God is Always Watching

2 Chronicles 16:9 ~ "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars."

Asa, king of Judah, trusted the LORD when foreign enemies came against the land. Until, that is, the northern kingdom of Israel attacked Judah. Then Asa did what all worldly kings would do, he sought the aid of another nation. He sent a gift to the king of Syria, inviting him to ally with Judah and go against the northern nation, Israel. 

Hanani, the seer (prophet), was sent by God to speak to Asa, and this rebuke against the king was not well received. Asa put Hanani into prison and in his anger caused harm against others. It was the worst possible response to the word of the LORD that Asa could have expressed. But, when a heart is not set to serve the LORD, the response will be to reject His word when it comes.

And as Asa faced the northern nation come against him, have you experienced the attack of the enemy? Did you turn to Christ or to the world to find your support? The pressures set against the Christian are often great and the enemy still strives against the people of God. The enemy sends in his servants, and continues to harass those who follow Christ. But God is watching.

And that's what you need to see at first. The eyes of the LORD range throughout the whole earth. And, yes, God is omnipresent as well as omniscient. That is to say, God is everywhere at all times and He knows all things. But there is an intentionality to the statement in our text today. God is specifically watching the entirety of the globe--and He is watching to see those who have a determined desire to trust in Him.

Consider what the Lord Jesus said of God's search in John 4:23, "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him." And that idea of being a worshiper of God is not just being a person who enjoys the experiential delights of praising God through music, but of one who has, in reverence and humility, bowed in submission and faith. God is seeking--maintaining a watchfulness over the earth--for those who have a desire for Him.

The Almighty is seeking those who have hearts fully committed to Him in order to give them His strong support. And that is the second thing you need to see. God will strongly support those who have a heart "blameless." That word "blameless" can mean "loyal" or "at peace with." So, in that vein, God is looking to strongly support those who are loyal and at peace with Him. Jesus said at the end of Matthew that He will be with us always (see Matthew 28:20). 

There are those who might ask how come it seems that God's people are always suffering difficulty if the LORD has promised to strongly support them? Because, circumstantial deliverance is not always the best for God's people. If your difficult circumstances will bring glory to God, then be willing endure them by faith. For there will be no circumstance against you that is not, ultimately, going to be for your good (see Romans 8:28). God knows whether it is better for you to endure circumstances or be released from them. And, if your heart is "loyal and at peace with God" then you will trust Him even in the midst of suffering. 

Finally, Asa's unwillingness to trust in the LORD was declared to be a "foolish thing." Could there be anything more foolish than to trust something other than the LORD? Rejecting the LORD and trusting the world as an ally leaves you companioned with those whom the LORD will eventually destroy. Consider what it says in Isaiah 31:1, "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord!"

The world might look like it can offer you assistance. But the cost is too high. Trust in the LORD, for He will strongly support and ultimately deliver those who are His.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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