Reflections from 2 Chronicles 20

Our return to God is loathed by the enemy. So, we should anticipate spiritual and physical attacks when we uphold judgment and righteousness. But, we take courage. For being in God means our battles are His battles. All we must do is trust God, and He gives the victory.

Jehoshaphat had just, “brought the [people] back unto the LORD God of their fathers” (2 Chronicles 19:4). Going back to the institutions of old, he set up judges in the land of Judah to direct the people in the way of the Lord (2 Chronicles 19:5). And the Bible tells us that, “after this…the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle” (2 Chronicles 20:1). Without instigating a controversy, the enemy brought a three fold army to fight Jehoshaphat.

But, Jehoshaphat knew from whence his help comes. And he sought the Lord earnestly. He entered into the sanctuary of God, and reminded God of Solomon’s prayer in 1 Kings 8:33, 34:

If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence or famine, we stand before this house, and in [T]hy presence, (for [T]hy name is in this house,) and cry unto [T]hee in our affliction, then [T]hou wilt hear and help

2 Chronicles 20:9

The LORD God hears the supplication of His son, and sends this word:

Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

2 Chronicles 20:15

Beloved Friends, when we are in a strait, we should cast all of cares on God. Jesus calls to us saying: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29). And let’s be real with God in prayer. When Jehoshaphat was being attacked, he did not pray a cliché, routine prayer. No! He cried out to the Father to help him, and moved by faith with thanksgiving.

After gathering the people together to battle, he charged,

Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established;…And…he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that they should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth forever

2 Chronicles 20:20, 21

And guess what! When these singers, “began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab and mount Seir” (2 Chronicles 20:22).

O that we would praise God, before the victory is won! O that we would fully depend on the word of God!

Brothers and Sisters, Jehoshaphat relied on the word of God, and let God fight the battle. May we so fight our battles by faith.

-Thank You Jesus!

-Amen!