Text: 1 Chronicle 20:12
BY: ODAFE OBUKOHWO
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BRIEF HISTORY
The name Jehoshaphat simply means Yahweh (God) has judged.
Jehoshaphat was king of Judah (Southern Kingdom of Isreal). He succeeded his father (Asa) as the fourth King of Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem.
Jehoshaphat was wealthy and greatly respected. He was a good king and faithful worshipper of God who furthered the religious reforms his father initiated. When Jehoshaphat took office, he immediately began to abolish the idol worship that had consumed the land. (1 King 22:42).
ATTEMPTED ATTACK ON JUDAH
During the reign of Jehoshaphat, a massive (multitude) of enemy army approached Jerusalem from the southeast. After years of servitude to David, Solomon, and Asa, the people of Moab, Ammon, and Edom sensed that the time was right to fight for their independence from the kingdom of Judah.
A messenger brought word of great danger to Jehoshaphat: “A vast number from beyond the Dead Sea and from Edom has come to fight against you” (II Chronicles. 20:2). 2 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi).
News of the threat posed by the approaching enemy armies hit Jehoshaphat hard with fear.
JEHOSHAPHAT’S PRAYER
Jehoshaphat was aware that neither the size of an army nor the depth of fortifications could protect him without the Lord’s intervention. He turns to God.
(II Chronicles. 20:3). 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
(II Chronicles. 20:12) 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.
In other words, Jehoshaphat’s prayer was: “O God, the problem is bigger than I am but you are bigger than the problem because we look unto you”.
Jehoshaphat recognizes who God is, His power and no one is able to withstand Him. That God rules in complete authority over this world and has always taken care of His children.
(II Chronicles. 20:15-27) Narrates that Jehoshaphat prayed to God, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, who prophesied that the battle was the Lord’s. What people of Judah must do and how they became victorious over the multitude of soldiers.
I don’t know what your multitude are, God has power to make you victorious over them. He clearly told us that if we genuinely call out to Him in prayer, He will help us through difficult times. (Jeremiah 29:12)
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM JEHOSHAPHAT?
- Acknowledge God’s sovereignty over every situation.
- Demonstrated action in faith.
- Committed the situation to God in prayer/fasting and profess complete dependence on God.
- Acknowledged that without God’s help, we can do nothing worthwhile.
- Appreciate God’s glory.
- Do not be afraid or discouraged.
- The battle is not yours, but God’s.
CONCLUSION
Jehoshaphat knows that even with the size of armies he cannot succeed without the Lord’s intervention. God is aware of every multitude we are facing. We need to be courageous demonstrate action in faith. we can do nothing without him.
May God help each one of us and fight our battles for us as we look unto to Him in Jesus Name. Amen!
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