****** 2 Chronicles 20:1-13 LORD Our Eyes are Upon Thee

LORD Our Eyes are Upon Thee

2 Chronicles 20:1–13 (NRSV)

1 After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; already they are at Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi). 3 Jehoshaphat was afraid; he set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the towns of Judah they came to seek the Lord. 5 Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 6 and said, “O Lord, God of our ancestors, are you not God in heaven? Do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In your hand are power and might, so that no one is able to withstand you. 7 Did you not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? 8 They have lived in it, and in it have built you a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house, and before you, for your name is in this house, and cry to you in our distress, and you will hear and save.’ 10 See now, the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— 11 they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession that you have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment upon them? For we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

As with many passages dealing with the nation of Judah, we once again find them in the midst of a desperate situation. The enemy is advancing; Judah’s resources are limited, and King Jehoshaphat realized that without the help of the Lord they would not survive. We all face difficulties in life. Some seem like a small inconvenience while others come suddenly, without warning, and we wonder how we will ever survive. In these times of difficulty and despair we either need a means of escape or the courage and wisdom to weather the storm and overcome . At times we are afforded neither of these. Sometimes we find ourselves in a situation that is impossible to escape and we lack the inner strength and wisdom to deal with our adversity. At times like this we need One who is able to deliver us from the storm or secure us while we remain in it . Judah faced such a situation. They did not have the resources to overcome or escape the enemy’s advance and they did not have the courage or wisdom within themselves to overcome. Unlike many before him, Jehoshaphat responded in a way that brought deliverance . We need to learn these valuable principles if we are to experience victory. I want to preach on the thought: LORD Our Eyes are Upon Thee.

I. The Opposition of Judah (1-2) – These verses reveal the enormity of the situation that Judah faced. This was not a passing breeze of opposition; it was a strong gale filled with adversity.

Let’s consider Judah’s opposition.

A. Their Identity (1-2a) – Judah was facing an advance of the Moabites, the Ammonites, and a great multitude from beyond the sea in Syria. We do not have exact numbers, but we do know that three different nations had risen up against Judah to overthrow them.

 Sometimes we face a trial that is limited to one particular situation or circumstance . At other times we feel as if we are facing a full onslaught of many difficulties at once. These trials and hardships are different and changing, but sometimes we just feel overwhelmed by the pressure of spiritual attacks, troubles at home, on the job, with finances, relationships, health issues, etc.

B. Their Invasion (2b) B. Their Invasion (2b) – We find that the enemy was already in Hazazon – tamar, which is in En-gedi. This was a place located about 25 miles south-east of Jerusalem. The enemy had invaded the homeland . They were approaching Jerusalem at an alarming rate. The battle was not going to be fought on foreign soil, but right there at home.

 I know that there are those who appear to look for trouble, but sometimes trouble comes to us. We don’t have to be out among the world, living in sin, to face difficulties . In fact, it seems as if trouble continues to invade our land. We no longer have the luxury of assuming that we will never face the issues that larger cities or other people face. Trouble has come to where we are !

I. The Opposition of Judah (1-2)

II. The Supplication of Jehoshaphat (3-10) – Here we discover what separated the reign of Jehoshaphat from the reign of many other kings in Judah. When trouble came, he knew where to turn . Let’s take a moment to consider the aspects of Jehoshaphat’s prayer.

Notice: A. The Urgency (3) – Jehoshaphat wasted little time when receiving the news that the enemy was approaching. He didn’t call for his advisors. He didn’t call together a meeting of the king’s cabinet. He immediately began to call upon the Lord . He knew that they were in a desperate situation and God was the only One who could supply their need.

 As I consider the world around us and the opposition that we face on a continual basis, I wonder what it will take for us to sense the urgency and begin to call on the Lord . The world has nothing to offer. Government does not have the solution for our problems. Religion does not have the answers. Society certainly has nothing to offer. God is our only help and He is our only hope .

 How bad must things get before we sense the need to call upon the Lord? How many homes have to be destroyed? How many lives have to end in devastation? How far must our nation go into depravity and utter contempt for the righteousness of God before we see the need to pray ?

II. The Supplication of Jehoshaphat

A. The Urgency

B. The Unity (3) (3-10)

(4) – Jehoshaphat sent out the call to pray and seek the Lord and the entire nation responded to the call. People from every city in Judah made their way to Jerusalem to stand united in prayer and supplication.

 Now I am well aware that prayer is powerful and it is profitable even if only a few pray. However, we are in such a desperate situation that we need all of God’s people to come together in prayer and supplication . We need to unite under the banner of God’s holiness and seek His face. We need to pray until God moves in our situation. This congregation needs to come together in prayer about the needs that we have . We could move mountains if we would only unite in prayer, believing that God is able to meet our need.

II. The Supplication of Jehoshaphat

A. The Urgency

B. The Unity (4)

C. The Sincerity (3) (3-10) (6-10) – This is largely the prayer that Jehoshaphat prayed unto the Lord, but it reflects the sentiment of all the people. They had come together in faith, knowing that God was able to meet their need. They knew the character of the Lord and that emboldened them in prayer . They knew:

1. His Preeminence (6a) – Jehoshaphat and all of Judah knew that there was no other God beside the Lord. They knew that He alone was the God of heaven . They knew that He had chosen them to be His people. They were confident in the Lord because He was God.

 That ought to fill our hearts with hope and courage . We serve the same Lord that Judah did. He was God then and He remains God today. There are none besides our Lord. We need not fear anything surpassing the deity and glory of our God .

C. The Sincerity (6-10)

1. His Preeminence

2. His Power (6a) (6b) – Judah had experienced the mighty hand of God before. They had witnessed His power and received His deliverance. They had never faced a problem that God couldn’t handle. They knew that He was more than able to deliver them from the hand of the enemy !

 We know that as well, but sometimes we just need to be reminded of His power. Have you ever faced a situation that God couldn’t handle? Has there ever been a need that He was unable to supply? He created this world and all that it contains; surely He is able to care for and keep us !

3. His Promise (7-8) – Once again Judah was reminded of the promise that God had made to Abraham. He had called him out of a land of idolatry and promised to raise up a nation from him. He promised a land of milk and honey that Judah now possessed. God had been faithful to His promise and Judah had no doubt that He would remain faithful .

 We do not enjoy the promises that God made to Israel, but we can rejoice in the promises that He has made to us. We have received His glorious salvation We have been made joint-heirs with Christ . . He has promised a home in heaven and eternal life. I am convinced that the God who loved us that much will be faithful to us in this life as well. C. The Sincerity (6-10) 1. His Preeminence 2. His Power (6b) 3. His Promise (7-8) 4. His Provision (6a) (9) – Much had happened since Joshua led the people across the Jordan into the Promised Land, but through it all God had cared for them, protected them, and provided for them. They were facing an eminent battle, but they knew that God was able to provide.

 Often when we are faced with trials we feel as if God has abandoned us, that He no longer cares about our situation . Nothing could be further from the truth. He did not save us to abandon us in the journey. We have not been left to get by the best way we can. We have a Savior who loved us enough to die for our sin and He isn’t about to abandon us now ! We maybe can’t see Him, but He is always near.

I. The Opposition of Judah (1-2)

II. The Supplication of Jehoshaphat

III. The Resignation of Judah (3-10) (12-13) – These remaining verses reveal that Judah resigned themselves unto the Lord. They knew that they needed the Lord and they had decided to trust in Him. Notice what they admitted.

A. Their Inability (12a) – O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; Judah admitted that they had neither the resources nor the strength to defeat such an enemy. They admitted to the Lord that if victory was to be secured, He would have to provide.

 I am confident that we need to be reminded of our inability at times. If we would be honest and admit it, we can do nothing apart from the grace and help of the Lord . The battle is too great, the storm is too strong, the valley is simply too deep for us to overcome, but through Christ we are more than conquerors. When we realize that we can’t that is when God will .

III. The Resignation of Judah A. Their Inability (12a)

B. Their Uncertainty (12-13) (12b) - 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. Judah admitted that the battle was more than they could handle. They didn’t have the wisdom to fight such an enemy. In fact, they didn’t know what to do . All they knew was to trust in the Lord and believe that He would provide.

 We never like to admit it, but there are times in our lives when we simply don’t know what to do, where to turn, or what to expect . That is OK. We just need to trust the Lord in times like that. We don’t always have to have the answers. We don’t always have to have a plan. Sometimes we just need to seek the Lord, give Him our problems, and let Him take care of it !

C. Their Humility (12c) – God, our eyes are upon thee. Judah was in essence saying: God you know our need; we have prayed and sought your help, giving you our problem, and we are just going to watch and wait. It is no longer our problem and we simply want to see how you will handle it ! They had resigned to the fact that they didn’t have the ability or the answers and they humbled themselves before the Lord in faith.

 Many times our lives would be much simpler and more enjoyable if we would just give our cares to the Lord, watching and waiting . We may not have to do a thing expect receive the victory that He gives.

III. The Resignation of Judah

A. Their Inability (12a)

B. Their Uncertainty

C. Their Humility (12b) (12c)

D. Their Conformity (12-13) (13) – The adversity that Judah faced brought revival. All of Judah stood before the Lord, humbled and anticipating Him to move mightily in their favor. This wasn’t something that a select few were concerned about or committed too. All of Judah took part and they all received God’s blessing .

 We need to see that in our day as well. We have had opportunities for revival and spiritual renewal, but we have never reached the place that all sensed the need and decided to seek the Lord . If we are to see God move in our midst and heal our land, we must all come humbly before Him by faith. Jehoshaphat and Judah faced a desperate situation, but they found deliverance in the Lord. God met their need as He had so many times before. He was faithful to His own. He is still God and He has not changed . He is aware of your situation, but He is likely waiting for you to come to Him. He is waiting for you to realize that your troubles are beyond your ability to solve . There is help in the Lord, but we must look to Him to receive it. If there is a need in your life, why not come to the Lord and receive the help that only He can provide?