Bible in one year 7/5/2022 2Chronicles Chapter 17-20 King of Judah Jehoshaphat's victory
By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce
Christian Arts Ministries : Biblical precepts & Gospel music;
Pastoral ministry & Counseling
2 Chronicles Chapter 20 Jehoshaphat’s victory over Moab and Ammon
The Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on
Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The
people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. (vv.1-4).
Then
Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of
the Lord in the front of the new courtyard and said,
“
O Lord, God of our fathers,
are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the
nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before
your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your
friends? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name
saying, “If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or
famine, we
will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will
cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.” But now here are men and Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you
would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away
from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to
drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 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.”(vv.5-12).
All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord. Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levited and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. He said: “ Listen, king Jehoshaphet and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘ Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.(v.15). Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel.(v.16). You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you. O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; Do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow and the Lord will be with you.’”(v.17).
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Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and
all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord.
Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood
up and praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with very loud voice.
Early in the morning they left for the Desert of
Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said,
“ Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem!
Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in His
prophets and you will be successful.”(v.20). After
consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and
to praise him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out at the head of
the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever.”(v.21).
As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set
ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading
Judah, and they were defeated. The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men
from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished
slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.(vv.22-23).
When the men of Judah came to the
place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only
dead bodies lying on the ground, no one had escaped. So Jehoshaphat and his men
went to carry off their plunder and they found among them a great amount of
equipment and clothing and also articles of value more than they could take
away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. On the
fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they praise the Lord.
This is why it is called the Valley of Beracah to this day.(vv.24-26).
Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the
men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had
given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. They entered Jerusalem and went
to the temple of the Lord with harps and lutes and trumpets. The fear of God
came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the Lord had
fought against he enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at
peace, for his God had give him rest on every side. (vv.27-29).
Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah in Jerusalem
twenty-five years when he was thirty-five years old. He walked in the ways of
his father Asa and did not stray from them, he did what was right in the eyes
of the Lord. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people still
had not set their hearts on the God of their fathers.(vv.32-33).
Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made
an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, who was guilty of wickedness. He agreed
with him to construct a fleet of trading ships. After these were built at Ezion
Geber. Eliezer prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “ because you have made an
alliance with Abaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made.” The ships were
wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade.(vv.35-37). Then Jehoshaphat
rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David. And
Jehoram his son succeeded him as king.
Bibliography,
Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago,
IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986
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