2 Chronicles 20

A Battle To Watch The LORD Win

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.  Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation; and 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.  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.  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.'”
And 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.  And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.
2 Chronicles 20:13-19

Three nations had, not conspired together to come against Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat was king.  He was a king that loved the LORD.  When he heard that these three kings were coming against him he called the people to fast and pray.  He had, first of all, sought the LORD, then he prayed.

As they were gathered together, and king Jehoshaphat had prayed, Jehaziel, received an encouraging word from the LORD.  They would have victory without fighting the battle, and by singing and praising the LORD.

What does this have to do with you and me?

First, we show humility and trust when we take our fears, and burdens to the LORD.  Second, we can learn how to pray, and trust the Lord with our whole lives.  Be sure to read all of 2 Chronicles 20.

In this event in the history of Judah and Israel we have the LORD turning the enemy against themselves.  One of the Proverbs says, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes his enemies to  be at peace with him”  Proverbs 16:7.

We are a weak and sinful people apart from God, and would be forever condemned to Hell were it not for the grace of God displayed for all the world to  see on a cross over two thousand years ago.  That is the greatest battle He has won for us.

Have you accepted this wonderful gift of grace – eternal life – with Jesus Christ; now and through eternity.  This battle against sin, death, and hell has already been won, by Jesus’s death on the cross, His burial, and resurrection.  All we need to do is change directions.  We are all on the same road.  Some of us are headed in the direction they have chosen but it is the way of sin and death.  Turn to Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, and He will save you, sending you to eternal life with Him.

When The Kings Of God Face Trouble

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation; and 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.  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.  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.’ ” (20:14-17)
And 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.”
2 Chronicles 20:14-17, 20

Jehoshaphat was king who did right in the eyes of the LORD (2 Chronicles 17:1-4), by  following the ways of David. He called on the people of Judah to seek the LORD God with all their hearts. Please read all of chapter 20.

This king of Judah was warned of an approaching army, an enemy, yet descendants of Lot (Genesis 11:27 and 12:4). The Moabites and the Ammonites; who are descendants of Lot’s sons Moab, and Ammon (Genesis 19:30-38). When he hears of a great encroaching enemy he is fearful, and does what  any godly king should do when their people, their lives, and nation is at stake; and that is he prayed to the Creator of heaven and earth – the One true God.

When he had prayed the Spirit of God came upon a Levite by the name Jahaziel and told  the king, and his army, “You do not need to fight this battle. The battle is not yours but God’s”

The people of Israel went out to the battle singing and praising the LORD. The enemy attacked the people of Seir and defeated them, then turned against each other, leaving a mass of corpses  on the ground.

When an enemy comes against us as followers of Jesus Christ we too must do what King Jehoshapht did. We must humbly approach the LORD God, seeking Him with our whole heart. We also need to remember that His enemy is our enemy, and that He hears the prayers of those who are faithful to do His will.

All of those who know Him will be kings and priests unto the Lord our God (Revelation 1:6; 5:10). We are in training, through the sanctification of the Holy Spirit at work in us as we live here, before we are glorified with Christ Jesus.

If you do not know Him you are yet His enemy. Christ died for us while we were yet His enemies (Romans 5:10), and if He loved us enough to become sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God, then the power of His resurrection is even greater.  Through the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ an evil man or woman can be changed through His power. The changed one becomes a person that loves and respects others, and becomes a servant to them.

He will not fail to complete what He has began in us (Philippians 1:6). The Lord’s personal invitation to you today is “Come to Me.”