Esotropiart

I know, a LOT of Scripture. Like you're actually going to read it, right? Oh well, wishful thinking. I just know that if I write, "go read 2 Chronicles 20:1-21" before continuing on, that wouldn't happen either. I may as well put the passage here to save you from using the excuse of not reading it because it required you to go get your Bible :) Don't even try writing a revenge blog entry that tells me to go read the entire Bible before reading the rest of your post. I probably wouldn't do that... though I wouldn't rule it out. By the end of this year, I'll have probably read through all of the Bible once, and most of it several times. So come January 1, 2010, I'll read your essay on the Bible :) ... that is, if you first do your part and read 2 Chronicles 20:1-21!

After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar" (that is, Engedi). Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.

And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 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. 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? And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, '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.' 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 - behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 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."

Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. And he said, "Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: 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. 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. 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."

Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

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." 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,
for his steadfast love endures forever."

2 Chronicles 20:1-21 ESV

I love to see the attitude displayed in the character of Jehoshaphat here (he messes up later). The leaders of the Gentiles lord it over their people. This leader humbles himself, lowering himself to the proper position and posture before His ultimate Leader, God. What a mantra for us to consider. How about we put on the attitude of this phrase in times of great need: We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.

What this phrase says is this: 1) We believe that You exist, God, even if we cannot see you with our eyes. 2) We believe that You give good gifts to Your children. This 1-2 combination is the essence of faith. Even though the people of Israel had no visible reason for hope - they were totally outnumbered - the correct choice was made.

God wants to be declared God. He wants willing submission. He wants it to be our choice. He will not force us to choose Him like mindless robots. Oftentimes God will allow difficulties in our lives to train us to look to Him. Stop for a moment and consider what's going on when in troubles. Say and believe this: We don't know what to do, but our eyes are on you! If you are persistent in this to tears and seek Him with your entire "assembly" bowing before Him and His sanctuary, expect Him to answer. However, do not relent. Rend your heart and repent. The time of His return is near!

I see this story as a great symbol of the salvation of Jesus Christ. If you rearrange some of the key verses I underlined, you get a pretty clear prophetic image of the work of Christ...

We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You. The battle is not yours but God's. Believe in the Lord your God. Believe His prophets and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf.

Normally I would never cut and paste Scripture to make it say what I want. I don't intend to imply my ordering is the way it was meant to be read. I perceived the symbol in the text without having to reorder it. However, I just wanted to make sure you saw what I was talking about by offering the visual aid.

God tells His people here to believe in what His prophets say. It is reliable and true. The ultimate fulfillment of prophecy comes in Jesus Christ. He alone is our Salvation. While we were still powerless in sin Christ died for us! The enemy we face is insurmountable by our strength alone. The enemy has a horde at his disposal. Nevertheless, in Christ, no weapon that's fashioned against us will stand. The battle belongs to the Lord! We need only to stop, humble ourselves, and look to Him.