2 Chronicles 16:9a: The Eyes of the Lord!

TOPIC: Provision; Hope, Trust, Watchcare

TITLE: THE EYES OF THE LORD – He Strongly Supports Us!

Adapted form Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening; “Morning” September 28 (switched from Ps. 33:13 to ...

TEXT: 2 Chronicles 16:9a

“For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth (in order) that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”

INQUIRY: How does God support us?
CONCISE OUTLINE

I. IN THE WAY HE ATTENDS TO OUR NEEDS!
II. IN THE WAY HE BEHOLDS TO OUR WOES!

TRUTH/CONTEXT: Perhaps no words represent God in a more gracious light than when He is spoken of as having leaned down from His throne or as having come down from heaven to behold the needs of man and attend to his woes.

Especially is this grand truth brought home, when we recall how attentive He is and has been to the whole of our temporal and eternal interests.

Our text provides two striking disclosures –

1. that the Lord is observing every movement and condition of man upon the earth and,
2. that He does so in order to know who serves Him, that He may “strongly support” them!

[SCANNER] Like a grocery scanner, His eyes are whipping back and forth over the entire surface of the earth, keeping tabs on all who live. Unlike the scanner, God misses nothing.

INQUIRY: How does God support us?
EXPANDED OUTLINE

I. IN THE WAY HE ATTENDS TO OUR NEEDS

Don’t get the idea that God sits in heaven taking no notice of us. No matter how poor or needy, no matter your station in life, remember –the Lord still numbers the hairs of your head.

The prophet Elijah, on the heights of Mt. Carmel, grappled with God over a drought and its end. But the prophet never once gave way to the fear that he would be unwelcome in God's courts.

Six times Elijah’s servant returned, and each time to the seventh, no word was spoken but "Go again.”

Our timing may not be God’s timing, but His concern for our needs is present at all times, infinitely.

II. IN THE WAY HE BEHOLDS OUR WOES

“The Lord looks from heaven; he beholds all the sons of men.”

Psalm 33:13

[LINKS] On the Internet there is something called a URL (Uniform Reference Link); it ties or links one computer with a file stored on another.

Though immeasurable of distance lies between the creature and the Creator, links exist unite us with God.

A. The Link of Our Tears: When a tear descends your cheek, don’t think God does not see its desent.

“Return and say to Hezekiah …, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears...”’”

2 Kings 20:5

“… the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.”

Psalm 6:8

[BOB CARLISLE] “When a Grown Man Cries … his tears touch the very heart of God.”

B. The Link of Our Sighs: Your sigh is able to move the heart of God.

“Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur, And He will hear my voice.”

Psalm 55:17

C. The Link of Our Trust: Your faith can move His arm.

“And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.”

Matthew 21:22

And He saves your prayers in golden bowls.

D. The Link of Our Fellowship: Not only your prayer but your time in the word can stay His hand.

“…the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weak-nesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.”

Hebrews 4:12-16

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: Again, no image represents God more graciously than when He is spoken of as having leaned down from His throne (or as having come down from heaven) to behold the needs of man and attend to his woes.

But the text says His focus is only on “those whose heart is completely His.”

How the thought of Him warms our heart when we recall that He would not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah till He’d personally visited them, even though they were full of iniquity.

How our souls pour out affection toward our Lord when He ignores His Angelic Choir in order to place His ear close to the lips of a dying sinner who’s fading spirit longs for reconciliation.

How our own spirits adore Him when we remember that He numbers the very hairs of our heads, that He lights our paths, and that He establishes the way of our travels?

Oh! Then repeat the truth that never tires,
No god is as the God my soul desires;
He at whose voice heaven trembles, even He,
Great as He is, knows how to (lean down) to me.

Is your heart completely His? Does He strongly support you? If not, why not?

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