HAPPY SEPTEMBER!
We are journeying through the Bible this year to learn about God’s Promises. Over 242 of God’s Promises have been engraved if you started with us in January. We’ll learn about 30 more of God’s promises this month.
One of the passages we will be journaling is 2 Chronicles 20:17.
Let’s look at this promise together.
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. 2 Chronicles 20:17
WHO WAS JEHOSHAPHAT, WHO WAS HE?
Jehoshaphat was the son of King Asa, and his mother was Azubah. One of the righteous kings, Jehoshaphat was the fourth ruler of Judah. He succeeded the throne after the death of his father. He had times of weakness where he put his faith in foreign alliances rather than God, yet he was a fearless follower of Yahweh and carried out initiatives to teach his people the Bible. As a result of his obedience in following God’s Word, ‘’And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat” (2 Chronicles 17:10).
THE IMPENDING DESTRUCTION
However, the peace did not last forever. The country was in peril in chapter 20 of 2 Chronicles. The news was not good when the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites banded together at End Gedi, near the Dead Sea, to wage war against Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:1). Jehosphahat appeared to have no chance of winning this conflict in the natural world.
He was rightfully alarmed and afraid, but rather than cower in his fear he called for a fast among his people and chose to seek the Lord. He prayed to GOD for guidance. They came from all the cities of Judah to pray before God in unison as the nation of Judah. (2 Chronicles 20:3)
Jehoshaphat’s prayer is recorded in 2 Chronicles 20:6-12.
They were praying when the Holy Spirit of God inspired a prophet by the name of Jahaziel to speak. ‘’And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 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.’’ (2 Chronicles 20:15-17)
‘‘THE LORD WILL BE WITH YOU”
Off times when trials and temptations seem more than we can bear, we tend to murmur and complain. We struggle to stand and wait before the Lord. We’ll put on our armour and think that it’s up to us to fight the battle.
Ephesians 6 encourages us to put on the whole armour of God and then stand. We need to take the time to be still before the Lord and remind ourselves that God is with us and of all he as He’s helped us in the past. We need to remember that the battle is the Lord’s and then wait for His deliverance.
The battles will be many which seek to destroy us and stop us from doing what God wants to do in and through our lives. But we have an Almighty Warrior who will fight for us when we seek Him first.
Jehoshaphat and his people received God’s Word, worshipped Him, and lifted up their voices in praise to God (20:18-21). When they began to sing and praise the Lord, the Lord went to battle against their enemies. An active faith gives thanks for God’s promises knowing that He will fulfill those promises.
How can I be sure that the LORD is with me?
I know He is with me if I seek to do His will. If I place my trust in the only-begotten Son of God, I can rest in the knowledge that He will do everything in His power to preserve and protect me in every circumstance I go through.
‘‘Oh, for faith to take hold upon the short but sweet text for today! O LORD, fulfil this word to Your servant! Be with me in the house, in the street, in the field, in the shop, in company, and alone. Be Thou also with all Your people.” – Charles Spurgeon, Faith’s Checkbook.
My hope is that you will sense God’s presence as you journal the promises of God this month—within you, beside you, and all around you. May you always be aware of His presence.
You can download and print a copy here:
https://charitymaeprosper.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/JS-September.pdf”]
