Our eyes are watching God

One of the most important works of twentieth-century American literature, Zora Neale Hurston's beloved 1937 classic, Their Eyes Were Watching God, is an enduring Southern love story sparkling with wit, beauty, and heartfelt wisdom. Told in the captivating voice of a woman who refuses to live in sorrow, bitterness, fear, or foolish romantic escapades.

The novel narrates main character Janie Crawford's "ripening from a vibrant, but voiceless, teenage girl into a woman with her finger on the trigger of her own destiny."[1] As a young woman, who is fair-skinned with long hair, she expects more out of life, but comes to realize that people must learn about life 'fuh theyselves' (for themselves), just as people can only go to God for themselves. During black history month its important to know some of the Literature that shaped our thinking.

This title is a reminder where we should be looking. Its the opening of chapter two that grabs me Janie saw her life as a big tree in leaf with things suffered, things done and things undone. Dawn and dome was in those branches.

This is how I see with our main character Jehoshaphat. He was one of Judah’s better kings. He served as king of Judah for 25 years. Its chapter twenty we see the Dawn and dome of life. The opening of the chapter informs us that Judah is facing invasion and destruction. The Moabites and Ammonites and some of the Meunites. As he faced his dome we are reminded what 17:3 3 The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. (). When we face our dome we can see our dawn if we know that the Lord is with us! Walking with God will always show you the light. The Psalmist did say 5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

The text said that Jehoshaphat was afraid. His fear motivated him to seek the Lord. NOT ONLY SEEK THE LORD BUT CALLED FOR A FAST. He involved all the cities of Judah to seek they Lord. I am often encouraged when saints who are facing difficulties will call and say pray with me and for me! We know there is power when we all seek the Lord. David understood this that why he said oh magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together. Can you imagine the break throughs that can happen in this place if we would just come together and seek the Lord collectively.

When we are facing our dome the first thing we need to do is

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Remind God of what he said concerning us.

Look at verses 5-10 5 And 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 fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. 7 Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 And they have lived in it and have built for you in it 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 out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ ().

Secondly We must present our petitions to the Lord

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10 And now behold, the men of Ammon and 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 behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. ().

Many times we walk around with our troubles and keep them to ourselves. Though the Lord knows what you are going through its important for you to talk it over with Lord. The hymn writer says

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Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged— Take it to the Lord in prayer.

It is through prayer that we communicate to God. We can talk about our problems, challenges, weaknesses, and our enemies. For we can cry out to him in our affliction and he will hear and save.

Peter said cast all your cares upon him for he carest for us. Isaiah said it this way fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

Thirdly we must make clear of what we want the Lord to do

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

Verse 12 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” ().

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Ask the savior to help you. As you ask keep your eyes on Him. That’s why the psalmist I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. Psalmist 121:1

when we seek him he will answer. When our eyes are watching God something amazing happens. He shows up in his power and his might. You heard this before the word comes and the Lord said this battle is not yours its the Lords! Thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.” (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

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Now what we have to do is to learn how to praise God on his word. Just at the news of what the Lord said Jehoshaphat and all the people worshipped. Verse 18 said they bowed their face to the ground and worshipped. How many can mount up a praise on the promises of God!

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Its the Psalm we learned in Sunday School that ties to this account of the Lord showing up, Look at verse 19 19 And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Now after hearing this the people still and to act in faith. 20 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” 21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the LORD,

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“Give thanks to the LORD,

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.Jehoshaphat

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

for his steadfast love endures forever.”

22 And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. 23 For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another. (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Jehoshaphat believed God worshipped God and when they looked out from the watch tower in the wilderness they found the entire army who had come up against them dead. The lord will fight your battles if you just listen to him! No only will he destroy your enemies he will give you the spoil! It took 3 days to gather all the spoil!

22 And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. 23 For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.

Now watch this the worshipped him on the front end and when it was all over the praised him on the back end. Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, n jm in the city of our God, his holy mountain.

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