In my bible reading this morning I found Jehoshaphat to be a prime example of godliness in 2 Chronicles Chapter 20. This man recognized there is no defeat without the Lords protective hand. I really admire this mans dedication and dependence upon our Lord. The entire story of Jehoshaphats’ faithfulness is recorded in 2 Chronicicles Chapter 20-21 (as far as I got today). Below I will chart various verses which I found of importance. These verses touched my heart and I hope they touch yours also.
2Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.
The king realized there would be war against him which he could not win on his own.
3And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
He knew how who to seek in time of need. Only the Lord can save us from our enemies.
4And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
8And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,
9If, 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.
12O 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.
The king prayed to God. He spoke what he knew, what God had promised through Abraham. Then he spoke from his heart. Telling God he knew they couldnt win this battle they needed his help.
15And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, 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.
The Lord responded. When we speak to God there will always be a answer. Weather or not we hear it is up to us. If we pray to God the Lord is faithful to give us a response even if his answer is no. But in the above verse God makes it clear the battle with his enemy was not his but Gods.
17Ye 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.
These verses really speak to my heart. Because the enemy is still active today. The enemy (satan) may come in any form. It may be your co-worker, stranger, child, he can come through any human vessel and beyond. What we tend to forget is the battle is not ours. We are not suppose to fight. Guard yourselves. How? In his word. Be still. How? Stare Jesus in his face not the enemy. We dont need to fight.. in this aspect there is no battle. We are to be passive. The enemy will be destroyed. How its done is up to God, we are just be still.
18And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.
Worship is essential in our stillness with God. We love therefore we worship.
20And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
The answer was from the beginning to the end, God requests we believe. Thats all.
21And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.
The best thing they did. They proclaimed Gods majesty and sovereignty.
24And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
They had their eyes fixed upon God. The Lord did what he had promised. He delivered them from their distress.
25And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.
The Lord provided.
28And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD.
They gave unto the Lord. For the riches came from him in the first place. The riches arent ours.
30So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.
Once again the Lord provided.
32And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD.
When we experience the power of God. When we know the love and protective hand God has on his children we want to obey, & we do. He loves us therefore we love him. Love is the ultimate reason for obedience.
