I believe that 2 Chronicles 20 is a very powerful account of something that happened in the life of one of the kings of Israel named Jehoshaphat. King Jehoshaphat was sent word that various armies had basically come together to attack and destroy him and the Israelites.
This greatly disturbed him because he knew that it was a real chance that he and his people could very soon be killed. He probably was facing feelings of fear, worry, anxiety, anger and more! However, he should be commended because his response to what was happening was very wise.
2 Chronicles 20
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.
King Jehoshaphat “set himself” to seek the Lord. This means he postured and positioned himself to seek God. He decided to proclaim a time of fasting and prayer for himself and the people. He could have tried to devise a defense or battle strategy first. But he did not do that. Before he made a move he began to seek the Lord first.
He then began to pray and in prayer speak of the power, authority and faithfulness of God. He told God of how great God is and the wonderful things that he had already done for them.
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?
King Jehoshaphat begin to pray and testify of the goodness of God! That means when you are feeling overwhelmed, your confession and testimony in that time, matters greatly. Many times you can encourage yourself when you remember and vocalize the wonderful things that God has already done in the past.
In the midst of this the Spirit of God moved upon a man that was among the children of Israel. This man began to speak under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Telling King Jehoshaphat that the battle is not his but it is the Lord’s battle.
God decided to fight this battle for them. Why did God fight the battle for them? Because they put the battle in God’s hands. He acknowledge that the situation was overwhelming and that he did not know what to do. He then told God our eyes are on you. Meaning we are going to focus on you. Your help, your Word, your direction and your protection.
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.
What happened after King Jehoshaphat positioned himself to seek God, fasted, prayed and praised and worship God?
God intervened!!!
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.
The scripture says that the Lord set ambushments against King Jehoshaphat’s enemies and they ended up destroying each other. King Jehoshaphat and his people didn’t have to fight. However, God gave them the victory!
Not only did God give them the victory which would have been enough. But the people also got the “spoils” from the battle. “Spoils” are the goods and treasure that you take from your enemy after they are defeated.
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.
When we posture and position ourselves the correct way even when we are feeling overwhelmed. God will ALWAYS respond!!
Pastor Kenneth Hollins