The Searching of the Lord
Text: II Chronicles 16:9
“For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His…”
In this passage, we find a prophet named Hanani speaking a word of rebuke from the Lord to King Asa. Instead of relying upon the Lord to intervene in his battle with King Baasha of Israel—Asa buys a treaty with another king to take care of it. In his trials and circumstance, Asa turned from the Lord as his help and relied upon man.
In the midst of this word from the Lord, we find a powerful truth that not only applied then but also applies to us as believers today. In this word, we will learn of the “Searching of the Lord”.
What does it mean to search? It is to look for something. It’s the process of looking or seeking after something in order to find or uncover.
We all have searched for something of value to us. The Lord is on a search as well!!!
1. The Lord is daily searching the hearts of people throughout the earth.
“ For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth”
We find the truth in this passage that the Lord is actively searching, seeking and watching over all men and all things in the earth.
The Lord is not searching for animals or creatures.
He is not searching out world events because He knows all the happenings in the world even before they come to pass.
He is not searching after who the world leaders are. He knew who they would be even as they were in the womb.
Nothing goes by apart from the foreknowledge of God. Nothing escapes those roaming eyes that see everything.
Hebrews 4:13 “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account”.
There is nothing hidden from His eyes. Even the darkest of dark is as light to Him. Everything is laid out in the open for Him to see.
Solomon says in Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good”.
If His eyes are searching the earth, what is it that He is searching for?
He is searching the hearts of men and women everywhere.
In King David’s charge to his son Solomon in I Chronicles 28 he says “acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches EVERY HEART and understands every motive behind the thoughts..”.
We find from David’s words that the Lord is constantly searching the hearts of people to see the motives, the thoughts, the attitudes and desires inside.
He is searching to see whether a man’s heart is pure and good or full of evil.
Remember what the Lord said to Samuel the prophet as Samuel considered anointing David’s brother as the next king?
I Samuel 16:7 “Do not consider his appearance or his height for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the HEART”.
The Lord is actively searching the hearts of people.
The Lord is searching every nation, every country, every state, city, village and town. Every home, every church at every corner of the earth!!!
The Lord is searching the hearts of people—those that call Him Lord—those that reject Him.
Man searches the value of the outward—but God see the value of a man or woman in the heart.
It is in the heart a person believes—it is in the heart that a person denies Him.
WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THE TRUTH THAT THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE SEARCHING THROUGHOUT THE EARTH. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS SEARCHING OF THE LORD???
2. The Lord is searching for a people that He may powerfully strengthen through every circumstance, trial and difficulty.
Our text says “that He may strongly support those…”
The Revised Standard Version reads “to show His might in behalf of those..”
The Lord is daily searching those who need His strength, grace and power demonstrated on their behalf.
He sees every hurt, every trial, hardship and circumstance that we face and He desires to strengthen weary hearts and weakened faith.
Through our situations the Lord wants to show His mighty power and faithfulness.
He searches for hearts that cry out to Him and acknowledge their need of Him.
Throughout the Scriptures we find those that God powerfully strengthened and helped.
MOSES—when Moses was afraid to go to Egypt and face Pharoah, the Lord promised “I will be with you”. The Lord demonstrated His might and faithfulness to Moses and Israel. He ultimately delivered them out of Egypt by the parting of the Sea.
SHADRACH,MESHAC AND ABEDNEGO—three Hebrews that refused to bow down to the golden idol of Nebuchednezzar. They remained true to worship the One True God and as a result were thrown into the furnace of fire. They refused to compromise in the face of death. The Lord intervened by being present with them in the fire and delivered them out alive and unburned.
DANIEL—another that refused to compromise the law of Almighty God for the law of a human king. He would pray to and worship God alone. As a result, he was cast into a den of lions. The Lord sent His angel to shut the mouths of the lions and kept Daniel from harm.
PETER—Acts 12 records where Peter was imprisoned for preaching about Jesus. As Peter sat in a prison sleeping at night under heavy guard—an angel of the Lord came and released him and set him free to continue preaching.
These are examples given to us to increase our faith in the faithfulness and power of God.
Whatever situation we may face—the Lord desires to “strongly support” us.
He will come and minister to our faith and will strengthen us with His grace to keep believing and keep holding on to Him.
This is the Lord who says to us in Hebrews 13:5 “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”.
His promise is true in Isaiah 41:10 “ So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”.
His Presence will be with you through all things. When we are weak and weary—not only does He promise to be with us—He will uphold us with His mighty hand.
He will be our Strength. He will support you and show Himself faithful.
3. And finally, the Lord is searching to strengthen a certain kind of people.
Who are these he searches for and strengthens???
“ those whose heart is COMPLETELY HIS”
THOSE WHOSE HEART IS FULLY DEVOTED AND LOYAL TO HIM!
THOSE WHOSE HEART BELONGS TO HIM!!
He will strengthen those who acknowledge Him as Lord and God and follow Him faithfully.
They that feel no need of Him and refuse to follow as His disciple will not experience His great power through trial and hardship!
If Asa had continued to trust and rely on God—he would have experienced the power of God at work on his behalf.
Instead—he trusted in the strength of men.
The Lord had searched the heart of King Asa and found that he had turned away from faith.
If the Lord had found faith and trust in Asa’s heart—He would have surely strengthened him and intervened mightily.
IT IS THE SAME MESSAGE FOR US TODAY!!!
THE LORD IS SEARCHING HEARTS THAT WILL TRUST HIM, RELY ON HIM AND LOOK TO HIM FULLY FOR HELP!!!
THESE ARE THE HEARTS THAT HE WILL NOT FORSAKE.
HE WILL NOT ABANDON THOSE THAT HOLD ON TO HIM—EVEN DURING THE WORST OF TIMES!!! HE IS ALWAYS THERE!!!
THERE IS ENCOURAGEMENT—BUT THERE IS ALSO A WARNING.
Listen to the Word of the Lord spoken to Asa in II Chronicles 15:
READ II CHRONICLES 15: 1-2
The Lord encouraged them that as long as they sought Him—He would be found—He would manifest His Presence and His help.
But if the king and the people would forsake Him—turn away from Him and refuse to depend on Him—He would forsake them.
WE MUST NOT BE COMPLACENT AND THINK THAT THE LORD WILL “BE THERE” AT ANYTIME—EVEN IF I TURN HIM AWAY AND IGNORE HIM.
There are many that continually ignore the voice and prompting of the Holy Spirit to draw near to Him. They do not regularly seek His face in prayer and the Word and they go on about their own business.
Many times Jesus goes even days without their fellowship.
They care not to listen to His voice or obey His Word.
But when troubles come—they cry out for Him first.
REMEMBER HIS WORDS: “ IF YOU FORSAKE HIM, HE WILL FORSAKE YOU”!!!
THE LORD REMAINS NEAR TO THOSE THAT REMAIN NEAR TO HIM!!!
James 4:8 urges us “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”.
Psalm 18:25 “To the faithful you show yourself faithful…”
The faithful—those wholly devoted to Him will know His mighty strength.
