Whose Battles Are You Fighting

Opening Scripture

2 Chron 20:1-4 - It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. 2 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.

I’m gonna unpack this a little but first want to help you to understand a who Jehoshaphat is. Matthew, who traces the lineage of Jesus to Joseph, lets us know that Jehoshaphat is the Great-Great-Great Grandson of David in the lineage of Christ. While the lineage of Christ isn’t squeaky clean, we see that through the sin of David with Bathsheeba, Jehoshaphat rules pretty well. In 2 Chronicles 20:31-33 we see a little about his beginnings and generally how he reigned.

2 Chronicles 20:31–33 NKJV

So Jehoshaphat was king over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. And he walked in the way of his father Asa, and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for as yet the people had not directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.

The text says that he did what was right in the lords sight. Even in doing so he had difficulty abolishing pagan worship. Now we just read that Jehoshaphat is the King of Judah. Judah was the southern kingdom after Israels split in to two kingdoms after the reign of Solomon. Looking at this graphic that helps to understand the geography. You see the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Now Judah would find themselves at peace and at war with Israel at times. You also see Moab and Ammon. Mount Seir, the region where the remaining coalition warriors came from is said to be at the southern border of Judah.

Message

And now, as we read in 2 Chron 20:1-4, they are being threatened by three nations: Moab, Ammon, and those from Mount Seir which is known to be around the area of the southern border of Judah. Now lets try to understand this fear that Jehoshaphat has. Chapter 17 speaks of his army, mighty men of valor, that were in Jerusalem:

Adnah - 300,000

Jehohanan - 280000

Amasiah - 200,000

Eliada - 200,000

Jehozabad - 180,000

Total - 1,160,000 warriors. 2Chron 17:19 says they served the king and he placed them in the fortified cities throughout Judah.

One can assume that they we either outnumbered or ‘outweaponed’. Now being outnumbered is nothing really unfamiliar to Jehoshaphat. His grandfather Abijah , who was also king of Judah, and his 400k soldiers went up against Jereboam , the king of Israel, who had 800k soldiers. And because Abijah submitted to the Lord, they defeated Israel. It is very likely that he would have hear many times of this victory. Yet he is still fearful. Given that in verse 12 he says that they have no power over them, it is obvious that he believed that the coalition against them were much more powerful in some way.

And his response is wonderful, he immediately proceeds to pray and fast. And he didn’t just do it on his own, he called together everyone. And standing in the midst of the people he:

Acknowledged the power and sovereignty of God (v.6)

Acknowledged and reminded God that He prepared and gave the land to them and promised to protect them (v.7-9)

Announced the problem (v.10-11)

Cried for help (v.12)

And in the midst of this gathering and unification of Gods people, God answers:

The New King James Version Chapter 20

Then the Spirit of the LORD came 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, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you.”

And after this they all bowed before the God and worshiped Him. And the next morning they went out to fight, but this time not with swords and spears but with worship. And when they opened their mouth to sing and give praises to God, the power of the living God moved, causing the armies that assembled against them to take out each other. When Judah looked there was not one standing and they proceeded to take the spoils of the battle. And it was more than they could carry away, taking them three days to gather. On their way back home they continue to worship and when the kingdoms of those countries heard that the Lord fought on their behalf, they were fearful and bible says that Judah saw peace.

Closing

What battles are you trying to fight that belongs to God? Maybe it’s something in your personal life, family, and community. We are all facing battles socially and politically, whether we understand it or not. Whatever the battle, follow Jehoshaphat’s lead. Don’t assume that every battle is yours to fight. Pray and fast to get guidance from God. And when He says to leave it alone, leave it alone and just give Him worship and watch Him do what only He can do. And then you can pick up the spoils of a battle that you never had to fight.