Great Unknown People of the Bible
King Jehoshaphat
King Jehoshaphat certainly qualifies as one of the great unknown people of the Old Testament. After today, I hope that, if you don't remember his name, you will at least remember his story, and his faith.
An ASL version of Jehoshaphat's story is here:
An ASL version of Jehoshaphat's story is here:
2 Chronicles 20 [NIrV]
1 After that, the Moabites, Ammonites and some Meunites [Edomites] went to war against Jehoshaphat.
2 Some people came and told him, "A huge army is coming from Edom to fight against you...
3 Jehoshaphat was alarmed. So he decided to ask the Lord for advice. He told all of the people of Judah to go without eating.
4 The people came together to ask the Lord for help. In fact, they came from every town in Judah to pray to him.
5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up among the people of Judah and Jerusalem. He was in front of the new courtyard at the Lord's temple.
6 He said,
"Lord, you are the God of our people. You are the God who is in heaven. You rule over all of the kingdoms of the nations. Your hands are strong and powerful. No one can fight against you and win.
7 "Our God, you drove out the people who lived in this land. You drove them out to make room for your people Israel. You gave this land forever to those who belong to the family line of your friend Abraham.
8 "They have lived in this land. They've built a temple here for your Name. They have said, 9 'Suppose trouble comes on us. It doesn't matter whether it's a punishing sword, plague or hunger. We'll serve you. We'll stand in front of this temple where your Name is. We'll cry out to you when we're in trouble. Then you will hear us. You will save us.'..
14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel...
15 Jahaziel said, "King Jehoshaphat, listen! All you who live in Judah and Jerusalem, listen! The Lord says to you, 'Do not be afraid. Do not lose hope because of this huge army. The battle is not yours. It is mine.' "
16 " 'Tomorrow march down against them... 17 You will not need to fight this battle. Take your positions. Stand firm. You will see how I will save you. Judah and Jerusalem, do not be afraid. Do not lose hope. Go out and face them tomorrow. I will be with you.' " ...
20 Early in the morning all of the people left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they started out, Jehoshaphat stood up. He said, "Judah, listen to me! People of Jerusalem, listen to me! Have faith in the Lord your God. He'll take good care of you. Have faith in his prophets. Then you will have success."
21 Jehoshaphat asked the people for advice. Then he appointed men to sing to the Lord. He wanted them to praise Him because of his glory and holiness. They marched out in front of the army. They said, "Give thanks to the Lord. His faithful love continues forever."
22 They began to sing and praise Him....
Now picture this...
Here is the little army of Israel standing in a line at one end of the valley. In front of them are a group of men singing Psalm 136,
Here is the little army of Israel standing in a line at one end of the valley. In front of them are a group of men singing Psalm 136,
"Give thanks to the Lord! He is good, and His love continues forever!"
Are they nervous? Yes.
Are they scared? Yes.
But they continue singing,
Are they scared? Yes.
But they continue singing,
"Give thanks to the Lord! He is good, and His love continues forever!"
Then the enemy armies appear,
one on the right and two others on the left. They march toward the middle of the valley, where they will meet and then all turn toward Israel's army. "Give thanks to the Lord! And when the three armies met in the middle, something very strange happened. |
The two armies on the left starting fighting the army on the right,
while Israel just stood in shock and watched.
while Israel just stood in shock and watched.
"Give thanks to the Lord! He is good, and His love continues forever!"
They stood and watched as the two armies on the left destroyed the one army on the right --
killed them all.
killed them all.
"Give thanks to the Lord! He is good, and His love continues forever!"
But then the two armies on the left turned toward each other,
and they began fighting each other!
and they began fighting each other!
"Give thanks to the Lord! He is good, and His love continues forever!"
By now everyone one in Israel's army is singing praise to God.
When the fighting was over...
When the fighting was over...
24 The men of Judah came to the place that looks out over the desert. They turned to look down at the huge army. But all they saw was dead bodies lying there on the ground. No one had escaped.
25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went down there to carry off anything of value. Among the dead bodies they found a lot of supplies, clothes and articles of value. There was more than they could take away. There was so much it took three days to collect all of it.
26 On the fourth day they gathered together in the Valley of Beracah [Blessing]. There they praised the Lord. That's why it's called the Valley of Beracah to this very day...
29 All of the kingdoms of the surrounding countries began to have respect for God. They had heard how the Lord had fought against Israel's enemies.
30 The kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace. His God had given him peace and rest on every side.
How does this connect to our lives?
First and most important,
we, as Israel, have an enemy.
Our enemy is the devil.
We are small and weak, and the enemy is strong.
And his goal is to defeat us and to tempt us into hell forever.
But God tells us as He told Israel,
First and most important,
we, as Israel, have an enemy.
Our enemy is the devil.
We are small and weak, and the enemy is strong.
And his goal is to defeat us and to tempt us into hell forever.
But God tells us as He told Israel,
"That battle is not yours. That battle is Mine.
Stand strong. You will see how I will save you."
So we stand and watch, as Satan battles against God on the cross.
And when it seems the devil wins,
God defeats him,
freeing us from the devil's power,
forgiving all of our sins,
and then rising from the dead.
And when it seems the devil wins,
God defeats him,
freeing us from the devil's power,
forgiving all of our sins,
and then rising from the dead.
"Give thanks to the Lord!. He is good! and His love continues forever!"
And He does more.
When big problems in life challenge us,
problems that are bigger than we are,
trouble that will truly defeat us,
what can we do?
Again God says,
"That battle is not yours. That battle is Mine.
Stand strong. You will see how I will save you."
When big problems in life challenge us,
problems that are bigger than we are,
trouble that will truly defeat us,
what can we do?
Again God says,
"That battle is not yours. That battle is Mine.
Stand strong. You will see how I will save you."
"Give thanks to the Lord!. He is good! and His love continues forever!"
The Bible says:
What does this mean? If God is for us, who can be against us?
God didn't hold-back His own Son. But God gave-Him-up for all of us.
God will truly with Christ give us everything.
Who will blame those people God chose? God, He makes us holy.
Who will condemn? Christ died. More than that, He arose, He reigns in heaven, and HE prays for us.
Who will separate us from Christ and His love?
What can make us depart from Christ?
Can trouble? No!
Can problems? No!
Can suffering? ...hunger? ...poor living, having no money? No!
Can danger? ...and death?
The Holy Writings say: "Because we belong-to God, we maybe get killed every-day. We are the same-as sheep ready for killing."
But during all that, He loves us, and HE helps us win a great victory.
I know surely that nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus.
Death can't!
Life can't!
Angels can't!
Kings and spirits in heaven can't!
Trouble now and future can't!
Heaven can't!
Hell can't!
Nothing in all the world will separate us from the love God gives us through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39)
Give thanks to the Lord! He is good!
and His love continues forever!
and His love continues forever!