Seek the Lord

Introduction

What do you do when you don’t know what to do?

draw straws?

rock, paper, scissors?

sing a song?

check magic 8-ball?

Shrug and go for it?

Freeze in fear?

*********Mr. Morton - It’s less important that you know everything and more important that you know HOW to know something.

Jehoshaphat is an interesting character.

We learn about him from 1 Kings 22 and 2Chronicles 17-20

4th king of Judah after the separation of the kingdoms following Solomon’s reign.

Lived a little more than 800 years before Jesus and ruled for about 25 years in Jerusalem.

During this time both Israel and Judah often fought regional battles with groups of people around them.

Jehoshaphat has a bit of a complicated story.

Generally remembered as a good and godly king;

2 Chronicles 17:3–6 ESV

3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, 4 but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel. 5 Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. 6 His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.

Early in his reign he sent some of his officials along with some Levites to go throughout Judah to teach the people God’s Word.

Jehoshaphat experienced peace, and wealth, and blessing.

While Jehoshaphat is known as a good and godly king (even politically wise and savvy), it is not as though he never made a bad decision.

Married into the family of the king of Israel to form an alliance — King Ahab — Perhaps the most wicked king in Israel’s history.

Imagine having Ahab as an in-law! (careful, now!)

This alliance will cause Jehoshaphat and his family a lot of trouble even as Ahab tries to take advantage of Jehoshaphat, which ultimately leads to Ahab’s death.

Some would say Jehoshaphat made this alliance in an effort to strengthen and protect himself and Judah against the larger nations surrounding them.

Jehoshaphat returned home following the battle he fought alongside Ahab and the battle in which Ahab was killed.

2 Chronicles 19:2–4 ESV

2 But Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the Lord. 3 Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.” 4 Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers.

Jehoshaphat began a series of reforms throughout Judah in an attempt to institute justice and godliness throughout the land.

It is here that we pick up our story in Chapter 20

2 Chronicles 20:1–2 ESV

1 After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 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).

He did the right thing and now this happens!

2 Chronicles 20:3–12 (ESV) 3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

Faith is not about how you feel; it’s about where you focus.

The faithful may at times be fearful.

3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord,

vav conjunction - not contrastive (translated as “and” in every version)

These two things were true at the same time.

Fear was the response to the circumstances he sees before him, faith is his decision to focus on the God who can save him.

Because, Faith is not about how you feel; it’s about where you focus.

Ex. Jesus walking on water in Matt 14:

Matthew 14:28–31 ESV

28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

his focus shifted - “saw” is a participle - suggests a more continuous action - “But looking at the wind” he was afraid.

*Where do you look when you are afraid - don’t know what to do?

coming at you from all sides

you’ve made some poor choices in the past - hasn’t worked out before

What would be written about you?

Because of all that was going on Jason was rightfully afraid and he. . . ?

3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

4 And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.

You can lead others to the One with answers even if you have no answer yourself.

Jehoshaphat was king and the one expected to have the answers.

He could have made a decision so others would think he was the smartest.

he could have worked on it himself and come back later with an answer.

Instead, he humbled himself and asked others to seek God with him.

This actually showed him to be a leader - leading his people to God.

Jesus and the Samaritan women at the well:

John 4:28–30 ESV

28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.

This woman had a lot of questions and ran to get others to come and see the man who had answers.

** Who has God placed around you that you can lead to him so they might find answers to the questions they are asking?

The steps in seeking the Lord are

Prayer, Trust, and Worship

Prayer for help (5-12)

Trust in God’s Word (13-17)

Worship while you wait. (18-19)

Prayer for help (5-12)

5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 6 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.

Prayer precedes any action

Prayer precedes the victory

Jehoshaphat’s prayer is a reminder of who God is

You rule over all the kingdoms - this is the king talking! What humility!

None is able to withstand you - the soon to be invading armies have no more power than God allows.

Reality is nothing coming at you has more power than the God who is with you.

Never let your fears stand alone. Always set them in contrast with God’s power and past faithfulness.

Reminder of what God has promised:

7 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? 8 And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9 ‘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.’

Honesty about present circumstances:

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.”

Maybe this is you today - Don’t know what to do BUT

eyes on our army

eyes are on wallet

eyes focused on own resources

eyes are on God - who is more powerful - who has promised

Reality - don’t know what to do

Response - eyes are on you

Trust in God’s Word (13-17)

2 Chronicles 20:13–19 (ESV) 13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 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. 15 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. 16 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. 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.”

The prophet tells them where the enemy will be and says don’t fight!

no need to sharpen swords

No need to draft

No need to warm up or stretch

God’s Word through his servant gave a promise.

The only thing the people of Judah will be able to contribute to this battle is trust.

How hard is it to NOT fight but simply stand?

How hard is it to try to NOT control your life but to allow God to fight for you.

They had seen God fight for them before:

Exodus 14:13–14 ESV

And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

stand firm

Hold your position (don’t retreat)

See God work!

if it were me - I’d have a lot more questions!

Worship while you wait. (18-19)

18 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. 19 And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

Notice, this worship is BEFORE the victory!

They aren’t worshipping the Lord for what he has done concerning this issue, they are worshipping