The Eyes of the Lord...

I discovered one of my top favorite verses of all time just last year. I was in the middle of 2 Chronicles when I came upon this story:

Asa, Kind of Judah, received word from the Lord saying if he would seek after God, God would be with him as long as Asa was with God (2 Chronicles 15:2). But if he forsook the Lord, the Lord would forsake him. 

Verse 4 says that "But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found of them."  (speaking of times past)


Over and over again, Israel had walked away from what they knew was right, away from God's laws & ways. Then, they would get into deep trouble and, over & over, cry out to God for help.  They didn't listen to Him to stay out of trouble, but every time they got in a mess, guess where they went. In the middle of their trouble, they called on God and asked for His help and, time and time again, He delivered them.

That says SO much about God; how gracious and forgiving He is! These were not good people. They were whiny, disobedient, head strong. Yet He loved them so much that He couldn't stay mad at them. Couldn't leave them in their mess. Oh, He let them for a little while, just like a good parent will at times. But He always brought them back to the land of promise, cleaned up their messes, fought their enemies off. 


So the people cry out to God, making a new covenant to follow after the one, true God ONLY. They tore up the altars to false gods, kicked out the sodomites, burned down the idols (1 Kings 15:12). 

And God gave them peace with their enemies, until the latter part of King Asa's reign.  


To condense the story, basically Israel attacked Judah (the nation was split at this time) in the 36th year of Asa's reign as King and instead of calling on God, this time he made a pact with Syria for protection from King Baasha of Israel.

God was MAD. He sent a seer, Hanani, to Asa saying, Did I not deliver you out of the hand of the Ethiopians & Lubims, a much larger host of people?! And now you pay some MAN to help you?


And then He says it.

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect [complete, friendly, full] toward Him."

He goes on to tell Asa that because he relied on man to help him, from then on he would have war with his enemies. 

All because Asa didn't ask GOD for help in the middle of his trouble! I'm thinking He still feels that way. That if I would just ASK him for help, no matter how worthless or undeserving I feel, He is just waiting, in fact LOOKING for the chance to step in and help me out.

He tells King David, in Psalms 50, If I were in hungry, I would not tell you. And I do not want your blood offerings and your sheep. This is all I ask for:

"Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify Me." (Psalm 50:14 & 15, NKJV) 


Does that sound like a God that doesn't want to help you? It sounds to me as though He's sitting on the edge of His seat, searching the whole earth, just looking for a chance to do something mighty in someone's terrible situation! And all He asks is that we, first, CALL on Him. And second, have a heart toward Him. Friendly, full, complete, perfect. Just a heart for God. 


Try it. Invite Him into your mess. I have a feeling He's just been waiting on you to ask, ever the gentle God.