THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS, BUT GOD'S

Passage: 2 Chronicles 20:14-37

Key verse: 15b

NIV

14 Then the Spirit(A) of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah,(B) a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.

15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged(C) because of this vast army. For the battle(D) is not yours, but God’s. 16 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. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see(E) the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

18 Jehoshaphat bowed down(F) with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

20 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(G) in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.(H)” 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his[a] holiness(I) as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

“Give thanks to the Lord,
    for his love endures forever.”(J)

22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes(K) against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The Ammonites(L) and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir(M) to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.(N)

24 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. 25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing[b] and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah[c] to this day.

27 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. 28 They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets.

29 The fear(O) of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought(P) against the enemies of Israel. 30 And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest(Q) on every side.

The End of Jehoshaphat’s Reign(R)

31 So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 32 He followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. 33 The high places,(S) however, were not removed, and the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their ancestors.

34 The other events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the annals of Jehu(T) son of Hanani, which are recorded in the book of the kings of Israel.

35 Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance(U) with Ahaziah king of Israel, whose ways were wicked.(V) 36 He agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships.[d] After these were built at Ezion Geber, 37 Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made.” The ships(W) were wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade.[e]

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Chronicles 20:21 Or him with the splendor of
  2. 2 Chronicles 20:25 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts corpses
  3. 2 Chronicles 20:26 Berakah means praise.
  4. 2 Chronicles 20:36 Hebrew of ships that could go to Tarshish
  5. 2 Chronicles 20:37 Hebrew sail for Tarshish
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

14 And (A)the Spirit of the Lord came[a] 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, (B)‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, (C)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 (D)the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 (E)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.’ (F)Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, (G)and the Lord will be with you.”

18 Then Jehoshaphat (H)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 (I)Kohathites and the (J)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 (K)the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! (L)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 (M)in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,

(N)“Give thanks to the Lord,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.”

22 And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set (O)an ambush against the men of (P)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, (Q)they all helped to destroy one another.

The Lord Delivers Judah

24 When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there[b] were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped. 25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found among them, in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah,[c] for there they blessed the Lord. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this day. 27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, (R)for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28 They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the Lord. 29 (S)And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, (T)for his God gave him rest all around.

31 (U)Thus Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 32 He walked in the way of Asa his father and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. 33 (V)The high places, however, were not taken away; (W)the people had not yet set their hearts upon the God of their fathers.

34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from first to last, are written in the chronicles of (X)Jehu the son of Hanani, (Y)which are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.

The End of Jehoshaphat's Reign

35 (Z)After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly. 36 He joined him in building ships to go to (AA)Tarshish, and they built the ships in Ezion-geber. 37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, (AB)“Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made.” And the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Chronicles 20:14 Or was
  2. 2 Chronicles 20:24 Hebrew they
  3. 2 Chronicles 20:26 Beracah means blessing
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. God heard their prayer and delivered them to victory (14-3

)

After hearing of God's promised deliverance, early the next morning, Jehoshaphat encouraged the people and gave thanks and praise to God before even seeing what God would do. He put his faith in the word of God's salvation. Similarly, we face the power of fear and anxiety, and even sin and death. When we come to God, open our spiritual ears, and walk in faith, God can deliver a glorious victory over such frightening forces.

2. The end of Jehoshaphat's reign (31-37)

Jehoshaphat was a good king and did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. We especially see his reliance on the word of the LORD, whether in the Book of the Law, or through his prophets. He was not without mistakes, but when he relied on God, he saw great victory, peace, and prosperity for the nation of Judah.

Prayer: Lord, may we seek your ways and put our faith in the power of your grace and deliverance. Even in the midst of our deepest fears and darkest sins may we experience your salvation.

One Word: The LORD saves.