The Battle is not Yours
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-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --
In 2 Chronicles 19:1-3 When Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem, 2 Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, the wrath of the Lord is on you. 3 There is, however, some good in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God.” 2 Chronicles 19:1-3 NIV
The Crisis. Armies are coming against Jehoshaphat.
The Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. 2 Chronicles 20:1 NIV
Vs 1 Jehoshaphat had just got things in order in chapter 19 and here comes three groups of people coming against him and God’s people. Just because you have done some good things does not mean that you are exempt for the attacks from the enemy.
Well thought out plans do not disqualify you from the enemy’s schemes.
What is Jehoshaphat’s Response to the possible attack?. Prayer and Fasting
Vs 3-4
Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.
4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. 2 Chronicles 20:3-4 NIV
Part of his prayer is vs 15 “Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:15
Everything hinges on what you are looking at, what you focus on. Prayer and Fasting are life-giving tools through which believers align their eyes and hearts with God’s purpose and experience His transformative power.
Divine intervention. After they fasted and prayed, God sent intervention.
Vs 14-16
Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly
He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them.
Joel 2:12–13 God promises that when people return to God with fasting and weeping, He will hear and answer. The battle is not yours it’s the Lords.
Our Response. Praise and worship
Vs. 15 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord.
Vs. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
The Word of God demands a correct response from us. The correct response is thanksgiving and praise.
God’s Resolution. God strategies
Vs 21-23
After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his[c] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”
22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
VS. 27-30
27 Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies.
28 They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets.
29 The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel.
30 And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side
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