A Veteran’s Day/Thanksgiving Day Message Series

(Note: Based on and edited from a message preached November 13, 2022 at First Baptist Church, Chamois, MO. This is not an exact transcription.)

Introduction: Veteran’s Day was originally called Armistice Day in honor of the Armistice ending the First World War. This Armistice took place on “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” in 1918. Later this day was changed to Veteran’s Day to honor everyone who served in this nation’s military. We owe so much to those who gave so much to keep this nation alive and free.

The nation of Israel had their share of wars and thanksgivings, too. I mean, take a look at where they’re located, what with the Mediterranean Sea to the west, deserts to the other locations, and not much in the way of natural protection. This morning we’re looking at one instance where the soldiers did indeed take part in a thanksgiving service!

1 The Situation

Text: 2 Chronicles 20:1-4, KJV: 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. 2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi. 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

The problem

These first few verses state the problem about as clearly as anybody could. Now, Israel has hardly ever known peace since the days of Abraham and these days were hard, too. The Ammonites and Moabites, enemies of Israel more often than not since the days of the Judges, were actually cousins of the Israelites: Abraham’s son, Isaac, was the father of Jacob, the father of Israel’s twelve tribes; while the Moabites and Ammonites were descended from Lot, Abraham’s nephew. Now, when cousins get together, nothing bad ever happens, right (laughter; as there were several cousins there that day)?

Things sure were going wrong by now, though, and the Ammonites plus Moabites were coming from the east, crossing the Jordan River, and ready to attack Israel. Their plan or strategy, as I see it, was to either enslave Judah (note that nothing is said about the Northern kingdom) or either wipe it off the map, so to speak.

Even worse, there were other enemies too. We don’t know for sure who they are but we do know this, they too wanted to cause a lot of grief for Judah. Do any of you remember the old “Gospel Bill” Christian kids’ show? There was one music video based on this very text, and one of the opening scenes showed a messenger running to King Jehoshaphat and telling him, “King, there’s Moabites and Ammonites and all kinds of ‘ites’” coming to attack you!”

Judah’s military strength is not known for ceratain at this point, but they would have had a very hard time, humanly speaking, fighting against a three-nations-to-one situation! Now, with this kind of news hitting him, what did King Jehoshaphat do?

The prayer

Text, 2 Chronicles 20:5-12, KJV: 5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou 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? 7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? 8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, 9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. 10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; 11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. 12 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.