To read: 2 Chronicles 20:1-22
New Revised Standard Version Bible,After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, "A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; already they are at Hazazon-tamar" (that is, En-gedi).
Jehoshaphat was afraid; he set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the towns of Judah they came to seek the Lord. Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and said, "O Lord, God of our ancestors, are you not God in heaven? Do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In your hand are power and might, so that no one is able to withstand you. Did you not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? They have lived in it, and in it have built you a sanctuary for your name, saying, 'If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house, and before you, for your name is in this house, and cry to you in our distress, and you will hear and save.'
"See now, the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy - they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession that you have given us to inherit. O our God, will you not execute judgment upon them? For we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."
Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. Then the spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the middle of the assembly. He said, "Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you: 'Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God's. Tomorrow go down against them; they will come up by the ascent of Ziz; you will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel. This battle is not for you to fight; take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you."
Then Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
They rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God and you will be established; believe his prophets." When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy splendor, as they went before the army, saying, "Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever." As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.
copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
To think about:
The
odds were against the people of Israel. There was a multitude coming toward them for battle - far more in number than they. Their choices seem clear to me. They could try to out-strategize those coming to fight and attempt what would probably be their "last stand." They could surrender and hope to preserve their lives. They could turn and "run for the hills." Those options seem pretty logical to me. But what did the king do? He chose the option of faith, not logic - he prayed. He proclaimed a fast for the country and gathered all the people together to pray - to call upon their Lord God who had already brought them through the years to where they were. All the people prayed, admitting that they did not know what to do but turn their eyes toward God.
While they were gathered in prayer, their answer came to them. "Do not fear &for the battle is not yours but God's." And if that was not clear enough, they heard "This battle is not for you to fight."
Sometimes in life or in ministry I have felt overwhelmed by the enormity of the tasks or problems. I need this passage as a reminder in two ways - first, to set my logic aside sooner rather than later and turn to God in prayer, and secondly, to watch, listen and discern when the battle is not mine but God's. Every time I step back, realizing that some particular "battle" is not mine to fight, I am simply amazed at what God does.
To pray:
Lord God, you are the One who has brought me to this place and time in my life. You have clothed, protected, blessed and led me through the years and I thank you with my whole being. Help me remember that you are always with me, that your steadfast love is always around me. Help me understand that not every problem is mine to fix nor every battle mine to fight. Give me the wisdom to know when to act and when to wait while you act. Amen.
Assistant to the Bishop, Delaware-Maryland Synod
Delaware-Maryland Synod