It's one of my very favorite in all the Bible! Soooo many good verses for encouragement in the bad spots of life.
Jehoshaphat and Judah were about to be attacked by a multitude. And, of course, it was SCARY! But Jehoshaphat responded in the right way:
v3 "Then Jehoshaphat feared, and SET himself [determinedly, as his vital need] to seek the Lord; he proclaimed a fast in all Judah."
Instead of worrying and fretting for days, he did the best, most effective thing he could---he ran straight to the Father for help and exhorted everyone else in the situation to do the same.
Then he set right to work declaring the truth (2 Cor. 4:13) in the presence of the assembly:
v6 "O Lord, God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven? And do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In Your Hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand You."
He goes on reminding God of His Promises and who he and this people are to Him on through to verse 12 where he says:
"O our God, will You not exercise judgment upon them? For we have no might to stand against this great company that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You."
Jehoshaphat KNEW that he and the rest of Judah had no power to save themselves from their circumstances. And he KNEW Who did!
So then...he and Judah just stood there waiting in the Presence of the Lord for their answer. And God sent it through the Levite prophet Jahaziel (a descendant of Asaph):
v15,17 "Hearken, all Judah, you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you King Jehoshaphat, The Lord says this to you: 'Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.'...You shall not need to fight in this battle; take your positions, stand still, and see the deliverance of the Lord [Who is] with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Fear not nor be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you."
And what was their response?
v18 "And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping Him."
Again, the best response possible! Followed up by a great response as well: PRAISE!!!
v19 "And some of the Levites of the Kohathites and Korahites stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice."
Then again after Jehoshaphat exhorts everyone to believe in v20:
v21 "When he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers to sing to the Lord and praise Him in their holy [priestly] garments as they went out before the army, saying, 'Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!'"
PRAISE = STRENGTH
And what was the Father's response?
v22 "And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir..."
He came through for them. He delivered them. All they had to do was take up their positions of obedience and praise. He took care of the rest! (Not only did the Judahites not get slaughtered and not have to fight, but God gave them many riches as well. So many riches that they named the field they expected to die on The Valley of Beracah {blessing}.)
And then they went marching home still praising:
vv27,28 "Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat leading them, to Jerusalem with JOY for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies. They came to Jerusalem with harps, lyres, and trumpets to the house of the Lord."
And not only did the Father WOW their socks off, He AMAZED the surrounding nations as well:
v29 "And the fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel."
And how did they hear? Hopefully they heard from God's people giving Him the glory.
Now, what should MY response be?
Hopefully, I will remember this passage
and do like King Jehoshaphat did
and run straight to my Father.
And then, hopefully, I will quiet my heart
before Him in trust that He IS my help,
and I will wait expectantly for His Word
on the situation and for what He will do
on my behalf, since He also promises:
"For from of old no one has heard
nor perceived by the ear,
nor has the eye see a God
besides You,
Who works and shows Himself active
on behalf of him who [earnestly]
waits for Him."
Isaiah 64:4
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