The Means of Victory: Pray, Believe and Praise
2 Chronicles 20:1 “It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.”
Now Jehoshaphat was a godly king of Judah.
And so when he heard of their coming to war with them, he feared; but sought the Lord.
2 Chronicles 20:3 “ And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.”
He knew that his small country could not stand against the superior numbers and warriors of these three nations.
But He knew God could save them.
2 Chronicles 20:6, 12 “And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art thou not 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?
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.”
As they were praying and seeking God’s help; the Holy Spirit gave them direction through one of the appointed singers, that stood seeking God.
(2Chronicles 20:15-17) “….Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
Tomorrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.”
They knew they would have to go out and face the enemy; but the Lord said He would be with them, and fight for them.
They all started worshipping, and thanking God for it!
2 Chronicles 20:20-21 “And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness…: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah,…; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for His mercy endureth forever.”
Notice Jehoshaphat did not stay in Jerusalem, but led his people.
Also notice, when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers. They all wanted to praise God, even before the actual victory.
And what was the battle?
It was the Lord’s. For He caused two of the armies to unite against the third army; destroying it.
Then God caused those enemies that were left, to turn on each other!
2 Chronicles 20:22-23 “And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord sent ambushments against…which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
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 mount Seir, everyone helped to destroy another.”
Judah did not have to fight at all!
2 Chronicles 20:24 “And when Judah came toward the watchtower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, Behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.”
Four days later, after taking the spoil of the armies that came to destroy them, they gathered in the same Valley.
They renamed it “Berachah”,….or Blessing.
2 Chronicles 20:26-28 “And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the Lord:…
Then they returned,…to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies.
And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the Lord.”
Jehoshaphat was a godly king, but even godly people have enemies.
So God was sought after for His help,…..and He was found of them.
We, too, can seek the Lord and His help when we are in fear of being overcome.
Whether by enemies, troubles, or fear itself.
We are to pray, looking to Him for the help.
We are to believe Him.
And we are to praise Him for the help He sends. Whatever way He sends it.
He is the means of Victory in our lives; and He has appointed prayer and belief and praise to go before us into the battles we fight.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 