Jehoshaphat

2 Chron 20:1 - 30

I. JEHOSHAPHAT’S PROBLEM 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.

A. A Huge Army - A confederacy of Heathen Nations had united to do battle with Judah.

B. A Hidden Army - Hazazon - Tamar, - the wood of the palm trees, that is in Engedi.

C. A Hostile Army - 11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.

Sammy Tippit, "The people of Romania are a needy people and they know it; The people in the west are equally as needy, but just don't know it".

2. JEHOSHAPHAT’S PEOPLE 3 Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

A. Aware of the Enemies Activity 2 "There cometh a great multitude against thee..."

B. Aware of His Own Inadequacy 12 "For we have no might against this great company..

neither know we what to do"

C. Aware of the Almighty's Capability 12 "...but our eyes are upon thee."

3. JEHOSHAPHAT’S PRAYER 3 Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

A. Focused on HEAVEN 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?

B. It was focused on HISTORY 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

C. It was focused on the HEATHEN 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.

He prayed specifically that God would deal with their enemy.

4. JEHOSHAPHAT’S PRONOUNCEMENT 17 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; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.

A. The Prophet Of God Responded With Proclamation

B. The People Of God Responded With Prostration. 18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.

C. The Priests Of God Responded With Praise. 19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.

5. JEHOSHAPHAT’S PROCESSION 20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

A. Notice the SONG 21 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 for ever.

B. Notice the SCENE 23 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 Seir, every one helped to destroy another.

It was a scene of utter devastation, as the Lord turned the enemy on each other.

C. Notice the SPOIL 25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.