s a plea for forgiveness and repentance. “Pray towards this place” : This means to look to God – to turn our hearts and minds to Him, to seek His help. “Confess thy name” : This is a big one! It means to admit we’re wrong, to acknowledge that we've messed up, and to take responsibility for our actions. It’s like saying “I know I was wrong.” “Turn from their sin…” : This means to stop doing what we were wrong to do – to abandon the bad behavior. So, what does it all mean? God is offering a chance for forgiveness and reconciliation. Even though we’ve made mistakes, if we show sincere remorse, confess our sins, and actively change our ways, God can still forgive us. It’s like saying, “I messed up, but I'm willing to try again.” In short, it’s a message of hope – that even when things are bad, God is still willing to have a chance for us to turn back and be forgiven. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail with an example? Talk about the context of this verse within the larger story of Israel’s history?