Chapter 20
Moabites, Ammonites, and some Meunites make war against Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat and all of Judah are in terror because the army coming against them is huge. They all meet in Jerusalem and Jehoshaphat prays for God's help against the invaders. Jehoshaphat prays this prayer, in part:
10 And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy-- 11 behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." [2Ch 20:10-12 ESV]
Possible FB post - another non-defensive prayer.
2022 - This verse:
12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." [2Ch 20:12 ESV]. A good prayer when we are faced by enemies intent on our destruction. When we can point to our enemies. This verse impressed me again...but I think it is pretty specific in its application. This is not a prayer for turning a red light green, or for a short wait list at the restaurant. This is for more serious matters. Interpersonal matters.
2021 - I had forgotten that God prevented Israel from invading these countries when they first came to Canaan. Israel had spared them, and Jehoshaphat now rightly recalls the matter. For these countries to invade Israel now is treachery, ingratitude, and self-aggrandizing.
2024 - Wasn't it just a few chapters ago that Judah and Jerusalem - Ephraim and Benjamin included - could field an army over a million strong? 1.16 milliion wasn't it? Yes!!! It was under Jehoshaphat back in Chapter 17, when he had peace all around him. We might speculate that he lost a lot of men when he went to help Ahab. In fact, Ahab had attacked Ramoth-Gilead. Gilead, according to one map I found, was sort of a buffer between Samaria and both Aram (Syria) and Ammon. Ramoth-Gilead had even been a city of refuge east of the Jordan at one time. So it had previously belonged to Israel, and this might explain why Ahab wanted it back. However, the attack and subsequent defeat of the combined armies of Samaria and Judah in that war seems to have emboldened Ammon and Moab, also East of the Jordan and south of Aram, to ally and perhaps put down the Jews once and for all. As we read further, we see that Mt. Seir was also allied with Moab and Ammon. I believe Mt. Seir is Edom. It is east of the Arabah, and south of both Moab and Ammon. So all the countries bordering Samaria and Judah on the east united as one army to come against them.
The Spirit of the Lord comes upon one named Jahaziel, a descendant of Asaph, a Levite. He prophesies to all the people and to Jehoshaphat. He prophesies that Judah won't even need to fight in the battle, because God is going to take care of it. He tells them where to go to meet the invaders, but once there, to stand firm, and watch what God will do.
2022 - This verse:
17 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.' Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you." [2Ch 20:17 ESV]. This is God's reply to Jehoshaphat's prayer, through a prophet "ordained" for that moment. It didn't just pop into everyone's head. God says he will deal with the invasion...yet he still requires an act of faith from them. They won't have to fight...but they have to go to where the enemy is located. Did they armor up and take swords and spears, or did they just walk up there? Was it only the men who went, or did all go? In any case, despite their great fear of the enemy, and despite knowing they could never defeat so many in a pitched battle, God requires them to go and look into the eyes of those they fear. Had they not done that...
Possible FB post.
They go out the next day, and as they sing praises to God, the armies from Moab and Ammon attack the army from Mt. Seir, and once they are dead, they turn against each other. The entire invading army basically "routes" itself without Judah lifting a sword. Before even drawing a sword, here is what the army of Judah saw:
24 When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped. [2Ch 20:24 ESV]
God had finished the battle before they even arrived!
This would be a good FB post, maybe the time after the non-defensive prayer.
Judah goes to take the spoil from all these dead men, and they spend three days taking it, so much they can't carry it all away. The valley where they took the spoil was called The Valley of Beracah, which means valley of blessing. After this, no other nearby countries thought to invade and attack Jehoshaphat. When they returned to Jerusalem, we find this:
29 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. [2Ch 20:29 ESV]
This is what happens when God executes judgement in history instead of in eternity. Peace reigns, because those who do not know God are afraid of Him. Does this apply to "civil war" between believers and unbelievers within a nation, does it apply to individuals with bad neighbors, or does it only work this way when a Godly nation wars against the ungodly? This too might be a FB post, right in line with the previous two. This end is the reason we pray for God to take over.
Jehoshaphat rules for 25 years. In the summary, it says he did well, yet he did not take away the high places. The last part of the chapter says that J cooperated with Ahaziah, King of Israel, to build ships to go to Tarshish. A prophet named Eliezer tells J that because he has joined himself to Ahaziah, the ships will be destroyed. The ships never reach their destination. Seems like J would have figured this out after what he was told when he joined Ahab.