I’ve been reading 2 Chronicles 20 this week over & over again. It really spoke volumes to me and has been a huge encouragement. Praying that He opens your spiritual eyes and ears to hear what He is speaking to you today! Be blessed!
In the Midst of the Battle
In 2 Chronicles 20 King Jehosaphat was told that there was a great mulititude coming against him. When he heard this it caused fear to rise in his heart. He quickly set himself to seek the Lord as he called others to fast and pray with him. When they all gathered together (in verses 6-11) Jehosaphat stood and begin to lead the assembly in prayer. He acknowleded God for who He is and recalled His care for His people, and His past victories. He then said, in verse 11, even the ones that you protected have turned on us, driving us out of Your possession which you’ve given us to inherit. He said they are driving us out of Your presence (away from Your peace) which is our inheritance. They were beginning to lose their peace in the midst of the battle.This is what happens if we lose our focus – we lose our peace. In v.12 he begin to see that they had no power to stand against their enemies. He said, we don’t know what to do but our eyes are on You.
This is exactly where God wanted Jehosaphat. He wanted him to surrender everything to Him. As he surrendered God answered his prayer and spoke through the Prophet Jehaziel. He said, The Lord says to you, Be not afraid of this great multitude for the battle is not yours but God’s.
He then gave him specific instructions.He said to go before your enemies and he told him where to find them. The prophet then gave a command to stand and believe. He said, You will not need to fight this battle, take your positions, stand still and see the deliverance of the Lord who is with you! Go out tomorrow. The Lord IS with you.
So Jehosaphat bowed his head to the ground and begin to worship the Lord. The people also fell down to worship and praise the Lord with a loud voice.
They rose early in the morning and went down to the wilderness and as they went out, Jehosaphat stood before the people and said, Believe in the Lord your God and you shall be established. believe and remain steadfast to His prophets and you shall prosper.
Believe means to except as true. To expect. To have firm faith. To trust what one has heard.
So as they made preparations for the battle, Jehosaphat reminded them of what the prophet had spoken, encouraged them to have faith and expected them to believe it. He appointed singers (a choir) dressed in robes to march ahead of the troops singing, Give thanks to the Lord for His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever! This was definitely a prophetic act showing that they trusted what God had spoken to them.
As they began to sing the Lord set ambushments against the people and they turned and destroyed each other. The great mulitude had fallen and none escaped. The Lord had kept His word and fought the battle for them. Their enemies were destroyed as they begin to sing praises to God.
Sometimes that is the last thing we want to do, is to sing praises in the midst of our battle, BUT as we do this, we are giving it all to HIM, an act of surrender and trust.
Jehosaphat and his people were three days gathering the spoil from the enemies camp. Like Jehosaphat we can glean much from the spoils or the “spiriutal riches” that we gathered from this experience. Allow your trials to produce a new level of faith in you.
It says in v. 27 they returned with joy, for the Lord made them to rejoice over their enemies. v. 30) The realm of Jehosaphat was quiet, for His God gave him rest round about.
Maybe you’ve been in a battle lately and are tired of fighting with no results. The Lord says to you, surrender this battle to me and I will fight for you! This battle is mine not yours. Stand still and see the how I will deliver you! And, as I deliver you, you will find the peace that you have longed for.
Isaiah 26:3 – You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind is stayed on You because he commits himself to You, leans on You and hopes confidently in You.
What to do in the Midst of the Battle
1) Seek the Lord
2) Pray
3) Surrender your battle to Him
4) Expect Him to speak to you about your situation
5) Believe what He has spoken to you
6) Praise Him in advance
7) See your deliverance
8) Celebrate the Victory
Sweet Things & Coffee Beans 