[Read 20:1-4]
Israel has been divided into the Northern and Southern kingdoms.
• The Southern Kingdom is JUDAH, and King Jehoshaphat was the 4th king.
• The Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites joined forces to make war against him.
• The King was afraid; and rightly so, for the army approaching him was indeed a huge one, beyond what he would be able to handle. He was in trouble.
His first response was not to organise the army but to pray. When in fear, pray.
• v. 3 he “resolved to inquire of the Lord…” A trouble draws us closer to God, not further away.
• People pray when disasters struck because they saw their own helplessness.
• Look at troubles in this way. God is reminding us that we need His help. He wants us to lean on Him.
This was a good leader. A good leader doesn’t always have the answer but he knows where the answer can be found.
The King RESOLVED to seek God. This is a strong word.
• He was determined to pray and seek God. He was determined to get the whole nation to pray and seek God, and so he declared a fast, a nationwide fast.
• People say if you have the will, you’ll have the way.
• You see, seeking God requires a commitment. You must resolve to seek God today.
SINGAPORE�S Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew is a man with determination.
Taken from “Stay Interested in the World, Take on a Challenge”, in The Straits Times, Mon, Jan 14, 2008.
When I was about - 1957 that was - I was about 34, we were competing in elections, and I was really fond of drinking beer and smoking.
And after the election campaign, in Victoria Memorial Hall - we had won the election, the City Council election - I couldn�t thank the voters because I had lost my voice. I�d been smoking furiously.
I�d take a packet of 10 to deceive myself, but I�d run through the packet just sitting on the stage, watching the crowd, getting the feeling, the mood before I speak. In other words, there were three speeches a night. Three speeches a night, 30 cigarettes, a lot of beer after that, and the voice was gone.
I remember I had a case in Kuching, Sarawak. So I took the flight and I felt awful. I had to make up my mind whether I was going to be an effective campaigner and a lawyer, in which case I cannot destroy my voice, and I can�t go on. So I stopped smoking. It was a tremendous deprivation because I was addicted to it. And I used to wake up dreaming...the nightmare was I resumed smoking.
Then one day I was at the home of my colleague, Mr Rajaratnam, meeting foreign correspondents including some from the London Times and they took a picture of me and I had a big belly like that (puts his hands in front of his belly), a beer belly. I felt no, no, this will not do.
So I started playing more golf, hit hundreds of balls on the practice tee. But this didn�t go down. There was only one way it could go down: consume less, burn up more.
• Can we resolve to do what is right, with the same commitment, same determination?
• How determine are you in seeking God? How determine are you in worshipping God?
The people responded to the King’s call. They saw the need, and they came from all over.
• Verse 4 says “they came from every town in Judah to seek Him.”
• This is not easy for them. We are not talking about cars or aeroplanes. Most have to walk to Jerusalem, some on camels, and they are probably fasting.
• And not just some. Read 20:13 “All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.” The whole family turn up.
• What a beautiful sight. You have the young ones standing with the adults. They may not understand everything but they are seeking God, with the rest.
Praying together is important, because two can agree.
• Matt 18:18-20 “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
• The emphasis is not in numbers (the more the merrier), but in unity of the plea.
• The people of Judah come with one heart and one purpose, to pray for their nation.
• Cultivate such a heart. It is not a number game. It is a common heart.
[Read 20:5-12] The King’s Prayer
The King led the people in prayer. He did not start off with a plea for help!
• He places his focus on God. Notice the number of ‘you’ used.
• This is the basis of our prayer – He mentioned 3 aspects that we can take note of.
We pray because we believe (1) God is Almighty, power and might belongs to Him (20:6). No one can withstand Him. ATTRIBUTE.
That He is (2) OUR God, that’s the relationship (20:7). We are “descendants of Abraham your friend.” RELATIONSHIP.
And He is (3) the God of this House (20:8). This is His house and He has promised to hear the cries of the people. When the Temple was first built, King Solomon dedicated the Temple with a prayer – 2 Chron 6. [Read 6:34-35] PROMISE.
His plea starts only in verse 10.
• 20:12 “O 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 upon you.”
• Blessed are those who are poor in spirit – those who knows they are bankrupt before God.
• Jehoshaphat knows they have no power and no wisdom.
• People who do not pray are people who believe they have some strength and some wisdom. If you feel you can handle it, you will not pray. If you feel that things are in control, you need not pray.
• May the Lord help us see, that things have never, ever been in our control. We need to recognise our need of God. Don’t wait for a crisis or a trouble to tell you that.
The King ends with this: “BUT our eyes are upon you”
• It really doesn’t matter if we have no power or no wisdom. Our eyes are upon you.
• Frankly, that is enough. That alone will pull you through life’s troubles.
• Can you keep your eyes on Jesus? Can you keep your eyes ALWAYS on Jesus?
God always respond to prayer. If we did not receive it, it is because God’s answer is ‘no’.
• Put it this way, if you feel that God is silent, it is because silence is His answer to you.
[Read 20:14-17] God’s Answer
God has decided, in this case, to do it all alone. God will fight for them.
• 20:17 “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you... Go out to face them tomorrow...”
• Deliverance will be a gift. You do not have to fight for it. It will be handed down.
The Lord tells them in verse 16 what would happen.
• He knows the movement of the enemies – what time they move, what route they take, and where can you find them.
• The King need not have to consult his S2 or G2 branch. God has all the intelligence.
• God knows what the devil is up to. He knows us, and He knows the devil.
But there is one simple thing they need to do.
• “…Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.”
• This may be simple but it is not easy. To march towards the enemies and simply stand and see takes faith.
• It feels better to be doing something, like arming themselves or sending the scouts out, or come up with a plan B just in case. Many find it hard to be a Christian, just believe? It’s too easy.
The Lord says, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (v.17)
• On what basis can we not be afraid and not be discouraged? The Lord says, “I will be with you.” And that’s enough.
• God’s presence is all we need. But sadly, for many, that isn’t enough.
It’s interesting to note that God did not want them to stay in camp.
• It would be so much easier to stay back in camp while God do His job.
• They could have, since God says He is doing everything for them. Why face them if we do not need to fight?
• But God wants them to move out to where the enemies are, and see His deliverance.
[Read 20:18-19] Their Reaction
They praised God, even before the trouble is over.
• They still have a battle to face tomorrow, but they are praising God now, simply by faith.
• You see, we can choose to praise and thank God for what He is about to do.
• We praise Him because we trust in His promise, we believe in His goodness.
[Read 20:20-21] The D-Day
Early the next morning they moved out, according to God’s instruction.
• The King encouraged them to place their faith in God.
• “Have faith in God, in the words of the prophet, and we will be successful.”
• That’s a good leader. Among them may be people who are really afraid and needed encouragement.
• He set us a good example. Those of us who are strong in faith must help others who are struggling. Rom 15:1-2 “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbour for his good, to build him up.” The King did just that.
The only weapon they are going to use is FAITH. That’s enough.
• 1 John 5:4 “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”
• At this point, they still do not know how God is going to solve the problem.
• God did not explain what He’s going to do. It takes faith to trust that God will work things out.
• Most of the time, this is our experience. God did explain. We do not know what He is up to. We are simply called to trust Him.
The King discussed with his ‘Council of War’, and decided to set up singers instead.
• Not the usual “commandos” or the archers, but singers. They will be at the head of the army. And remember, they still do not know how God is going to remove their enemies.
• They have faith in God and they demonstrated that in obedience.
• God says they are to take their position before the enemy, and so they moved out.
[Read 20:22-30] God’s Deliverance
The march from Jerusalem to Jeruel (v.16) would take five or six hours.
• While they were marching, God was working.
• We may not see it or feel it, but God is working. God is always working.
By the time men of Judah reached the place, they only saw dead bodies.
• God fulfilled His promise (v.17) – they need not do anything, just stand and see God’s deliverance.
God not only removed their ‘problem’, He blessed them with the spoils.
• There were great amount of equipment and clothing, articles of value, more than they could take away. It took them 3 days just to gather them.
• Why do people feel the world is so enticing? Because they’ve not known the Lord. If you know the love and blessings of God, nothing is comparable.
They cannot help but praise God, yet AGAIN.
• 20:18 – the King praised God after hearing God’s message. The choir sang with very loud voice.
• 20:21 – the King organised the singers to praise God when the army marches out.
• 20:26 – after collecting the spoils, on the 4th day, they praised God at the Valley of Beracah (praise).
• 20:28 – when they returned Jerusalem, back in the Temple, they praised God again with musical instruments.
They praised God before the battle, during the battle and after the battle.
• Most of us don’t have trouble singing praises once the victory is evident, but it can be difficult to praise before we "see the goods." Praise is faith in expression.
• And the place was named Valley of Berachah (‘praise’). Subsequent generations when they come to this place will remember what has happened and learn to trust God.
• We cannot praise God enough. It wouldn’t be too much.
The King trusted God and God blessed him. God always blesses those who seek Him.
• His Kingdom was at peace for the rest of his reign, because God “had given him rest on every side.”
• You see, peace and security can only come from God.
• Psalm 127:1-2 “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for He grants sleep to those he loves.”
• Put God first, just like King Jehoshaphat, and you’ll experience God’s presence and protection.
• God will watch over you and provide for you.
What begins as a trouble has now become a blessing. This is what God can do for you. Seek the Lord now. We do not need a crisis to turn our attention to Him.
