Armies That Threaten to Destroy Judah
Toward the close of Jehoshaphat’s reign, “the people of Moab with the people of Ammon ... came to battle against Jehoshaphat.” News of this invasion reached the king through a messenger, who appeared with the startling word, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria.” 2 Chronicles 20:1, 2.RR 70.3
Jehoshaphat was a man of courage. For years he had been strengthening his armies and fortified cities. He was well prepared to meet almost any enemy. Yet in this crisis he did not put his trust in human strength. Only by a living faith in God could he hope to gain the victory over these heathen who boasted of their power to humble Judah in the eyes of the nations.RR 70.4
“Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord.” Standing in the temple court before his people, Jehoshaphat poured out his soul in prayer: “O Lord God of our fathers, ... do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel? ...RR 70.5
‘And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they ... did not destroy them—here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. ... We have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.’” Verses 3, 4, 6, 7, 10-12.RR 70.6
For years Jehoshaphat had taught the people to trust in the One who had so often saved His chosen ones from destruction, and now he did not stand alone: “All Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord.” Verse 13. Unitedly they pleaded with the Lord to put their enemies to confusion:RR 70.7
O God, do not keep silence; do not hold Your peace or be still,
O God!
Even now Your enemies are in tumult. ...
They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; ...”
against You they make a covenant. ...
Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever;
let them perish in disgrace.
Let them know that You alone, whose name is the Lord,
are the Most High over all the earth. Psalm 83, NRSVRR 71.1
As the people joined with their king in humbling themselves before God, the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel, a Levite, and he said, “Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. ... You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.’” 2 Chronicles 20:15-17.RR 71.2