When You Don't Know What To Do
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Passage- 2 Chronicles 20:12
Attention-
2020 and 2021 have been unique and challenging would be an understatement.
Not just COVID
BLM
The impeachments
The presidential election
The COVID vaccine
I think we as a church and from what I have noticed personally have responded well.
I would like to keep it that way and this OT texts will give us some more truth to encourage us as we continue to move forward in this time in life.
Introduction-
What do we know about this time in Israel’s history and what do we know about their king at that time? Jehosaphat
I like Herbert Lockyer’s description of Jehosaphat…The king who was holy yet human
In some ways Jehosaphat was one of the holiest of Israel’s kings.
He rejected the wicked ways of his father
17:1-6
He strove for the commands of the word of God to be his guide.
But there was the issue of his association with Ahab
Chapter 18 deals with a battle that Jehosaphat chose to ally with Ahab in.
There was a battle with the Assyrians
Ahab dies in the battle and Jehosaphat returns to Jerusalem in peace (19:1)
When he gets to the palace he is confronted by a seer
This is not the message but we all need a Jehu
Someone who is not a prophet, priest, or king that will speak truth into our lives.
Anyway, he confronts Jehosaphat and Jehoshaphat's response is revealing of his character.
Notice that the text from verses 3-5 do not use his words to express his repentance but his actions…free rabbit trail #2
No Jehosaphat has a problem
Moab wants to invade his kingdom and Ahab…the one he helped…is dead
He has no alliance
Chapter 20:3 “And Jehoshaphat feared”
Main truth-
We cannot allow the circumstances of this life to strip away our certainty and confidence in God’s love and provision in our lives
Transition #1-
What is being taught? (Explain the passage and draw out the 1st century truth)
What is Jehoshaphat's next response
1- He set himself to seek the Lord
Don’t miss this
It doesn’t say that he feared and then when he felt better he sought the Lord
The text is laid out in such a way that I understand it like this
“WHILE Jehosaphat was fearing....”
Fear was there but it did not stop him from seeking the Lord
The text also tells us that he “set himself”
It’s like Daniel purposing in his heart
He surrendered
He fixed himself on the Lord
He put into action his devotion as well
Fasting
Lets skip now to verses 12 & 13
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.
Can I paraphrase....
God, I don’t know what to do…I look around and the waves of the circumstances feel like they are flooding the boat
THe situation I find myself in is just toooo much
I can’t do it
I just don’t know what to do!!!
But I know enough to look to you
Not just Jehosaphat but all of Judah
Men, women, and children
Transition #2-
How do we understand this in our context? (Bridge 1st century truth to today)
Does this sound familiar
God, I don’t know what to do
Life is too much right now
I can’t handle this
This is when God says...”Finally”
This is a heart attitude God desires to mold and shape
There is one main thing I want us to remember from this
We cannot navigate the circumstances of this life alone
Well, actually we can
We cannot navigate the circumstances of this life alone and please God
We cannot look at our situation without looking through the Lords eyes and still glorify Him
Transition #3-
How do we live this out in our context? (Application of the biblical truth to us personally)
This story upends all that the world teaches about crisis management.
This account of Jehosaphat demonstrates that regardless of any worldly authority or resources that we could command, true confidence is rooted in humble reliance on God’s sufficiency.
True peace and satisfaction id found in faith in God
So what can we do?
When life gets out of control, how should we respond?
1. Set your face to seek the Lord. The king was understandably afraid, but “set his face to seek the Lord.”(20:6)What would it take for you to make this choice? What does seeking Christ look like in your situation? Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast and assembled the people of Judah to pray. What Godward actions can you take? Seek the face of God and ask for the wisdom needed. Ask other faithful friends to be in prayer with you.
2. Remember God’s past faithfulness. Jehoshaphat recounts God’s faithfulness, which provides a foundation for present hope. (20:7-10) Recalling specific instances of God’s devoted care—in Scripture, and in our lives—helps us build trust in the Lord’s power. Start keeping a journal of God’s past and present care and provision, offering praise and thanksgiving for God’s goodness regardless of how the current crisis is resolved.
3. Act in faith. God’s activity is not a reason for us to be inactive. (20:11-12) In light of God’s promised intervention, Jehoshaphat took action by deploying his troops as God instructed. While we will not likely have specific instructions to act, Scripture does teach us wisdom. We can prayerfully consider what wisdom looks like and what steps to take in obedience and faith.
4. Identify realistic expectations for how God might help. In Jehoshaphat’s case, the threat is immediate and so is the deliverance. (20:13) But we would be remiss to believe that deliverance will always be immediate. That raises a question about what we can look to God for in a crisis. Consider what God promises New Testament believers regarding the nature and timing of our deliverance.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 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: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
As NT believers we have Jesus
We have the HS
We have the Word of God
All of these bring comfort
These things can root us in God during crisis and difficulty
Call to action-
We can also use Jehoshaphat's prayer for counsel that will never fail
“When you don’t know what to do- put your eyes on God”
Closing song-
374- Be Thou My Vision