Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-30
Don't you love it when God speaks to you through His Word? I try to make it a point to read through all books of Scripture in my quiet times rather than just focusing on the books that are more well-known or easier to read. I always love it when I'm reading a more obscure book of the Bible and an amazing little piece of truth jumps off the page and ministers to me.
When reading in 2 Chronicles this morning, this prayer by King Jehoshaphat in chapter 20 really touched me. When the King hears that a multitude of people are coming to Judah to wage war against him, Jehoshaphat immediately responds with prayer. He could have spent that initial time gathering all of his best officers and drafting a battle plan, but instead, he turned to God. Verses 3 and 4 say, "Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to seek help from the Lord; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the Lord." In response to this terrifying news of an impending attack, everyone in Judah joined together to cry out to their only Hope...the only One who could save them.
In Jehoshaphat's prayer, he proclaims to the Lord that He is ruler over all, and power and might belong to Him. He confesses that when God's people cry out to Him in their distress, God hears and brings deliverance. My favorite part comes at the very end of his prayer when he says in verse 12, "O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.” Jehoshaphat confesses his complete powerlessness to know what to do on his own...but rather than falling into despair or trying to fix things by his own might, he fixes his eyes on God.
This is so applicable to our lives as believers. So often we face problems that seem to overwhelm us. Our fleshly response is usually either to worry or to try to come up with a solution on our own. Why is it so hard for us to fall onto our face before our Father in heaven and confess, "I do not know what to do, but my eyes are on you!" Is God not big enough to deliver you from any situation if He chooses to do so? Is God not loving enough to have mercy on you in your desperation? Is God not powerful enough to help you? Is He not kind enough to comfort and encourage you as no one else can? I am certainly convicted by Jehoshaphat's humility and complete dependence on God for help in His time of desperation. May we all learn from this beautiful prayer he uttered so many years ago~
