"The Valley of Berechah"
What to do? What to do?
King Jehoshaphat
Jehoshaphat began his sole reign in 869 B.C. Like his father Asa, he followed Yahweh. Unlike his father, his commitment did not wane in his later years. Four chapters in Chronicles shed light on why Ahab had cultivated an alliance with Jehoshaphat.
A. The Strength of Jehoshaphat (2 Chr 17:1–19)
The strength of Jehoshaphat was manifested in two ways. First, the king of Judah was militarily strong. He stationed troops in fortified cities throughout Judah. He had garrisons in the towns of Ephraim which his father Asa had captured (2 Chr 17:1–2). He had a huge army of experienced men numbering in the hundreds of thousands (2 Chr 17:12–18).
Second, Jehoshaphat was enormously wealthy. Because he followed the Lord he had “great wealth and honor” (2 Chr 17:3–6). The fear of Yahweh fell on the surrounding kingdoms so that they, for the most part, did not make war with Judah. The Philistines rendered tribute in silver to him, the Arabs in thousands of rams and goats (2 Chr 17:10–11).
The source of Jehoshaphat’s strength was Yahweh. The Lord was with this king because he followed the example of David. He did not seek after the Baals as did his counterparts in the northern kingdom. So Yahweh “established the kingdom in his control.” Jehoshaphat took great pride in the ways of Yahweh. He continued the efforts of his father to remove the high places and the Asherim from Judah. He even dispatched government officials and Levites throughout the land to instruct his people in the book of the law (2 Chr 17:3–9).
In retaliation for assisting Jehoram in his effort to resubjugate Moab, Judah itself experienced an invasion. The Moabites, Ammonites and the Meunites came to make war against Jehoshaphat (2 Chr 20:1).
A. Judah’s Plight (2 Chr 20:2–4)
The invasion of the army from beyond the Dead Sea caught Jehoshaphat by surprise. By the time he got the word the enemy was at Engedi on the western bank of the Dead Sea well within the territory of Judah. The king was afraid. He “turned his attention to seek Yahweh.” He proclaimed a fast. Citizens from throughout Judah gathered to seek the Lord.
B. Jehoshaphat’s Prayer (2 Chr 20:5–13)
The king stood before the assembly of his people in the court of the temple and led in a wonderful prayer. He acknowledged the great and irresistible power of Yahweh. He expressed confidence that the Lord would hear the cries of distress which might come to him from before his temple. In narrative prayer the king described how Judah had been invaded by a force determined to drive God’s people out of their inheritance. He closed the prayer by admitting powerlessness and ignorance in the face of this invasion. In this situation Judah was dependent upon Yahweh totally.
What to do? Well, pray of course.
C. Jahaziel’s Prophecy (2 Chr 20:14–19)
In the midst of that assembly the Spirit of Yahweh came upon a Levitical singer named Jahaziel. He urged the nation not to fear before the invaders. “The battle is not yours, but God’s.” Tomorrow they should march against the enemy, but they would not need to fight. They would “stand and see the salvation of Yahweh” (2 Chr 20:14–17).
In response to this encouraging word, Jehoshaphat bowed his face to the ground. All his subjects joined their king in worshiping Yahweh. The Levitical singers stood up to praise the Lord “with a very loud voice” (2 Chr 20:18–19).
What to do? Go for the good news.
D. Confident Praise (2 Chr 20:20–23)
In the morning Jehoshaphat addressed his troops as they prepared to march against the enemy. He urged them to put their trust in Yahweh and his prophets. He ordered the Levitical choir, dressed in their holy attire, to lead the military procession (2 Chr 20:20–21).
Even as the army of Judah marched toward the confrontation singing praises, God “set ambushes” among the invaders. The Ammonites and Moabites destroyed those from Mt. Seir (Edom). Then they turned on one another. So the entire invading force was routed before the army of Judah even arrived at the scene (2 Chr 20:22).
What to do? Simple…praise God!
E. Abundant Plunder (2 Chr 20:24–30)
Gathering the spoils from the camp of the invaders took three days. On the fourth day the jubilant army of Jehoshaphat assembled publicly to bless the Lord. They named the spot the Valley of Beracah, i.e., “blessing” (2 Chr 20:24–26).
The army returned to Jerusalem triumphantly to the sound of various musical instruments. A joyous throng filled the courts of the temple where only days before they had stood trembling. News of the miraculous deliverance put the dread of Judah’s God in surrounding nations. From that day forward “the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God gave him rest on every side” (2 Chr 20:27–30).