Sermon Highlights: Their Eyes Were Watching God

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

Dr. Marcus Cosby is an absolute beast! Everybody who knows me know I loves me some Marcus Cosby, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, Houston, Texas...."and the Bible says!...." He makes me hollar back everytime, "What does the Bible say, preacher!" He is the perfect speaker for Bates' Bible Institute happening April 16-18th, at Bates Memorial Baptist Church in Louisville, KY.

His message last night was "Their Eyes Were Watching God" base on the book title by Zora Neale Hurston. His text was 2 Chronicles 20:12, "...We don't know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."

King Jehoshaphat was King of Judah. He was wise and did what was right in the sight of God. Everything went well for him in chapters 17, 18, & 19. They were livin' life like it was golden. But in Chapter 20, the text starts, "After this" All hell breaks loose. Three enemies came against Judah to make war all at the same time.

King Jehoshaphat inquired of God. The people fasted and prayed (v 3-4). Then the King stood up before all the people and prayed, and at the end of the prayer he confesses, "We don't know whatto do, but our eyes are upon you (My emphasis added)."

They kept their eyes on God based on

1. God's past participation (v 6-ff)
2. God's present partnership (v. 13)
3. God's pending promises
   1. I will be with you (v 17)
   2. I will uphold you (v 20)
   3. You will be successful (v 20)

Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, a guest upon the group. He said, "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, it's God's (v 15). You will not have to fight the battle. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord! The king fell down and worshipped and everybody did what he did, they fell down and worshipped too.

When you get in situations where you just don't know what to do, keep your eyes on God. Fast, pray, and seek His face. Do what the King and the people did, worship God.

My Comments:

The text says beginning at verse 21, "After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: "Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever."

Herein is the rest of the story...Praise defeated the enemy! God loves it when you fast, pray, and seek His face, and He loves it when you praise Him. Jehoshaphat takes the people's advice and he orders men to sing to the Lord. When they do that, God set ambushes against the three nations and they turn on each other, and destroy each other!

This is almost identical to what happened in the war Gideon's army did not have to fight (Judges 7). God sent 300 men against a vast army of 30,000 Midianites. God confused the enemy with trumpets, torches, and timing! The army prepared for war, processed to the battlefield, and positioned themselves, but they did not fight! And God got the glory! When praises go up, blessings come down!