Witness 3
WITNESS 3: Jehoshaphat, King of Judah
There is no better way to begin this than by first considering the back story that led up to this that we are preparing to discuss. With that being said, please watch the attached video first and then return here to see the BATTLE CRY unlike what we have already experienced with the first two witnesses.
Please click this link to see the Video:
VIDEO INTRODUCTION TO WITNESS #3
Did you view the video?
Let’s now proceed to 2 Chronicles chapter 20.
We are now in 2 Chronicles chapter 20. This is pretty much a favorite chapter for everyone because we like to quote that “the battle is not ours but the Lord’s”, but there is so much more wealth to be found in these verses. As an example, let’s start with the first four verses.
2 Chronicles 20:1-4 New International Version
Jehoshaphat Defeats Moab and Ammon
20 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.
To understand what is happening here, the Moabites and the Ammonites are the children of Lot through incest, and the Meunites are the children of Esau (Edom). So, basically, the Israelite’s cousins are coming to fight against King Jehoshaphat and the tribe of Judah. Now, before King Jehoshaphat made the mishap of joining with King Ahab, he enjoyed the favor of God and was granted favor even with his enemies. Because he went up against Ramoth Gilead for no reason except that he was siding with wicked King Ahab, he brought the anger of God upon himself. (Review 2 Chronicles 19: 2-3)
We need to recognize and take responsibility for our errors. Unknowingly, we can open doors to trouble.
Read 2 Chronicles 7:13-14
When that happens and we begin to notice the following,
- financial issues: the shutting up of the heavens from rain
- relational issues: the devouring of the locusts
- health issues: a plague or pestilence upon the people
What does God tell His people to do?
In 2 Chronicles 20:3, immediately King Jehoshaphat becomes alarmed at the turn in events, where he now is experiencing relational issues with the nations around him, and he proclaims a fast for all of Judah.
The Battle Cry
I looked up the reference notes about the fast that Jehoshaphat called to get a deeper understanding of what was happening.
(I will only give an itemized synopsis of each verse. You will need to look them up.)
· 1 Samuel 7:6 – one must recognize that they have sinned against the Lord
· Ezra 8:23 – fast and petition God about the issue
· Nehemiah 1:4 –mourn, fast, weep, pray
· Esther 4:16 – do not eat or drink of three days or nights
· Isaiah 58:6 – loose the chains of injustice, until the cords and break the yoke, set the oppressed free
· Jeremiah 36:9 – proclaims a time of fasting for all of the people
· Daniel 9:23 – plead in prayer, petition, fasting, sackcloth, and ashes
· Joel 1:14 – declare a holy fast, a sacred assembly
· Joel 2:15 – blow the trumpet in Zion
· Jonah 3:5, 7 – declare a fast from the least to the greatest; no man nor animal is to eat or drink anything
In 2 Chronicles 20:6-12, you get a chance to see what King Jehoshaphat prayed. Take a moment to read through his prayer. As you do, notice how King Jehoshaphat humbled himself before the Lord and in front of all of the people that he was king over.
2 Chronicles 20:6-12 NKJV
6 and said: “O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? 7 Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? 8 And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’ 10 And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them— 11 here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
Let me ask you this question, “In reading this prayer and the preceding verses of 2 Chronicles Chapter 20, do you see in it the answer that God gave to Solomon as to what was to happen if they noticed any one or all of the three destroyers coming towards them?
2 Chronicles 7:14 New International Version
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
I want to empower you by making sure that you can clearly see keys that can immediately be put into action so that you can prosper and have success in all your ways.
With that being said notice that in 2 Chronicles Chapter 19, after finding out what he did that upset the Lord, King Jehoshaphat immediately begins making changes to turn from his wicked ways. He knew to humble himself (fast), pray, and seek God’s face along with the reforms he was making because he made it a point to have the law of the Lord taught not just for the people, but for himself. This is why we need to read God’s Word daily – ALL of it so that we too will know what to do if we come face to face with trials.
So King Jehoshaphat prays. Afterward, the Spirit of the Lord comes upon one of the people who were present, and in that the King of Judah, Jehoshaphat, is encouraged. Let’s look at what he was told. Get ready because this is powerful.
2 Chronicles 20:15-30 New International Version
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.’”
18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 21 After consulting the people, as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his love endures forever.”
22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
24 When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah to this day.
27 Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets.
29 The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.
Did you see all that the battle cry entails?
Remember, the Apostle Paul said that we were to pray ALL manner of prayers, so let’s identify the various positions of battle cry in these verses we just read:
1. Verse 18 tells us that the King and the people bowed down with their faces to the ground and worshipped the Lord
2. Verse 19 tells us that some of the Levites stood up and praised the Lord with a very loud voice
3. Verse 21 tells us that the King appointed some men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness
TAKE NOTE that it was when the people began to sing and pray that the Lord set ambushes against their enemies causing their enemies to kill one another so that by the time the King and the people arrived at the place of battle what they found is that everyone was already dead. We are told that the plunder was so great that it took three days for them to gather all of it.
4. Verses 26-27 tell us that on the fourth day, they assembled to praise the Lord in the valley, and they continued to joyfully praise God who gave them “cause to rejoice over their enemies”.
Don’t think that trumpets were not blown in this instance.
5. Verse 28 says that they entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lutes and trumpets.
Listen, we don’t ever want to find ourselves on the bad side of the Lord.
Whenever it is that we realize that there is something that we have done that has angered our Heavenly Father, then we need to be quick about humbling ourselves before the Lord, quick about praying and seeking the face of the Lord for an answer from the Lord and quick about reforming which means to turn around from our wicked ways so that we can again enjoy peace and rest that can only come from the Lord.
When you have favor with God, He will give you favor with man and make you have peace even with your enemies.
With that being said, let’s get ready now to consider the last piece of garment that has just been discovered.
Please Proceed to the Module 8 Quiz
Are you enjoying this study? Please share your comments on this lesson.