2 Chronicles 20 - Worship God and Watch

Post date: Sep 28, 2012 11:59:42 AM

I was reading 2 Chronicles 20 this morning. I found this overwhelming notion about trusting in God. The chapter is 37 verses long, so I won't be going over the whole thing, but I will point out some key places.

The setting is that king Jehoshaphat is in charge of Judah. All of a sudden he gets news that the Ammonites, the Moabites, and other forces are planning an attack on Judah. (v1-2) The first thing Jehoshaphat does is take time to seek God. (v3). Jehoshaphat goes as far as to proclaim a fast throughout all of Judah. My guess is that in verse 7, Jehoshaphat is reciting the story of Abraham either to remind himself of God's promise or to express his faith based on testimony. It's hard to tell which because the text makes no statement of the condition of his heart.

The chapter goes through some of Jehoshaphat's seeking God and waiting until the word of God comes to Jahaziel. (v14) One thing I want to point out before I go into this. Jahaziel had to be careful with proclaiming the word of God. According to custom, if a man proclaims God's word and it turns out to be false, he is killed. So, Jahaziel had to be absolutely sure he was hearing from God, or he was as good as dead.

So, the word of God was as follows:

2Ch 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.

I find this so interesting because I often want to help God with his purpose. I have a hard time sitting still and just letting God do His holy work. But, the command of God was for Jehoshaphat to sit still and watch God work. What happens next is pretty slick as well.

2Ch 20:21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.

2Ch 20:22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

Jehoshaphat begins to appoint people to praise God. He has people singing and worshiping God. They proclaimed God's power. As they did, God wiped out the enemy forces without Jehoshaphat even having to take a step. Just, boom! Then they were gone. In verse 25, the people of Judah are taking all sorts of jewelry and valuables off of their dead enemies.

As they are coming home, the Israelites are probably still singing, but verse 28 says that they are playing harps, trumpets, and psalteries (which are like a mandolin). Through all of this, God is worshiped.

A couple key things I want to point out in this story is that Jehoshaphat could have appealed to his buddy, Ahaziah, for help. Jehoshaphat could have started to plan a counter attack. Yet in all of this, Jehoshaphat sought God. He trusted in God. He let God save Judah.

I read this and though to myself, how often do I try to help God? How often do I try and try to make God move on my time and in my way. Really, do I glorify God or do I make less of Him when I do these things?