Help Asked and Praise Rendered

The sudden news of a great invasion came to Jehoshaphat, and, like a true man of God, he set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast. The people came together with all speed, and the whole nation earnestly cried to the Lord for his aid.

Let us notice carefully—

I. HOW THEY ASKED HELP.

They expressed their confidence; Jehoshaphat cried, “Are not you God in Heaven? In your hand is there not power and might?” (Verse 6.)

They pleaded his past acts. “Are not you our God, who did drive out the inhabitants of this land?” (Verse 7.)

They urged the promise given at the dedication of the temple. Read verse 9. “You will hear and help.”

They confessed their condition: humbly did they acknowledge their danger and their impotence. They had—

No power. “We have no might against this great company.”

No plan. “Neither know we what to do.” (Verse 12.)

No allies. Their wives and their little ones only increased their care. (Verse 13.)

They then lifted their souls to God. “Our eyes are upon you.” Where could they look with more certainty?

II. HOW THEY RECEIVED IT.

By renewed assurance. “The Lord will be with you.” (Verse 17.)

By the calming of their fears. “Be not afraid.” “Fear not, nor be dismayed.” Courage keeps the field, but fear flies.

By urging them to greater faith. “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall you be established.” (Verse 20.)

By distinct direction. “Tomorrow go you down against them; you shall find them at the end of the brook.” (Verse 16.)

By actual deliverance. The Moabites and Ammonites slew the Edomites, and Israel triumphed without striking a blow.

It shall be greatly to our joy to see the right hand of the Lord getting us the victory.

III. HOW THEY ACTED BY THIS HELP

They worshiped. With every sign of reverence, the king and his people bowed before Jehovah (verse 18). Worship girds us for warfare.

They praised. Before they received the mercy, “He appointed singers unto the Lord.” Read verse 21.

They went forth, preceded by the singers, until they reached “the watch-tower in the wilderness.” (Verse 24).

They saw the promise fulfilled. “They looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies.” (Verse 24.)

They gathered the spoil. “They were three days in gathering, of the spoil, it was so much.” (Verse 25.)

They blessed the Lord. (Verse 26.) The valley of Berachah heard their joyful notes, and then they returned to the house of the Lord with harps and psalteries and trumpets.

They had rest. “So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about” (Verse 30.) God’s victories end the war. The fear of God fell on all the kingdoms, and they dared not invade Judah.

Let us when in difficulties have immediate resort to the Lord.

Let us do this in the spirit of confidence and praise.

Is there not a cause for our assembling even now to plead against the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites of superstition, worldliness, and infidelity?

Observations

This chapter, which begins with danger, fear, and trouble all round, ends with joy, peace, quiet, and rest. Two words seem to stand out in this chapter—PRAISE and PRAYER—twin sisters which should always go together. One word links them here—FAITH.

“Jehoshaphat set himself to seek the Lord.” His good example was soon followed. “Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.” What a prayer-meeting—a real one, a united one, with a definite object, and the king presiding! Notice the prayer (verse 5). It is a pattern one. Jehoshaphat felt his weakness and need; but he recognized that God is all, and over all, and has all power and might. He brings forward every plea and argument He appeals to God’s power and promises, to his justice and love, and winds up with simple yet prevailing faith in God himself. “We have no might, neither know we what to do; but our eyes are upon you” (verse 12). Placing all the responsibility on God, and they just looking to him, waiting for him: God answered at once.—Captain Dawson, in “Thoughts in the Valleys.”