Brace Yourself
Notes
Transcript
I like this story because it helps me to see that I still have options when the devil tries to step it up a notch. So, I know that the closer I get to God, the more angry the devil will get.
Jehoshaphat was trying to get things in order, then here comes confusion from the tribes in the divided kingdom of the north. Jeroboam was one of Solomon's officials.
From Lot’s descendants. They were probably still a little salty about that whole Lot’s wife thing...
1 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.
2 Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi).
3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.
4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.
5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard
6 and said: “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.
7 Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?
8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying,
9 ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’
10 “But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them.
11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance.
12 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 on you.”
13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.
14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.
16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel.
17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’ ”
Sometimes life brings us to an uh-oh moment. That moment that you hear someone turn the fan on in the background!
challenges from that past
check your warning signs
Prayer with no resolution
Look to God anyway
Listen for the plan
v5-9 Go Stand Where God Is. How you gonna say God help me but in the meantime, I will be in the club getting lit. If we know we have challenges with something, we do we hang out there and not with the Lord?
v10-12 Know for yourself when the odds are stacked against you. Preparation, do you prepare for the storm? Or just deal with the aftermath. He knew there were problems and he addressed his concerns with God. v12 He prayed, but at the endhe still didnt know what to do. even when we dont know what to do there is still an action to be done. Be still and know
v13-17 Sometimes you just gotta brace yourself. No need to panic, no need for the crazy. Just let God, do what he do.
I like this story because it shows me what to do when I feel powerless to cope with the things that are going on in my life. you see, there are times when I cant find the full armor of God.Times when I cant even find the breastplate. Times when it is so dark I cant ready my feet with the Gospel of peace.