2 Chronicles 17:1-4
And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. 2 And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.
3 And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;
4 but sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
5 Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.
6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
2 Chronicles 20:1-4
It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi.
3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.
2 Chronicles 17:1-4
And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. 2 And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.
3 And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;
4 but sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
5 Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.
6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
2 Chronicles 20:1-4
It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi.
3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.
1. A Big Problem – The Multitude
A. The Foe of Jehoshaphat.
2 Chronicles 20:1-2
“It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
B. The Fear of Jehoshaphat.
2 Chronicles 20:3
“And Jehoshaphat feared…”
2 Chronicles 20:12
“O our God, wilt Thou not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do…”
2 Chronicles 20:12
“O our God, wilt Thou not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do…”
2. A Big Promise – The Message from God.
2 Chronicles 20:15
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.
A. Weapon #1 PRAYER
3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.
2 Chronicles 20:5-6
“And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, and said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not Thou God in heaven?
And rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen?
And in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?”
2 Chronicles 20:12-13
12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
13 And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
2 Chronicles 20:7-9
“Art Thou not our God, Who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before Thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham Thy friend forever?
And they dwelt therein, and have built for Thee a sanctuary therein for Thy name, saying, If, when evil cometh upon us…and cry unto Thee in our affliction, then Thou wilt hear and help.”
2 Chronicles 20:14-17
“Then upon Jahaziel …came the Spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation; and he said,
…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.
…fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
2 Chronicles 20:20
…Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper.”
B. Weapon #2 PRAISE
2 Chronicles 20:16-18
16 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.
17 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.
18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord.
2 Chronicles 20:21
“And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD,…
…that should praise the beauty of holiness, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth forever.”
C. Weapon #3 Power of His Presence
2 Chronicles 20:22-24
“And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to destroy another.