2 Chron. 20: 1- 24
V. 1-2 Jehoshaphat has been told that a great multitude is coming against him...
3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
*1.) His first reaction was 'fear' 2.) then He used wisdom = He prepared himself to seek God. 3.) He took action = he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah (He knew that fasting would humble the people so that they could touch God's heart) When the enemy comes against us, our first reaction is fear. It's normal to fear...our fear affirms that we should rely on God.
We need to take prayer seriously! We can't come before God, commanding things to happen...declaring what should / will happen. Although the scriptures say, ..."ask and it shall be given," before He said that, He said, Be converted and become as little children." (become humble / trusting & obedient)
*Why didn’t he prepare an army to fight against these enemies? Instead, he & all of Judah seek the Lord & pray.
6 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
*First, he honors God & gives Him glory...acknowledges Him as almighty God.
7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,
9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.
*thy Name - scriptures tell us that forgiveness, salvation, healing & deliverance is in His Name > Col. 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus... (by the power & authority of His name) From Old Testament to New, he's only had One Name ...many titles but One Name. He's called, Jehovah, Yahweh, Adoni, Lord, God, etc. (Jehovah, for instance, is more of an explanation of who He is )
10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;
11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. (they have come to take the land that you gave us to possess)
12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. (we look to you for our help, our deliverance) All Jehoshaphat knew to do was - TRUST.
*First, Jehoshaphat declares the power & glory of God then acknowledges that without him, they are powerless. He admits to his weakness, putting all his trust in God.
How often we forget that we have a savior that will fight for us, who will come to our aid in time of need. > Ps 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
*We need to trust that God knows what’s best & He will guide us through difficult times. It may look as though He is not moving on our behalf, but His ways are not our ways & His timing is always right. > Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
*v 14 The Spirit of the Lord gives a word of encouragement to Jahaziel >
2 Chron 20:15 Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. *Go - Face your enemy with the Word of God!
17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. *Remain steadfast, with unwavering faith & wait on the Lord! When God speaks a thing, He will perform it. We can rely on what God speaks to us, whether it is in a still small voice, a prophecy, or in His Word! Sometimes, when you’ve done all you know to do - just trust!
*After they worshipped, Jehoshaphat appointed some to sing & praise & to go out before the army. When they began to sing & praise, the Lord caused the enemy to fight one another & they were destroyed.
This was probably not the way Jehoshaphat thought the Lord would rescue them. If he had took it upon himself to ‘help’ God by trying to fight the battle, it would surely have ended differently. Sometimes the children of Israel did have to battle, but they were victorious because they were led by God.
When Satan comes against a child of God, he's not going to prevail. Humble yourself, seek God & remind the enemy - "I belong to God - God's Got this!"
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