Our Eyes Are On You

July 20

2 Chronicles 19-20

Psalm 82:1-4

Proverbs 18:13-14

Romans 16

Our Eyes Are On You

“O Yahweh, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens?  And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the Earth?  Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can take their stand against You….O our God, will You not judge them?  For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; and we do not know what we should do, but our eyes are on You.”  2 Chronicles 20:6, 12  LSB

The armies of the Moabites, Ammonites and Edomites made a coalition and joined together against Judah.  Jehoshaphat was the king of Judah at the time.  He was the son of King Asa and reigned 25 years.  He followed in his father’s footsteps and is known for his faith, for continuing to tear down the idols in the land and for leading the people in worshipping the one true God.  He even sent priests and Levites throughout the land to teach the people the law.  He was informed that a vast army was heading toward them from beyond the Dead Sea.  Instead of gathering the people to immediately begin preparing for battle, Jehoshaphat called the people together to fast and pray.  He began his prayer acknowledging God’s sovereignty, he recalled God’s past acts of deliverance on behalf of His people, he reminded God of His promise to hear and save His people when they cried out to Him, he acknowledged their powerlessness in the face of the vast army that was approaching and he proclaimed complete reliance on God because they had no idea what to do. Instead of trying to figure it out themselves and rely on their military power, Jehoshaphat turned to God.  God responded by giving Jahaziel, one of the Levite priests, a divine revelation.  God told him, “Tomorrow go down against them…You need not fight in this battle; take your stand—stand and see the salvation of Yahweh on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem, Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for Yahweh is with you.”  2 Chronicles 20:16-17 LSB  God miraculously intervened and caused the enemy armies to turn on each other and destroy each other while Judah watched.  They didn’t have to lift a hand because the battle belonged to God. 

Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah were afraid.  If any one of those nations came against them, they would have had a difficult time defeating them, but when they joined together they knew there was no way they would be able to be victorious.  They were outnumbered and ill-equipped to stand against them.  Jehoshaphat did exactly what he needed to do.  He turned to God first.  He didn’t try everything else first and then seek God as a last resort.  Do we do that?  Is God our first call?  Do we wait till we have tried to figure it out on our own and when we have exhausted all other options then turn to Him?  Or do we pray about it and then keep trying to solve it on our own?  Or like Jehoshaphat do we humbly proclaim to God that we have no idea what to do and our eyes are on Him to help us?  God always responds to His children who seek Him in humility and faith.