Have you ever found yourself in what looked like a hopeless situation? Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, knew what it meant to face overwhelming odds. His choice, and God’s response, teaches us several lessons about what to do in difficult circumstances. Text: II Chronicles 20:1-30 Body: I. The Need for Preparation (Verses 1-4) · Moabites and Ammonites [descendants of Lot] and also Meunites [from Mt. Seir] came in great multitudes to battle Judah. · The King was alarmed. His last experience on the battlefield was a narrow escape from death. So he set his face to seek the Lord. (II Chronicles 17:3-4) · Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast. This would help draw them closer to God. This was an expression of humility and total dependence upon God. (Ezra 8:21-23) (Matthew 6:16-18)
II. The Need for Prayer (Verses 5-12) · Jehoshaphat addressed Jehovah as being over all nations. Other people believed in localized deities but the God of Israel was over the whole world. (Daniel 4:17) King David prayed similarly in I Chronicles 29:11-12. · He acknowledged God’s victories in the past over Israel’s enemies. (Psalm 44:1-8) · God had not allowed Israel to invade Ammon or Moab. (Deuteronomy 2) · “Set their eyes on God” (Psalm 123:1-2)
III. The Need to Listen (Verses13-17) · All of Judah waited quietly for an answer. · God spoke to them through Jahaziel and told them what they needed to do in the battle. [This is good advice for us as well.] 1. Do not be afraid or dismayed; fear will not change your circumstances nor help conquer your enemy. (Isaiah 41:10,13) (Luke 12:4-7) 2. Remember the battle isn’t yours. David and Goliath are an example of this. (I Samuel 17:46-47) 3. Stand firm and hold your position. (Ephesians 6:10-11,13)
IV. The Need to Trust (Verses 18-30) · Israel fell down and worshiped God. (Nehemiah 8:6) · Their trust in Jehovah was essential to victory. (Isaiah 7:9) “If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.” · They must have trusted in God because the singers went first! (Verse 21) · Note their faith still had to act for God to bless them. It was an active and obedient trust. (Hebrews 11:6) · The result was that the kingdom was at rest. Conclusion: As did Jehoshaphat, we need to set our eyes on God; seek Him with all our heart; and trust Him with absolute confidence. (Romans 8:37) “__in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
Bobby Stafford
December 1, 2013 | |||||
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