Stand Still

Stand Still

7/10/22

Text: 2 Chronicles 20:1-17

After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites,,came to fight against Jehoshaphat. 2 People came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast number from beyond the Dead Sea and from Edom has come to fight against you; they are already in Hazazon-Tamar” (that is, En-Gedi). 3 Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the Lord. Then he proclaimed a fast for all Judah, 4 who gathered to seek the Lord. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek him.

JEHOSHAPHAT’S PRAYER

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the Lord’s temple before the new courtyard. 6 He said:

Lord, God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven, and do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in your hand, and no one can stand against you. 7 Are you not our God who drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and who gave it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in the land and have built you a sanctuary in it for your name and have said, 9 “If disaster comes on us—sword or judgment, pestilence or famine—we will stand before this temple and before you, for your name is in this temple. We will cry out to you because of our distress, and you will hear and deliver.”

10 Now here are the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir. You did not let Israel invade them when Israel came out of the land of Egypt, but Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 Look how they repay us by coming to drive us out of your possession that you gave us as an inheritance. 12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to you.,

GOD’S ANSWER

13 All Judah was standing before the Lord with their dependents, wives, and children. 14 In the middle of the congregation, the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel (son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants), 15 and he said, “Listen carefully, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what the Lord says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow, go down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. He is with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Tomorrow, go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.’ ”[1]

Sometimes you have to learn to Stand Still!

One misconception about being a Christian is that walking with God is easy!

And some teach and preach that with the right amount of faith and the right prayer, and enough seed sown in the right soil, you will be granted shelter and immunity from the difficult days of life.

· But I would imagine that there are those this morning who can testify that every day with Jesus is not hallelujah, and thank you, Jesus

And I understand why this could be a problem because one would believe that:

· The longer you have been with God

· The more you pray

· The more consecutive Sundays you come to church

· The more ministries you join and the more offering you give that somehow your life should have some smooth sailing

· One thing I have learned is that the longer you are with God, you will sense and see God calling you to assignments and ways of living that are neither comfortable nor convenient that God has a way of growing you through painful predicaments.

One of the most trying times for a Christian is when we go through growing pains.

James 1:2-4 says:

· 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing[2]

James understood that every now and then, the way God grows you and grooms you is to release you into situations and scenarios that don’t always feel good

I want you to know that when you are in a struggle in life, you are also in God’s classroom-- God’s trying to teach you something

· If you’re struggling financially, it’s because you are in God’s stewardship class

· You’re struggling with offense and heartache---- you are in the class of forgiveness and not living in yesterday

· You’re struggling with sickness because God wants to show you that He is Jehovah Raphe--- I am the healer of all your disease

· I don’t know what class you’re in today

· I don’t know what lesson you’re learning or what test you are taking

· But I come by to tell you that one of the most challenging classes we will have to sit in with our walk with God is a class called Stand Still.

If you haven’t gotten there yet, in spite of everything you want to do, the Word of the Lord to you is to Stand Still

· That’s the class that Job was in when Elihu told him to Stand Still

· That’s the class that Joshua was in as they crossed over the Jordan River—-and God said, Stand Still

· That’s the class that Moses was in as they stood on the banks of the Red Sea with no way in front of him and Pharos army on his heels, and the word of the Lord was Stand Still and See the Salvation of the Lord

If you have never been in that class where you had to Stand Still, I want you to see someone who was.

· His name is Jehoshaphat; he was the king of Israel in the 20th chapter of 2 Chronicles, where a battle is about to begin, and Israel has to go to war.

Now, this isn’t anything new for Israel because they have been in battles before, but there is something peculiar about this battle. The Bible says that Jehoshaphat finds out that the Moabites had hooked up with the Ammonites and the Meunites, who were an Arabian tribe living in Edom

Don’t miss this: This isn’t just one enemy

· The Moabites had hooked up with the Ammonites who were hanging out with the Meunites, and they were all coming against Jehoshaphat.

· The Bible says he was fearful; they had been in battles before but nothing like this; they had never seen an enemy of this multitude before. Jehoshaphat is scared.

The Bible says in vs3: 3 Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the Lord. Then he proclaimed a fast for all Judah, 4 who gathered to seek the Lord. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek him. [3]

Let me pause and preach a freebie right here: That when you don’t know what to do if you know how to bow and call on the name of the Lord, that’s a mighty good strategy for any battle!

· I wish I had a prayer warrior this morning; who knows that there were moments when you had more questions than answers.

But as long as you trusted in the Lord and called on the Lord, we serve a God who hears and answers prayers. Jehoshaphat prays, and God answers his prayer.

· 14 In the middle of the congregation, the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel (son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants), 15 and he said, “Listen carefully, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what the Lordsays: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number, for the battle is not yours, but God’s[4]

And not only is that good news for Jehoshaphat, but that is great news for you also; we serve a God who is able to step on every battlefield you are on and handle the enemies who are coming against you!

· There’s a God who handles your enemies!

· There’s a God who fights your battles!

· There’s a God who makes ways for you!

· There’s a God who makes certain that you just sit back and enjoy the show and let God do what God does!

HE IS A BATTLE-FIGHTING GOD!

· That’s a good place to say Amen --- He will fight your battles! (That’s the good news)

Here’s the bad news --- you have to Stand Still, if you want God to handle it, you have to Stand Still!

Can I tell you what this Hebrew phrase mean: Stop moving!

· Don’t do anything

· Don’t respond

· Don’t put your hand on it

· Don’t try to fight it yourself --- Just Stand Still

And here is the kicker of the text: Here they are --- their enemies have encircled them, and God wants them to stand still, that’s a hard pill to swallow because

· When people are acting a fool --- you want me to stand still?

Maybe you are holier than me, but it is hard to stand still when people are launching false statements about you!

· It’s hard to stand still when people are lying on you

· It’s hard to stand still when enemies are plotting against you

· It’s hard to stand still when people are dealing in the dirt against you

· It’s hard to stand still when you got crazy coworkers

· People that you would want to slap just on general principles

You are holy – and hopefully by Sunday’s you are, but when you got enemies --- sometimes you just want to fight back!

· I know I am not alone this morning don’t let the title pastor fool you I know some words that are not in the Bible to!

· And yet the command of God is if you want me to fight this you have to Stand Still!

WHAT DOES GOD MEAN WHEN HE SAYS STAND STILL?

There are four things that come out of this text

First One: I want you to Endure the Evil of Your Enemies

· I want you to see them do the evilest thing they can, and you not respond, I want you to let them plot, plan. lie, scheme, run their mouth and in the midst of all that I want you to Stand Still!

But here’s the kicker, the Bible says that the Moabites had hooked up with the Ammonites who hooked up with the Meunites

· The Moabites don’t even like the Ammonites and the Moabites can’t stand the Meunites and the Meunites ain’t even feeling the Ammonites

· In other words --- none of them like each other

You know how evil you have to be to hook-up with other people you don’t like then come together against someone else they don’t like? Jehoshaphat has to stand still and watch his enemies come together to fight against them.

But the word of the Lord is stand still don’t worry about it let them do what they are going to do, and you just Stand Still!

· That’s the word of the Lord for someone this morning, you see evil around you

· You see people lying

· You know people who are not doing right

· You know they are in the dirt, yet the word of the Lord is to stand still!

Don’t do anything, don’t say anything. Let them plot, let them plan, let them deceive, let them scheme, let them do whatever they are going to do, and you don’t address it!

I know that don’t sound right but here is what the Lord is saying to Jehoshaphat, let them do whatever, don’t worry about it because I am one your side!

· That no matter what they do, I’m on your side

· And you got to know that as long as God is on your side, (Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world!)

· If the Lord be for us who can stand against us

· He can take what was meant for your evil and work it together for your good!

Psalm 37:1-2 says:

Fret not yourself because of evildoers.

be not envious of wrongdoers!

2 For they will soon fade like the grass

and wither like the green herb. [5]

The Bible says in Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid? [6]

· You don’t need to be afraid if God is on your side, and no matter what they do they can’t beat God

· Evil is mean, but it’s never smart!

· Evil is wicked, but it’s never wise

· Evil always has a flawed strategy

So, the Lord says, I want you to stand still because you can’t out evil – evil, but you can outthink it!

· You can’t out ugly – ugly but you can be smarter

· And if you stand still, evil will always reveal it’s foolishness

· Evil will always reveal what they are thinking

· If you stand still the Lord has a way of revealing to you the hole in the strategy of those who are trying to destroy you and you can stand on His word

2 Timothy 1:7says:

· 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.[7]

· And if you use your sound mind you can see the flaw of the one who is trying to destroy you!

You want to know who’s running their mouth? Stand Still the Lord will show it to you

· You want to know why the weapon formed against you won’t work --- Stand Still the Lord will reveal it to you

· The Lord says, Just Endure their Evil and stand still

First One: Endure the Evil of Your Enemies

Second One Is: Resist the Reflex for Revenge

· Our instinct is to get even, but the Lord is saying resist your natural instinct for revenge

Here’s the problem with Moab, Ammon, and Meunites coming against Israel, because when the Children of Israel came out of Egypt these are the same people that the Lord said don’t destroy.

Vs10-11

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. [8]

· Israel could’ve destroyed Moab

· Could’ve destroyed Ammon

· Could’ve destroyed the Meunites but the Lord told them to

So, Jehoshaphat is standing here knowing they could’ve destroyed them long ago, and they have been kind to them and now they are repaying them by coming together to destroy them when we have been nothing but kind to you

· It’s one thing when you know why people hate you

· But it’s another thing when you have been nothing but kind, and loving, and compassionate as you can, and they still speak against you and try to destroy you!

· I don’t know about you, but when people take advantage of your kindness for a weakness you want to get even

· I don’t care how holy you are, when people repay your kindness with revenge and seek to destroy you --- you want to get even, and the Lord says: Stand Still

· Here it is, write this down: When revenge is your motivation, God is no longer your Inspiration

· When revenge is your motivation, God is no longer your Inspiration

· Because revenge reveals your lack of faith in God when you are operating in revenge you are not operating in faith

· Faith says that whatever you do to me I got a God who sees and knows

· I got a God who will handle it in His way

· I got a God who will bless me, in spite of what you have done to me

· I got a God who will handle the people who are trying to handle me

The Bible says: Romans 12:19

· 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” [9]

· The Lord says he wants you to resist the reflex for revenge, I know you--- you want to get even.

First One: Endure the Evil of Your Enemies

Second One Is: Resist the Reflex for Revenge

Third: The Lord says: Stand in a Sanctified Space

This is what Jahaziel said to them:

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,[10]

God is wanting to see if they would be obedient when others are being evil!

· Because the devil will convince you that when someone has been evil, you can adopt the Malcolm X philosophy (By any means necessary) that the Lord ordained you to do what you need to do.

· No, God is saying even though people have done you wrong I need you to stand right here!

o I need you to stand in love when they are operating in hate

o I need you to stand in compassion when they are operating in hate

o I need you to stand I truth when they are operating in lies

o I need you to stand in righteousness when they are operating in ungodliness

o I need you to stand in kindness when they are operating in ugly

o God cannot fight for you if you stand in darkness

First One: To Stand Still means to: Endure the Evil of Your Enemies

Second One Is: Resist the Reflex for Revenge

Third: Stand in a Sanctified Space

Number Four: The Lord says to Stand Still means to: Prepare for the Performance of God’s Promises

o Get yourself ready to see God move!

Look what God does in vs 18-23 when Jehoshaphat is obedient

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.

20 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.”

21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,

“Give thanks to the Lord,

for his steadfast love endures forever.”

22 And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.

23 For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another. [11]

God will make a way if you keep your eyes on Him, He will fight your battles if you Stand Still!

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 2 Ch 20:1–17. [2] The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Jas 1:2–4. [3] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 2 Ch 20:3–4. [4] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 2 Ch 20:14–15. [5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ps 37:1–2. [6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ps 27:1. [7] The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), 2 Ti 1:7. [8] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ch 20:10–11. [9] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ro 12:19. [10] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ch 20:15–17. [11] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ch 20:18–23.