Act with God

Saturday 21 August 2021

"Stand there and you will see the deliverance that the Lord will grant you... Come out to meet them and the Lord will be with you." 2 Chronicles 20. 17

Act with God

The quoted verse is made up of two separate sentences, both spoken by Jachaziel, mouthpiece of the Spirit of the Lord, when three enemy nations attacked the kingdom of Judah. It is a response from God to King Jehoshaphat's prayer. He called on the Lord in faith by virtue of what he was in himself and by what he had done. It recalls the dedication of the temple of Solomon and the circumstances which marked the wandering of the people of Israel in Egypt and Canaan (v. 6-10). This prayer ends with a supplication on behalf of Israel. It is accompanied by the recognition of his incapacity : "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you" (v. 12).

The Spirit, through Jachaziel, immediately responds to Jehoshaphat assuring him that God will intervene in the conflict. On the one hand, Jachaziel assures the king of deliverance : "You will see the deliverance that the Lord will grant you", but immediately he asks the people to do their part of the work : "Go out to meet them and the Lord will be with them. you". It is the same for Christians, to whom the Lord commands : "Go therefore... and I am with you every day" (Matthew 28. 19, 20).

The Lord is with the Christian every day, he has promised it. We realize this, especially if a life of faith and piety like that of Jehoshaphat fuels our fellowship with him. However, there are struggles and trials where the need for the presence of God grows more pressing and where we feel the need to live it more. Our prayer becomes more ardent and he answers... but perhaps, like Jehoshaphat, he will ask us for an act of our faith. For the people it was : "Stand there and you will see the deliverance that the Lord will grant you". For the Christian, it will perhaps be : "Wait" (Lamentations 3.26), "Do not prepare yourself" (Luke 21.14), "persevere" (1 Timothy 4.16)... In all cases the Lord is there, he answers our needs and strengthens our faith (Isaiah 43. 1, 2).

Source (Pleasing the Lord)