20Early 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.” 21After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of hisc holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his love endures forever.”
22As 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. 23The Ammonites and Moabites 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.
24When 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. (2 Chr. 20)
Thoughts: Jehoshaphat was one of the great and godly kings. He was not embarrassed to tear down the idols and ask for God's blessing. Indeed God blessed him with peace until this episode except when the ungodly king of Israel enticed him into an offensive battle against Syria. After God's clear deliverance, Jehoshaphat was not attacked again.
This is one of the great stories of God's deliverance when the people had no hope. The surrounding people of Moab, Ammon, and eastern nomad tribes outnumbered the army of Judah probably 10 to 1. There was no ally to call on for help, for Israel was weak. The people looked to their greatest resource: God. It is a lesson for us. When the stress and the odds are stacked against us we should look to the Lord our deliverer.
So, instead of hiding behind the high walls of Jerusalem where they stood more of a chance, they marched out. Instead of marching out in fear, they marched out with thanksgiving. Now perhaps their enemies heard their thanksgiving and thought another army was coming to save them. The passage says that "the Lord set ambushes" against the men. It doesn't say what kind of ambushes. It could have been angelic deliverance or it could have been human ingenuity that the Lord used or confusion within the ranks of the enemy. No details are given. Whatever was used was seen as clearly from God- and He was given glory. There is power in giving thanks to God. It gives courage and it also allows God to work. When God works- through whatever means- He should get glory.
So, instead of hiding behind the high walls of Jerusalem where they stood more of a chance, they marched out. Instead of marching out in fear, they marched out with thanksgiving. Now perhaps their enemies heard their thanksgiving and thought another army was coming to save them. The passage says that "the Lord set ambushes" against the men. It doesn't say what kind of ambushes. It could have been angelic deliverance or it could have been human ingenuity that the Lord used or confusion within the ranks of the enemy. No details are given. Whatever was used was seen as clearly from God- and He was given glory. There is power in giving thanks to God. It gives courage and it also allows God to work. When God works- through whatever means- He should get glory.
Prayer: Lord, you are worthy of our praise and thanks. You are the lifter of our heads and our hope.
No comments:
Post a Comment