2 Chronicles 12:12b
…”We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
We find ourselves in the land of Judah, Probably 800-900 years before the time of Jesus. Specifically we are in the presence of Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah. Scripture tells us that Jehoshaphat followed the Lord and that, “His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 17:6a). There is a sense that he truly desired to follow and seek after the Lord. He wasn’t without his faults though. He had made some unwise choices (2 Chronicles 18-19:3, 20:35-37). However, in the midst of his foolishness we are able to see the heart of a man who loved the Lord.
In the context of the initial verse, times are desperate. Enemies are gathering around Judah; things certainly must have looked bleak. The Bible tells us that there was a great multitude. Can you imagine the great fear that must have come over him and the kingdom? We are told that he was indeed afraid (2 Chronicles 20:3), but he did not let his fear consume him. The way Jehoshaphat responds here gives us great insight into his heart. He sets his heart to seek God and in 2 Chronicles 20:5-12, we have a beautiful, passionate prayer of one who is afraid but one who knows who to turn to. We hear the prayer of one who is utterly dependent on God; he is desperate. We see that in the ending of the prayer, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” Do you sense the desperation in his prayer?
We too often find ourselves surround by enemies. Sometimes we can only describe them as a great multitude. For most of us, our enemies are not necessarily people. They are often circumstances, events, emotions, tragedies, obstacles, mountains, and any number of things. They surround us and we can hardly see past them and we are filled with great fear because things look so hopeless. Have you been there? I have. I know what it is like for fear to grab hold of you and paralyze you because of the situation you are in. We have a choice though. We can choose to let the fear overwhelm us, or cry out to God in utter desperation. I began to think about what my life would be like if I lived in total dependence on Him in all areas of my life. What if instead of trying to fix things on my own I cried out to Him and said that I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on him? What if I lived my life in such a way that I was totally unaware of my problems because my eyes were fixed on Him? I desire that sense of urgency and passion in my walk with the Lord. Does this mean that every problem we face magically disappears when we cry out to the Lord? No. I’ve lived long enough to know that sometimes the Lord allows things in our life to help us grow and be strengthened in our faith. My prayer for you and me is that we continually seek the Lord not just when times are rough, but at all times. However, my prayer is also that when we are at wit’s end, are prayer is very similar to that of Jehoshaphat. Oh how wonderful it will be when we learn to look to the Lord (see: Hebrews 12:1-2).
In Jehoshaphat’s case, the Lord delivered Judah from the hand of their enemies (2 Chronicles 20). I believe that regardless of what you are going through, the Lord has a plan and a purpose for you in the midst of your trial. Let us pray with Jehoshaphat and say… “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
_____________________________
As with all of my blog posts, If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, my writings may not make much sense. Without a personal relationship with Christ, there is no hope for this life or for eternity. If you want to know more about a personal relationship with Christ, please look under Resources for a link entitled “How to be Saved.”
“Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
…”We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
We find ourselves in the land of Judah, Probably 800-900 years before the time of Jesus. Specifically we are in the presence of Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah. Scripture tells us that Jehoshaphat followed the Lord and that, “His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 17:6a). There is a sense that he truly desired to follow and seek after the Lord. He wasn’t without his faults though. He had made some unwise choices (2 Chronicles 18-19:3, 20:35-37). However, in the midst of his foolishness we are able to see the heart of a man who loved the Lord.
In the context of the initial verse, times are desperate. Enemies are gathering around Judah; things certainly must have looked bleak. The Bible tells us that there was a great multitude. Can you imagine the great fear that must have come over him and the kingdom? We are told that he was indeed afraid (2 Chronicles 20:3), but he did not let his fear consume him. The way Jehoshaphat responds here gives us great insight into his heart. He sets his heart to seek God and in 2 Chronicles 20:5-12, we have a beautiful, passionate prayer of one who is afraid but one who knows who to turn to. We hear the prayer of one who is utterly dependent on God; he is desperate. We see that in the ending of the prayer, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” Do you sense the desperation in his prayer?
We too often find ourselves surround by enemies. Sometimes we can only describe them as a great multitude. For most of us, our enemies are not necessarily people. They are often circumstances, events, emotions, tragedies, obstacles, mountains, and any number of things. They surround us and we can hardly see past them and we are filled with great fear because things look so hopeless. Have you been there? I have. I know what it is like for fear to grab hold of you and paralyze you because of the situation you are in. We have a choice though. We can choose to let the fear overwhelm us, or cry out to God in utter desperation. I began to think about what my life would be like if I lived in total dependence on Him in all areas of my life. What if instead of trying to fix things on my own I cried out to Him and said that I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on him? What if I lived my life in such a way that I was totally unaware of my problems because my eyes were fixed on Him? I desire that sense of urgency and passion in my walk with the Lord. Does this mean that every problem we face magically disappears when we cry out to the Lord? No. I’ve lived long enough to know that sometimes the Lord allows things in our life to help us grow and be strengthened in our faith. My prayer for you and me is that we continually seek the Lord not just when times are rough, but at all times. However, my prayer is also that when we are at wit’s end, are prayer is very similar to that of Jehoshaphat. Oh how wonderful it will be when we learn to look to the Lord (see: Hebrews 12:1-2).
In Jehoshaphat’s case, the Lord delivered Judah from the hand of their enemies (2 Chronicles 20). I believe that regardless of what you are going through, the Lord has a plan and a purpose for you in the midst of your trial. Let us pray with Jehoshaphat and say… “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
_____________________________
As with all of my blog posts, If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, my writings may not make much sense. Without a personal relationship with Christ, there is no hope for this life or for eternity. If you want to know more about a personal relationship with Christ, please look under Resources for a link entitled “How to be Saved.”
“Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
