Building a Monument of Praise in the Valley

2 Chronicles 20:12

2 Chr.20:12

“O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.””

INTRODUCTION:

From this verse we learn what to do when you don’t know what to do.

You keep your eyes on the Lord and seek direction form Him.

2 Chronicles 20:1–30

I. THE SUDDEN ATTACK—vss. 1–12

1. THE PLACE AND THE PEOPLE

2 Chronicles 20:1–2 “After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi).”

Almost 900 B.C. at an OASIS called Engedi on the side of the Dead Sea. Elijah and Elisha were prophets in that day. Ahab and Jezebel were rulers of the 10 tribes of Israel. Good King Jehoshaphat was King of Judah.

2. THE PROBLEM AND THE PRAYER

Vs. 3–12 Problem, verse 12, did not know what to do.

(1) This prayer was prompted by fear.

2 Chronicles 20:3

And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

(2) This prayer was preceded by faithfulness.

2 Chronicles 17:3

And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;

(3) This prayer was presented in faith.

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: but our eyes are upon thee.

(4) This prayer was produced from facts

2 Chronicles 20:9

If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.

II. THE SIMPLE ANSWER—Vs. 13–19

1. THE ANSWER CAME THROUGH A MAN

2 Chronicles 20:13–14

13 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;

2. THE ANSWER CAME THROUGH A MESSAGE

2 Chronicles 20:15–19

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. 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. 19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.

God for you. God with you.

The Battle is the Lord’s.

III. THE STRANGE ARMY vss. 20, 21

1. THEY HAD A PROMISE FROM GOD

2 Chronicles 20:20

And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, 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.

2. THEY HAD A PRAISE FOR GOD

2 Chronicles 20:21

And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.

IV. THE SUPERNATURAL AMBUSH—Vs. 22–24

1. NOTICE ITS SOURCE

2 Chronicles 20:22

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.

2. NOTICE ITS SUCCESS

2 Chronicles 20:23–24

23 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, every one helped to destroy another. 24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.

V. THE STIRRING AFTERMATH—Vs. 25–30

1. THE RICHES FROM THE SPOIL

2 Chronicles 20:25

And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.

2. THE REJOICING WITH THE SATISFACTION

2 Chronicles 20:26–30

26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day. 27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies. 28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD. 29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.

Daugherty, B. (2013). Midweek Services: The Message Builder. Wordsearch.