Have you ever said, “Lord, I don’t know what to do”?
Maybe you have spoken these words with a level of exasperation. Your parenting seems to be falling on deaf ears or you can’t believe you and your hubby got in another argument over something dumb. Maybe you have uttered this phrase with a spirit of discouragement, as you watch the plans you made go up in smoke or fall like heavy rain. Or maybe this sentence found its way to your lips in a moment of fear, like it did for King Jehoshaphat.
2 Chronicles 20 begins with a daunting picture. Several nations, together the Bible calls them a “vast multitude”, have joined together to fight against Judah. King Jehoshaphat is afraid. Yet, in that fear, he doesn’t panic. He doesn’t begin to strategize with the leaders of the land. He doesn’t turn to the corrupt king of Israel for help. He doesn’t try to negotiate with the evil kings that are coming against him. He doesn’t grumble and complain or give up.
The Bible says he “resolved to seek the Lord”. (vs. 3)
“We do not know what to do, but we look to you.” 2 Chron. 20:12
He meditated on the character of God.
“Lord God of our ancestors, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You.” 20:6
He obeyed the words that God commanded.
“You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.” 20:17
He praised God in the midst of the storm before he was even delivered from it.
“Then he…appointed some to sing for the Lord and some to praise the splendor of His holiness. When they went out in front of the armed forces, they kept singing, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His faithful love endures forever.” 20:21
And when he, and all the assembly with him, brought their need before the Lord, fixed their eyes on Him, meditated on who God is, obeyed the words of the Lord by standing firm on His promises and as they exalted His glorious name…they had a front row seat to His magnificent salvation.
God turned the nations that had come against Judah on each other, and the Bible says they completely destroyed one another till all that was left were corpses and there was so much plunder, it took 3 days to gather it all. Who could have imagined an outcome like that?
Only God.
And He is the same God we serve, love and cling to today. While we may not always understand His ways, His ways are not without purpose.
“Lord, I don’t know what to do.”
Whether it’s been said in a moment of exasperation, discouragement, fear or uncertainty…as children of God, our Heavenly Father loves to bring us to the place of total dependence on Him. He loves to help us see that He is enough for every moment and situation of our lives. God loves to display His saving power in our lives that the world around might see His greatness, as we stand firm on His truth and cling to Him. He displayed this truth through King Jehoshaphat and He’s still displaying this truth today through you and me!
Comments