2021-03-14
Matt Willmington
2 CHRONICLES 20 - Worship Warriors
- Chronicles is the last Jewish Scriptures book. Tanakh= Instruction/ Prophets / Writing [Ketuvim]
- not Kings rerun: ADAM - David/Solomon - Divide Kingdom - CYRUS
v.1-4 “After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to fight against Jehoshaphat. 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). Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the Lord. Then he proclaimed a fast for all Judah, who gathered to seek the Lord. They even came from all cities of Judah to seek him.
1. SEEK GOD
v.5-9 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the Lord’s temple before the new courtyard. 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. 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? They have lived in the land and have built you a sanctuary in it for your name and have said, “If disastercomes 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.”
Jehoshaphat, 4th king of Judah [870BC]. Enemies had come from east, around Dead Sea. Now 50 miles from Jerusalem! King and people gather in God’s presence.
v.12 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. GREAT PRAYER!
2. PRAY TO GOD
Solomon’s Prayer - 2 Chronicles 6:28-30
2 Chronicles 6:28 “when their enemies besiegethem in the land and its cities, when there is any plague”
God’s answer - 2 Chronicles 7:13-14
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 “If I shut the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the grasshopper to consume the land, or if I send pestilence on my people, and my people, who bear my name, humblethemselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgivetheir sin, and heal their land.”
WE humble + pray + seek + turn = GOD hears + forgives + heal
v.13-19 All Judah was standing before the Lord with their dependents, their wives, and their children. In the middle of the congregation, the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel… “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. 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. 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.’” Then Jehoshaphat knelt low with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord to worship him. Then the Levites from the sons of the Kohathites and the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel shouting loudly.
Jahaziel prophesies victory. Jehoshaphat bowed down, Levites stood up, everyone praised loudly!
v.20-26 In the morning they got up early and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa… Then he consultedwith the people and appointed some to sing for the Lord and some to praise the splendor of his holiness. When they went out in front of the armed forces, they kept singing: Give thanks to the Lord, for his faithful love endures forever. The moment they began their shouts and praises, the Lord set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir who came to fight against Judah, and they were defeated. …When Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked for the large army, but there were only corpses lying on the ground; nobody had escaped. Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to gather the plunder… They were gathering the plunder for three days because there was so much. They assembled in the Valley of Beracah on the fourth day, for there they blessed the Lord. [Valley of BLESSING]
Singers preceded the soldiers into the valley. God used their shouts or praise to ambush the enemy - and they destroyed each other. Judah came through the valley and collected the plunder for 3 days - the Valley of Blessing.
3. WORSHIP GOD
v.27-30 Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem turned back with Jehoshaphat their leader, returning joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord enabled them to rejoice over their enemies. So they came into Jerusalem to the Lord’s temple with harps, lyres, and trumpets. The terror of God was on all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. Then Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was quiet, for his God gave him rest on every side.”
The men led the praise parade back to Jerusalem. The victory struck fear in Judah’s enemies, and there was peace in the kingdom.
In the valley facing an enemy?
SEEK. PRAY. WORSHIP.