Jehoshaphat - 2 Chronicles 20

So much good instruction and encouragement in this chapter to be had just by reading through! Jehoshaphat had learned his lesson and in this crisis was leaning entirely on the Lord.  I read thru Psalm 21 after I read 2 Chronicles and couldn’t help but think of Jehoshaphat’s victory.

Ps 21:1-2 The king shall have joy in Your strength, O LORD; And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! You have given him his heart's desire, And have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.—2 Chronicles 20:3

Jehoshaphat’s prayer 5-12

"O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You."-2 Chronicles 20:12

You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you."—2 Chronicles 20:17

"Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper."
And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:

"Praise the LORD,
For His mercy endures forever."—2 Chronicles 20: 20-21

2 Chronicles 17:6a

And his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord;—2 Chronicles 17:6a

Lord...this could be me...I want it to be me!  But sadly my ways are always in front of your ways clamoring for position, clamoring to be heard, clamoring out of fear, clamoring for me, myself and I.  Oh, Father, I want to be as a weaned child before You...my soul calmed and quiet and my heart fixed on my hope that is in You from this time forth and forever.

Praying that my noisy clamoring ceases as I surrender to a Your Spirit today and allow Your peace to “rule” in my heart and “be thankful” ( Col 3:15). That word rule means act as an umpire.  That is so practical and helpful for me to think on...let God’s peace act as the “umpire” of my heart.  Let Him call the shots in my life and tell me what is fair or foul. Let God and His word rule.

The last part of Colossians 3:15 reminds me to be thankful.  So let God’s peace rule and be thankful. I have made a practice of seeing what is wrong...I have gotten good at complaining.  God’s word tells me that there is really nothing wrong in my life.  He overrules all in my life for my good and His glory. I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me. I can walk free from fear because God cares for my soul and His desire for me is good.  Complaining does not honor God.  It says that God is not for me and that He is not good.  Praying that by His Spirit I can quiet the clamoring and embody thanksgiving.   May my heart rejoice in You and my meditation be on those things that are above.

2 Chronicles 14:11

And Asa cried out to the LORD his God, and said, "LORD, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!"—2 Chronicles 14:11

I am so thankful, Father, that You are for us...and if You are for us, then none can truly be against us.  We are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through You who loved us so much that You died for us.

“Nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few.” (1 Sam 14:6) Lord...we rest entirely on You...for without You, we are without strength.  Be exalted, O LORD, in Your own strength!  We will sing and praise Your power.  (Ps 21:13) O God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." (2 Chron 20:12) You are our God...and You have promised to be ours...we cleave unto You.  We go out in Your name...do not let man prevail against You!  Bring glory and honor to Your name!

MAY THE LORD answer you (David) in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high [and defend you in battle]! May He send you help from the sanctuary (His dwelling place) And support and strengthen you from Zion! May He remember all your meal offerings And accept your burnt offering. Selah. 

May He grant you your heart’s desire And fulfill all your plans. We will sing joyously over your victory, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the LORD fulfill all your petitions. Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, But we will remember and trust in the name of the LORD our God. They have bowed down and fallen, But we have risen and stood upright. O LORD, save [the king]; May the King answer us in the day we call.—Psalm 20 AMPLIFIED 

Isaiah 41:10-14 (NKJV)

10 Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. 12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, [even] them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. 13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. 14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, [and] ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.