2 Chronicles 20:1-23--Jehoshaphat's Prayer

2 Chronicles 20:1-23
English Standard Version

Jehoshaphat's Prayer
20 After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). 3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. 7 Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ 10 And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy-- 11 behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.”

18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. 19 And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

20 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” 21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,

“Give thanks to the LORD,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.”

22 And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. 23 For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.

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We talked about how Jehoshaphat made an alliance with Ahab that nearly ended up in Jehoshaphat's death, but the LORD saved him.  Jehoshaphat was confronted by Jehu and repented and brought about reforms drawing the hearts of the people back to the LORD.  Now, Jehoshaphat seems to have learned his lesson.  When he receives word that a great multitude of people is coming up from Edom (the descendants of Esau) to attack, Jehoshaphat seeks help from the LORD and encouraged others to do the same.

Jehoshaphat's prayer is recorded for us here.  Jehoshaphat intercedes for the people by "reminding the LORD" (and therefore reminding the LORD's people) of their history.  He chose this people to put His name and covenant on and if He doesn't protect them, it will damage His Name and reputation.  The Sprit of the LORD answers through Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite.

The LORD tells Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah to not be afraid.  They are to go up against Edom in battle the next day, and the LORD tells Judah exactly where to find the Edomites.  There will be no need for Judah to fight in the battle, they are just to stand there and see what the LORD will do to save them once again.

They then began to worship the LORD for the victory He had promised and therefore had already given to them.  They quoted the words of the Psalms of David, "Give thanks to the LORD, for His steadfast love endures forever."

Notice that the text says that it was as they worshiped the LORD that the LORD acted to provide the deliverance he had promised.  The LORD used the kingdoms of Ammon and Moab to attack the Edomites of Mount Seir (another name for Edom like how Israel was known for Mount Zion).  Then, after they had destroyed the Edomite army, they turned on each other and the armies of Ammon and Moab defeated one another.  This was the world of the LORD.  We'll see more about this deliverance that the LORD provided for His people next time.