I was reading 2 Chronicles 20 with breakfast today (yes...I do eat
breakfast around 1 in the afternoon), and I noticed something that keeps
popping up during times of battle for the Israelites. Thus far in the
Old Testament, almost every time Israel goes into battle, they have been
terrified or unsure of their strength as an army. Before going into
battle, those kings or leaders who worship the Lord (YHWH) take time to
ask Him for their battle strategy; they ask if they should even go into
battle with whatever foreign nation is coming against them, or they cry
out to Him because they are afraid of being outnumbered. Either way,
it's an acknowledgment that it's by the Lord that they've gotten to
where they are and it's by His strength that they will have victory over
their enemies. Those who at least try to follow the Lord's commands,
recognize that they must depend on His continuing presence with them.
It's not that they know from the beginning that He is their God and that
He will automatically let them win whatever battle they enter. They
keep asking. And at times, God has told them to actually cut their army
in half, or to simply march around a wall, in order to be the victors,
or in the case of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles, to just stand and watch.
It's just interesting seeing how the Lord leads His people, even in
times of war. His ways are backward or upside down compared to the
wisdom of this world. Have a look yourself:
"After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the
Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. Some men came and told
Jehoshaphat, 'A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from
beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar' (that is,
Engedi). Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord,
and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek
help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek
the Lord.
And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem,
in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and said, 'O Lord, God
of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the
kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none
is able to withstand you. Did you not, our God, drive out the
inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever
to the descendants of Abraham your friend? And they have lived in it and
have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, ‘If
disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine,
we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this
house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and
save.’ 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— behold, they reward us by
coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to
inherit. 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.'
Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little
ones, their wives, and their children. And the Spirit of the Lord came
upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of
Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the
assembly. And he said, 'Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem
and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and
do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but
God's. Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the
ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the
wilderness of Jeruel. 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.”
Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground,
and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before
the Lord, worshiping the Lord. And the Levites, of the Kohathites and
the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a
very loud voice.
And they rose early in the morning and went out into the
wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said,
“Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your
God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will
succeed.” And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed
those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as
they went before the army, and say,
“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his steadfast love endures forever.”
And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush
against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against
Judah, so that they were routed. For the men of Ammon and Moab rose
against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and
when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped
to destroy one another."
- 2 Chronicles 20:1-23 (ESV)
