Stand Still
2 Chronicles 19–20
Jehoshaphat followed the Lord God of his fathers with a loyal heart. But he also was influenced by family in a way that took his eyes and heart off the power of God and onto another source of hope. After God called him out on this, Jehoshaphat commanded his people to “act in the fear of the LORD, faithfully and with a loyal heart.” He intimately knew the outcome of not acting in fear by that point and had learned a hard lesson.
Soon, God gave Jehoshaphat opportunity to show that he would “act in fear.” A great army from Moab and Ammon were approaching to attack Judah. Jehoshaphat was up against a wall and he was afraid, a huge army was coming against them from beyond the sea…so he set himself to seek the LORD. The word tells us “and Jehoshaphat feared…” Rather than seek help from his allies, he cried out to God.
He stood in the house of the LORD, and lifted his voice. “Are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?”
In front of all the people, Jehoshaphat declared his complete dependence upon God “For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
Then God spoke to them saying, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s…You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you…”
At this word, Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground and everyone with him did the same. Then the people stood up to praise God with voices “loud and high.”
They had not yet seen God’s deliverance, but they believed He would keep His word.
What “great multitude” is coming out against you?
Most likely, it’s not a group of people armed for battle, but it may feel like you’re in a very real war. Maybe it’s just under the surface, maybe it’s fear of what “could” happen, maybe the road is turning a corner you don’t want to go down.
I hear God telling me “you will not need to fight in this battle.”
God completely understands that I do not know what to do. It’s not news to Him. He’s ever so patiently waiting for me to get to…“but my eyes are upon You.”
I am without the knowledge of what to do, the ability to apply a solution, or the strength to steer the ship another way…but my eyes are upon Him.
He is able.
Able to do ANYTHING…to dig into the deepest recesses of our hearts and rescue us from ourselves.
My eyes are upon Him and He simply says “position yourself, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you.”
xo,
Nicole
