1 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
2 Then 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.
3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,
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?
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.
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.
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.
13 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
14 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;
15 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.
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.
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.
18 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.
19 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.
20 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.
21 And 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.
22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.
24 And 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.
25 And 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.
26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day.
27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies.
28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD.
29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel.
30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.
31 And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
32 And 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.
33 Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.
34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.
35 And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:
36 And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Eziongaber.
37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.
The book of 2 Chronicles is a historical account of the kings of Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel. Chapter 20 of this book focuses on the reign of King Jehoshaphat and the events that took place during his rule. This chapter is a significant turning point in the history of Judah and reveals important themes such as trust in God, prayer, and faithfulness.
Before delving into the events of chapter 20, it is essential to understand the context in which it takes place. King Jehoshaphat was the fourth king of Judah after the division of the kingdom. He was the son of King Asa, who was known for his faithfulness to God. Jehoshaphat was a righteous king who followed in his father's footsteps and sought to serve God wholeheartedly.
However, during his reign, Judah faced several challenges, including threats from neighboring nations. The Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites had formed an alliance to attack Judah. This was a significant threat to the kingdom, and Jehoshaphat knew that he could not face them alone. Therefore, he turned to God for help, and this is where chapter 20 begins.
1. Trust in God
The first theme that stands out in chapter 20 is the importance of trusting in God. When Jehoshaphat received news of the approaching armies, he was afraid. However, instead of panicking or seeking help from other nations, he turned to God. He immediately proclaimed a fast throughout Judah and gathered the people to seek God's help. In verse 6, he prays, "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?" This prayer shows Jehoshaphat's trust in God's power and sovereignty over all nations.
2. Prayer
The second theme in this chapter is prayer. After proclaiming the fast, Jehoshaphat led the people of Judah in prayer. In his prayer, he acknowledges God's power and asks for His help and protection. He also reminds God of His promises to His people and the temple that was built for His name. This prayer is an excellent example of how we should approach God in times of trouble. We should humble ourselves before Him, acknowledge His power, and seek His help through prayer.
3. Faithfulness
Another important theme in this chapter is faithfulness. Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah remained faithful to God even in the face of a great threat. They did not turn to other gods or seek help from other nations, but instead, they trusted in God and sought His help. This displays their unwavering faithfulness to God and His commandments.
4. God's Deliverance
The main highlight of this chapter is God's deliverance of Judah from their enemies. In verse 15, God speaks through the prophet Jahaziel and assures Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah that He will fight for them. He says, "Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's." This verse shows that when we trust in God and seek His help, He will fight our battles for us and deliver us from our enemies.
5. Praise and Thanksgiving
After God's promise of deliverance, Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah responded with praise and thanksgiving. They worshiped God and gave Him all the glory for their victory. Verse 22 states, "And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah, and they were smitten." This verse shows that when we praise and thank God, He moves on our behalf and brings about victory in our lives.
Chapter 20 of 2 Chronicles has many important lessons that we can apply to our lives today. It shows us the importance of trusting in God, seeking Him through prayer, remaining faithful to Him, and giving Him praise and thanksgiving. It also reveals God's power and faithfulness in delivering His people from their enemies.
This chapter also serves as a reminder that we will face challenges and threats in our lives, but we should not be afraid because God is with us. We should turn to Him in times of trouble and trust in His power to fight our battles. We should also remember to praise and thank Him for His deliverance and faithfulness.
Furthermore, chapter 20 emphasizes the importance of having a leader who seeks God's guidance and follows His ways. King Jehoshaphat was a righteous and faithful king who led his people in seeking God's help. As a result, God blessed him and the nation of Judah.
In conclusion, chapter 20 of 2 Chronicles is a powerful reminder of the importance of trust, prayer, faithfulness, and praise in our relationship with God. It also reveals God's power and faithfulness in delivering His people and the importance of having a leader who seeks God's guidance. May we learn from the example of King Jehoshaphat and seek God's help and guidance in all aspects of our lives.
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