God fights the war for Jehoshaphat

2 Chronicles Chapter 20

The armies of the Moabites, Ammonites and some Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat and his messengers told him these armies were already advancing from beyond the Dead Sea. He was alarmed and sought the Lord for guidance. He gave orders that everyone in Judah should fast, so all the towns came to Jerusalem to seek the Lord.

Then Jehoshaphat stood before the Temple of the Lord and prayed to the Lord to save them and rescue them (his prayer can be found in verses 6 through 12). And all the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their families and the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the men named Jahaziel, a Levite descended from Asaph. He told the people and his king that the Lord told them to not be afraid because the battle is not theirs, but God's. He said that the next day they were to march and find the enemy coming up through the ascent of Ziz, but the king's people would not even need to fight. He told them to just take a position and watch the Lord's victory.

Then King Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground and all the people did the same. Early the next morning, they marched singing and praising the Lord. And the moment they began to sing, the Lord caused the enemy armies to fight amongst themselves until they were all killed. Then the King and his men went and gathered the plunder from the battlefield and later returned to Jerusalem full of joy that the Lord had given them victory. When the surrounding kingdoms heard the Lord himself had fought against the enemies, they were afraid and so Jehoshaphat's kingdom was at peace.

Jehoshaphat ruled more than twenty-five years and did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight. However, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines and the people never fully committed themselves to following the God of their ancestors. Near the end of his life, he made an alliance with the wicked King Ahaziah of Israel and built a fleet of trading ships. Eliezer prophesied that because of this alliance, Jehoshaphat's work would be destroyed by the Lord and the ships met with disaster and never put out to sea.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: In his prayer to the Lord, Jehoshaphat: 1. committed the situation to the Lord, acknowledging that only God could save his nation. 2. Sought God's favor because his people were God's people. 3. Acknowledged God was sovereign. 4. Praised God's glory and took comfort in his promises. 5. Professed his dependence on God, not himself.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? We can face daily battles in the same way that Jehoshaphat did by believing we have God's spirit in us. We can ask for his help when we struggle and God will fight for us and he always triumphs! Let him fight for you! Give him the battle! Remember we are merely humans and he has the strength to move mountains. Ask God daily for help through prayer!

Yours in Christ,
Mary


Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents. especially her mother whose cancer has returned, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. She will require long therapy and insurance may soon be a problem since her job was not held for her.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues..
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
Pray for the speedy recovery of Sandy in Minnesota who underwent successful brain surgery for a tumor recently.
Pray for John recovery from a heart attack and pray he can stop smoking.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.