Jehoshaphat’s Prayer – Humble, God Honouring, Public And Effective Series

JEHOSHAPHAT’S PRAYER – HUMBLE, GOD HONOURING, PUBLIC AND EFFECTIVE

THE PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS KING AVAILS MUCH

{{2Chronicles 20:1-4 “Now it came about after this, that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat. Then some came and reported to Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, out of Aram and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is Engedi),” and Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah, so Judah gathered together to seek help from the LORD. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD.”}}

I love Jehoshaphat and it not because he has a funny name. it is because he was a good king of Judah. There is so much benefit in studying these kings, and today we will learn a bit more about this servant of the Lord.

IN TIMES OF CRISIS

A period of trial or testing will sort out the spiritual fibre of a man. That which confronts on the outside will determine what is truly residing on the inside. The weakling caves in. The coward hides away in his or her room pretending the situation does not exist. The unstable person panics and gets into drugs or alcohol or caffeine. What really is disappointing is when the unsaved person shows more character and resilience and determination than a Christian shows when times are tough. The Christian has the resources of God unless we are living a lie, and they are at our disposal, but it is faith that must lay hold of the resources and claim them completely. That is why too many Christians fail – they do not have the faith to lay hold of God’s promises.

God was totally aware of the threat to Judah, and it was serious because it meant your death if the onslaught from Moab and Ammon was successful. In the past, certain kings, when they were confronted with a similar threat, turned to other nations around to buy their help, using the money given to the Lord’s treasury in the house of the Lord, for its upkeep. Such acts spoke of utter faithlessness, for Israel’s history has been filled up with examples of deliverance when the nation sought God’s help. Their God is the God of Circumstances and the God of Deliverance and Intervention. When they sought Him He gave them the victory; when they rejected Him, He left them to their own devices.

A king who did not walk with God with his whole heart, turned to outside help of other nations in times of crisis. David turned to the Lord. Now Jehoshaphat likewise turned to the Lord. In a marriage, there is nothing nicer than a wife who will turn to her husband for guidance and leadership as head of the family, but there is nothing more hurtful than a wife who rejects her husband, considering him unjust, as Israel did to her own God (come to Amos to see that), and determined to go off and do her own thing in a willful rejection. It is against God’s order and Israel often went against God’s order as a rebellious “wife of Jehovah” which is a biblical term for Israel. It displeases God immensely.

REACTION TO FEAR

Jehoshaphat was afraid. There was fear in his heart for the news was unsettling. Fear is an emotion given by God and it is necessary for our survival. We may have fear in being too adventurous in a very dangerous place but that is for our protection. There is nothing wrong with the reaction in verse 3 for fearful situations do make us afraid. Of course Jehoshaphat was afraid, not just for himself but for his whole nation.

However what is critical is where this fear will drive a person. Fear will have an outcome either good or bad. People react in all manner of ways but this is where the spiritual foundation of a man or woman should come to the front.

In what direction will a person turn? Will that person first of all seek help from friends, solicitors and from advisors, or will that person seek help from God? I love the example of Hezekiah who laid out the enemy’s letter before the Lord in the Temple. In time of trial, go to the Lord. He is a very present help in time of trouble. The Psalms are full of material dealing with this type of situation. Over and over again, David had to fall on the Lord in many adverse situations, but He found the Lord was always faithful. Many of his recorded prayers and thoughts make up these petitions to God and they are found in the Psalms.