“O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.” 2 Chronicles 20:12
Enemy armies had conspired and enjoined each other, mounted up, and were on their way to destroy the people of God (read this fascinating chapter – 2 Chronicles 20). King Jehoshaphat was informed of his enemies approaching and was smitten with fear as were all of God’s people. The enemy overwhelmingly outnumbered Judah. If the LORD didn’t intervene, their demise was sure. The danger of death was looming, closing in on them. What did the King Jehoshaphat do? He cried out to the LORD in desperation. In essence, this God-fearing leader said “LORD we don’t know what to do! The odds are completely against us! This enemy is much more powerful and insurmountable! But LORD, our eyes are upon Thee O GOD! We will unceasingly seek and praise Thee! We will cling to You O LORD our God! You alone are our Deliverer! God forbid that we commit spiritual adultery by looking to anyone else, including ourselves! We wait upon Thee O LORD. We are fervently seeking You LORD and we know You alone will deliver us! Nothing is impossible with You our LORD!”
“… neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.” 2 Chronicles 20:12
In other words "LORD Jesus, this situation is impossible, but you are the God of the impossible, so we look to You LORD!" Help Jesus! The LORD Jesus says:
“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” Mark 9:23
Ever felt overwhelmed? Do you have a situation that is causing you to feel snowed under even now? Do you feel displaced and incapacitated? Is your situation seemingly hopeless? Does this very season find you in dire straits? Fret not beloved saint! Take courage in your God. You are not alone! Even when all men would forsake you, the LORD is standing with you (2 Timothy 4:16-18). Your Redeemer lives and is undertaking your cause. He sees all – the big picture – and is working all these things together for your ultimate good and His glory (Rom 8:28-29).
David, the mighty psalmist and king of Israel, was often attacked, persecuted, and hunted by the enemies of the LORD whom he served. In those situations which appeared overwhelming, impossible, and insurmountable in his limited human site, David cried:
“I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalms 27:13-14
Because you have saving faith, your faith is on trial and the LORD is going to see you through!
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:6-7
Being broken and desperate is the place to be with God.
“Blessed are the poor (desperate for God; spiritually impoverished) in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6
Jesus, please bless us with a heart after You! (Acts 13:22) Unite my heart to fear Thy holy name LORD! (Psalms 86:11)
Bill was Right!
Sitting with my good friend Bill a few months ago, with force and deep hurt and anger I told him that I was done! I was giving up and told him that I was at the end of my rope in the situation I had been enduring and toiling with for a long season. To my surprise Bill looked at me and just broke out into an uncanny and uncontrolled laughter. It was seemingly unbefitting to what I had just told him. There I was, totally distraught, isolated in hopelessness. Bill begins to laugh nearly uncontrollably. He caught me completely off guard with this reaction and then he replied “Todd, this is the exact place to be! You are right smack in the middle of where the LORD wants you! Only now that you are at an end in yourself can the LORD take over and bring the miracles you need!” Bill continued with “Brother, I have seen it over and over that when someone is where you are, the LORD is about to do something big!” Bill was overcome with the joy of the LORD and it outweighed my determination to throw the towel in concerning the seemingly impossible situation I was in.
Bill was right! Jesus truly is our Deliverer.
Friend, you may be in a desperate place at this very hour (season) of your life. This writer, frail, simple, and in need of so much more of Christ, knows exactly this place. God will see you through precious saint. A distressed place is a good place (Matt. 5:3, 6). God has allowed these things in our lives to do a deeper work inside of us which will ultimately result in Him receiving glory and for our good (Romans 8:28). The LORD specializes in hearing and delivering His saints who are more than precious in His holy eyes.
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them ALL.” Psalms 34:19
King Jehoshaphat and God’s people were trapped. They were in big trouble if the LORD didn’t do a miracle as only He could do. Do you think the LORD specializes in showing His infinite might on the behalf of His children? God’s children were cornered with no possible way to defend themselves against this mighty and enormous army that was marching their way with a vengeance. “But” they set their affections upon the LORD and He delivered them as He who is unchanging promises for all of His beloved children. He will do the same for you if you will but cry out to Him as they did.
“O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.” 2 Chronicles 20:12
Are your eyes set upon Him? Are your heart affections gazing adoringly at Him who is your LORD, mighty God, Deliverer, Salvation, Alpha and Omega, and Savior?
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4
The covenant people of the LORD recognized that they were helpless in themselves but that their unchanging LORD and Savior loved them and was ALL-powerful and ALL-mighty. Jahaziel was moved by the Holy Ghost to encourage and tell the people of God – “for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” Watch this:
“And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground (worship, thanksgiving, humility): and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.” 2 Chronicles 20:15-19
Does somebody need to throw those hands up in the air toward Heaven and shout to God with the voice of triumph!? No one is bigger than your LORD and God or even to be compared to Him! He is the only God, Creator, Judge, Deliverer, Savior, and soon coming King of all kings and Judge of all judges. Your sentence comes forth from His holy presence and that’s all that matters. All else will be soon vanquished for ever and ever!
“Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.” Psalms 17:2
Child of God, What do you do when seemingly impossible circumstances surround you? Like King Jehoshaphat and the people we read about here, we should learn to cry out to God and resolutely announce to Him that we do not know what to do and that our eyes are upon Him.
“I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalms 34:4
How many times do we find ourselves without the answer? Without the solution? Without hope? At the end of our rope? What do we do in those pinch time valleys of decision? From now on, may God bless each of us to cry out to Him – to depend upon and seek His holy face, and know He will deliver!
At this time, in your heart, you may be saying “LORD….
• “I have a sin that is plaguing my life that I can’t seem to overcome!”
• “I need fellowship with other believers! Please send me some Jesus!”
• “My finances are doomed!”
• “My rent or mortgage is past due!”
• “My child(ren) are not walking with Jesus! Please help LORD!”
• “I feel so lonely!”
• “My spouse is not doing right!”
• “I am facing a horrendous legal battle. Please help me Jesus!”
No matter what you may be facing or will face in the coming days – the LORD is greater than that problem no matter how big or impossible it appears. Always remember these words of hope our Savior left us with:
“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:27 (memory verse of truth)
PRAYER: Jesus, You are the LORD Almighty and I look to You this very moment! I love You my LORD. Thank You for creating, dying for, and finding me, and for bringing me into Your kingdom. Right this moment, if never before, I lay my life in Thy holy hands and rest in You alone and not in my own ability to manipulate the situation I am currently facing. Release me from all fear and the torment it brings. I trust You LORD and know that You truly are working all these things I am enduring for your glory and my good. Please break me deeper and multiply Your grace and the fear of the LORD in me. I agree with Your Word which tells me that the joy of the LORD is my strength! I shout unto God with the voice of triumph because I know You alone have given me and all Your children the victory! Amen Jesus!
