Jehoshaphat
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2 Chronicles 20
1 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites {Some Septuagint manuscripts;
Hebrew Ammonites} came to make war on Jehoshaphat. (NIV)
They were in a battle, much like we are. Their enemy was one they could see – one they were familiar
with. Our enemy is one we cannot see. But we are familiar with our enemy also.
2Co 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (AV)
It is wise for us to know our enemy and to stay aware that we are in battle.
Bad Report -
2Ch 20:2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, {One
Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate Aram} from the other side of the
Sea. {That is, the Dead Sea} It is already in Hazezon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi). (NIV)
Things were going well. Everything was in order and the nation was at peace. Then came bad news – the
enemy is coming and they are getting close. Fear gripped the king. They were about a days journey
away. There was no time to prepare adequately.
Proper Response -
3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all
Judah. (KJV)
Now here was a wise move. J. called the people together to pray. In fact, they did more than pray – they
fasted. Fasting is the practice of going without food in order to enhance your prayer power. Fasting
shows God how serious you are about the matter. Doing without food hightens your senses and gives you
greater sensitivity in your prayer time.
Many times the nation was called to a time of fasting and prayer in times of great need. Maybe it’s time to
call the church to a time of fasting and prayer. We need God’s power to overcome the powers of darkness
that are warring against us in the spiritual realm. We need a move of God to wake up the church and
move us closer to the heart of God. It is time to get serious! This is war.
Everybody Got Involved – It takes all of us
2Ch 20:4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every
town in Judah to seek him. (NIV)
2Ch 20:5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD
in the front of the new courtyard (NIV)
Note this, everybody got involved. A handful can do much. Look at Gideon’s army. Look at tiny David
against big Goliath. Look at the many times God’s people have been outnumbered and God used a few to
do much.
But think of what the united efforts of God’s people can do. If few can do much, think of what many can
do. It will take every one of us to change our world. We must all get involved.
Now listen to J’s prayer --
He Remembered the Promise of God -
2 Chronicles 20
6 and said: "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the
kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no-one can withstand you.
7 O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it for
ever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?
8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying,
9 `If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your
presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear
us and save us.'
10 "But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel
to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them.
11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an
inheritance.
12 O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us.
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."
13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD.
And listen to God’s answer --
The Battle Is The Lord’s -
2 Chronicles 20
14. Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of
Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
15 He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD
says to you: `Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but
God's.
16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them
at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel.
17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the
LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them
tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.'"
18 Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in
worship before the LORD.
19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of
Israel, with a very loud voice.
God is on our side. He will fight for us. If we will pray, he will fight. The battle is the Lord’s, not ours.
He said He would build his church, not us.
He said, “not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit...”
He Encouraged The People -
2Ch 20:20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and
said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be
upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." (NIV)
Jesus said:
You can move mountains with faith -
Mt 17:20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a
mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, `Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be
impossible for you." (NIV)
You can change things (the fig tree) -
Mt 21:21 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what
was done to the fig-tree, but also you can say to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will
be done. (NIV)
Mr 11:22 "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. (NIV)
Unusual, but Anointed Plan From God -
2Ch 20:21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise
him for the splendour of his {Or him with the splendour of} holiness as they went out at the head of the
army, saying: "Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures for ever." (NIV)
2Ch 20:22 As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and
Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. (NIV)
1 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites {Some Septuagint manuscripts;
Hebrew Ammonites} came to make war on Jehoshaphat. (NIV)
They were in a battle, much like we are. Their enemy was one they could see – one they were familiar
with. Our enemy is one we cannot see. But we are familiar with our enemy also.
2Co 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (AV)
It is wise for us to know our enemy and to stay aware that we are in battle.
Bad Report -
2Ch 20:2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, {One
Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate Aram} from the other side of the
Sea. {That is, the Dead Sea} It is already in Hazezon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi). (NIV)
Things were going well. Everything was in order and the nation was at peace. Then came bad news – the
enemy is coming and they are getting close. Fear gripped the king. They were about a days journey
away. There was no time to prepare adequately.
Proper Response -
3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all
Judah. (KJV)
Now here was a wise move. J. called the people together to pray. In fact, they did more than pray – they
fasted. Fasting is the practice of going without food in order to enhance your prayer power. Fasting
shows God how serious you are about the matter. Doing without food hightens your senses and gives you
greater sensitivity in your prayer time.
Many times the nation was called to a time of fasting and prayer in times of great need. Maybe it’s time to
call the church to a time of fasting and prayer. We need God’s power to overcome the powers of darkness
that are warring against us in the spiritual realm. We need a move of God to wake up the church and
move us closer to the heart of God. It is time to get serious! This is war.
Everybody Got Involved – It takes all of us
2Ch 20:4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every
town in Judah to seek him. (NIV)
2Ch 20:5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD
in the front of the new courtyard (NIV)
Note this, everybody got involved. A handful can do much. Look at Gideon’s army. Look at tiny David
against big Goliath. Look at the many times God’s people have been outnumbered and God used a few to
do much.
But think of what the united efforts of God’s people can do. If few can do much, think of what many can
do. It will take every one of us to change our world. We must all get involved.
Now listen to J’s prayer --
He Remembered the Promise of God -
2 Chronicles 20
6 and said: "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the
kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no-one can withstand you.
7 O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it for
ever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?
8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying,
9 `If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your
presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear
us and save us.'
10 "But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel
to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them.
11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an
inheritance.
12 O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us.
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."
13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD.
And listen to God’s answer --
The Battle Is The Lord’s -
2 Chronicles 20
14. Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of
Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
15 He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD
says to you: `Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but
God's.
16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them
at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel.
17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the
LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them
tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.'"
18 Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in
worship before the LORD.
19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of
Israel, with a very loud voice.
God is on our side. He will fight for us. If we will pray, he will fight. The battle is the Lord’s, not ours.
He said He would build his church, not us.
He said, “not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit...”
He Encouraged The People -
2Ch 20:20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and
said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be
upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." (NIV)
Jesus said:
You can move mountains with faith -
Mt 17:20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a
mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, `Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be
impossible for you." (NIV)
You can change things (the fig tree) -
Mt 21:21 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what
was done to the fig-tree, but also you can say to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will
be done. (NIV)
Mr 11:22 "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. (NIV)
Unusual, but Anointed Plan From God -
2Ch 20:21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise
him for the splendour of his {Or him with the splendour of} holiness as they went out at the head of the
army, saying: "Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures for ever." (NIV)
2Ch 20:22 As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and
Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. (NIV)