14(2Chron 20) Our Battles Are Really Gods Battles
(Preached 7/22/07 PM.)
This morning we looked at the disobedient response of Saul to his dire situation. But there are also positive examples in Scripture to difficult and dire circumstances. Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-4,14-17
King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah were facing a dire situation. They were surrounded by three large armies that were quickly closing in on them and just about to attack them. (1-2)
I'm sure fear shot through the King's body like lightning.
All of us are going to face a situation similar to King Jehoshaphat. Where we've been given devastating news. Maybe it's a doctor that walks in and says, "Man, I'm sorry but there's nothing we can do for you". Maybe it's a husband who walks out on you one day and says, "Forget it. I'm tired. I'm leaving." Maybe it's an employer that walks in and says, "Man, business is really bad. I'm sorry, but we're not going to need you anymore. We're going to let you go."
What do you do when trouble hits so hard that it knocks the wind out of you?
Jehoshaphat was just given the worst news of his life--certain death sentence. But it's interesting what he did. The Bible says (v 3) that he instructed all the people of Judah to fast and pray. And the Bible says that they all went and they gathered reverently before God at the temple. Why? Why not run and hide in caves and pits and holes like in Saul’s day? I think it was because their leader responded to trauma with fasting and prayer, and though they were surely scared, they followed him.
When you come to a place in your life where it just seems hopeless and you just can't see any possible solution … you've got to do what King Jehoshaphat did, turn your eyes up toward the Great I Am.
Luke 18:27 Jesus said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
And see, you've got to lift your hands/hearts toward the heavens like Jehoshaphat did and (1) praise God for who He is, (2) what He has done, and (3) for His promises in His Word.
You cannot continually think about all the tragedy and turmoil that's surrounding you. Don't focus on your present day circumstances. You can't continually think about how big your problem is, you've got to continually think about how big your God is.
If you only focus on your present day circumstances, it means you're looking down. You've got to change your focus. The Psalmist said, "I will lift up my eyes to the heavens because that's where my help comes from."
(12-13) God, we don't know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. What happens when you keep your focus on the Almighty God in your time of need? As they were all there staring up towards the heavens, something supernatural happened. God supernaturally moves when you keep your focus on Him.
(14-15) The Bible says, "The spirit of the Lord came upon Jehaziel and he began to prophesy." (Read 15) Isn't that good?
When you keep your focus on the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords in your dark time of need, you're not even going to have to get in the battle. He promises that He's going to fight those battles for you. See, Proverbs 21:31 says, "Go ahead and prepare for conflict, but victory comes from our God."
(16-17) God told the people of Judah to do something very strange. He said, I want you to march down toward the enemy and attack them. Now that didn't make sense because they were probably outnumbered 10 to 1. But we've got to remember that God is smarter and wiser than we are.
We've got to learn to let God be God. He knows what He's doing. And even when we don't understand Him, we still must learn to trust Him and be obedient to Him.
(21) God works in mysterious ways. Jehoshaphat put the singers and the musicians out in front of his army. And with every step toward the enemy, they shouted loudly, "The Lord is good and His mercy endures forever."
(22-23) And can't you imagine with every step they took they got louder and louder. The very moment they began to sing and shout the praises of God that the Lord caused the three enemy armies to get confused and begin to fight amongst themselves.
(29) The Bible also says that this good news of how God supernaturally defeated their enemies and supernaturally took care of them could not be suppressed.
So stand strong and be determined and stay focused and be faithful to come to church every time the doors open. What do you do when you don't know what to do? Keep your eyes on the Most High God.