2 Chronicles 20:15b - Our Battles are Really God's IF…
2 Chronicles 20:15b; Our Battles are Really God's IF...
2 Chronicles 20:15b (KJV) Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason
of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
2 Chronicles 20:15b (NIV) Do not be afraid or discouraged
because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.
CONTEXT
A holy war (20:1-30)
Jehoshaphat of Judah (17:1-21:1)
Jehoshaphat Faces War
War with Moab, Ammon, and Edom
Jehoshaphat's Prayer (20:1-23)
Jehoshaphat's Prayer and Victory
Jahaziel Answers the Prayer
King Jehoshaphat Defeats Judah's Enemies
CROSS REFERENCES
Exodus 14:13-14 (KJV) And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye
not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will
shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye
shall see them again no more for ever. [14] The Lord shall fight for
you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Deut. 1:29-30 (KJV) Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be
afraid of them. [30] The Lord your God which goeth before you, he shall
fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before
your eyes;
Deut. 20:4 (KJV) For the Lord your God is he that goeth with
you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
Deut. 31:6 (KJV) Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor
be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with
thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Deut. 31:8 (KJV) And the Lord, he it is that doth go before
thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake
thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
1 Samuel 17:47 (KJV) And all this assembly shall know that the
Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's,
and he will give you into our hands.
2 Chron. 32:7-8 (KJV) Be strong and courageous, be not afraid
nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that
is with him: for there be more with us than with him: [8] With him
is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and
to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the
words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not
dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 43:2 (KJV) When thou passest through the waters, I will
be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:
when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither
shall the flame kindle upon thee.
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION
Overview
Jehoshaphat showed zeal for the LORD, and Judah became wealthy
and powerful (17:1-19). His error was in allying himself with
Israel's evil Ahab (18:1-19:3). Yet Jehoshaphat remained committed to God
and worked to implement Moses' Law in Judah (vv. 4-11). He also
relied on the LORD when invaded (20:1-17), and demonstrated faith by
praising the LORD even before the subsequent victory (vv. 18-30). He
lived and died a godly king (vv. 31-37). [The 365-Day Devotional
Commentary]
Now we are not warring against flesh and blood, but against
principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. The Lord
would encourage us to look to Him as the source of all our strength,
the One who is able to help us. We may look to men, and they will
give us counsel, and yet this may be defeated; but when the God of
Israel undertakes work for us, He will make it a success. We want to
know that we are right before God; if we are not right before Him,
then we want to make an earnest effort to come in right relation to
Him. We must individually do something ourselves. We are not to risk
our eternal interest upon guesswork. We must set everything right;
we must follow out the requirements of God, and then expect God to
work with our efforts. 2 Chron. 20:15. God works in us by the light
of His truth. We are to be obedient to all His commandments. Oh,
that we could take this point into consideration, that the work in
which we are engaged is not our work, but God's work, and we as humble
instruments are laborers together with Him; and with an eye single to God's
glory, not mistake the beginning of the Christian life for its
consummation, but see the necessity of training upon the earth to prepare us
for doing God's will! We are not to lift up ourselves, not to be
self-confident, but to trust in God, knowing that He is willing
and able to help
us. God will work with His people, but we want to be in that
position where our trust and confidence will become firm in Him (RH May
10, 1887). {3BC 1132}
As the enemy bore down on Judah, God spoke through Jahaziel: "Do
not be afraid or discouraged. . . . For the battle is not yours, but
God's." We may not fight an enemy army, but every day we battle
temptation, pressure, and "rulers. . . of this dark world" (Ephes. 6:12) who
want us to rebel against God. Remember, as believers, we have God's
Spirit in us. If we ask for God's help when we face struggles, God will
fight for us. And God always triumphs. How do we let God fight for us?
(1) By realizing the battle is not ours, but God's; (2) by
recognizing human limitations and allowing God's strength to work through
our fears and weaknesses; (3) by making sure we are pursuing God's
interests and not just our own selfish desires; (4) by asking God for help
in our daily battles. [Life Application SB]
Praise before Victory (2 Chron. 20)
I suppose we all know that it's appropriate to thank and praise
God for His goodness even though we sometimes forget. This passage,
however, points up an unexpected aspect of praise. We can praise before
we experience His goodness. We can praise before we receive what we
request.
Threatened by a massive invasion force, Jehoshaphat called on
all of Judah to look to God. The king himself led in prayer,
confessing Judah's lack of power and expressing total reliance on God. In
response God spoke through the Prophet Jahaziel and promised victory.
"The battle is not yours, but God's," the prophet proclaimed. "Stand
firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you. Do not be
afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the
LORD will be with you" (v. 17).
Immediately after receiving this word from God, the king and the
people fell down to worship. And then in a "very loud voice" some of
the Levites stood up and began to praise God.
The danger was still ahead. The invading army still threatened.
But God's people began to praise Him before the promised victory was
won!
The next day God did provide victory. Ancient armies were often
composed of a variety of peoples, some hired as mercenaries and others
engaged as allies. In this case God caused the various peoples who
composed the invading force to annihilate each other before Judah's army
even arrived! The praises that resounded over the slain enemy were so
loud and heartfelt that the place was given a new name: Beracah, the
"Valley of Praise."
One day when final victory is won, as we stand with Jesus in
God's eternal kingdom, our shouts of praises too will be loud. Yet we
too are called to praise now.
When we're afraid, we're called to praise.
When we're discouraged, we're called to praise.
When we face any enemy, we're called to praise.
And praise we can! For we too have the promises of God. You too
can "go out and face [difficulties] tomorrow." You too can know that
"the LORD will be with you."
And this, the assurance of God's presence with us, is cause for
praise. Praise even before victory. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
When I was a child I stood in the yard of my uncle's farm home
and watched rain pour down on a field just across the road, while I
remained perfectly dry. What David is saying is that by obedience we
cross the road and find showers of blessing. God's blessings are
always being poured out. obedience puts us in the place where the
blessings flow. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary re 2Ch16:9]
Do what it takes to be in position to receive His blessing. The
best position to be in is as close to God as you can get, right smack
dab in the center of his will... You take care of His business and
He will take care of yours. Michelle McKinney Hammond
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