2Ch 20:3-5 | KingComments | STEP | In this chapter we have an event in which we see the place and power of prayer in the battle for LORD. Here we learn how the kingdom of God functions in the world. It shows us the picture of a praying and fighting church. It is a highlight in this book. A powerful enemy comes to make war against Jehoshaphat ( ). They are Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites. Moabites and Ammonites are family of the Israelites. They descend from Lot, the nephew of Abraham ( ). In his prayer, Jehoshaphat calls the Meunites “the sons of … Mount Seir” ( ; cf. ), which means that they are Edomites, or descendants of Esau. These peoples have always revealed themselves as enemies of God’s people. They represent people who have a certain relationship with God’s people, but hate God’s people and God’s truth. We must be wary of this enemy. Jehoshaphat gets the message that the enemies are coming and he is told where they are at that moment ( ). He is not suddenly attacked by the enemy, but is a warned man. Although Jehoshaphat has a good and brave army, he does not place his trust in it. He realizes what is said in Psalm 33 ( ). The fear of the enemy drives him and all the people to God in fasting and prayer ( ). Fasting is voluntary renunciation of food – more generally, renunciation of things that are lawful – in order to pray more intensively. Fasting is making oneself small before God, it is humbling oneself. All Judah is called together to seek help from the LORD ( ). From all the cities of Judah they come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD, to ask Him what they should do. Normally the people come to Jerusalem three times a year on the occasion of the three great feasts ( ). But now they come to have fellowship in prayer, not because it is prescribed, but because they feel the need. Jehoshaphat is the true spiritual leader of his people. Spiritual leadership is expressed in it that one does not want to be great, but wants to be small together with the people. Need brings the people together and on their knees ( ).

‏ 2 Chronicles 20:3-5

Introduction

In this chapter we have an event in which we see the place and power of prayer in the battle for LORD. Here we learn how the kingdom of God functions in the world. It shows us the picture of a praying and fighting church. It is a highlight in this book.

Jehoshaphat in Distress

A powerful enemy comes to make war against Jehoshaphat (2Chr 20:1). They are Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites. Moabites and Ammonites are family of the Israelites. They descend from Lot, the nephew of Abraham (Gen 19:30-38 ; Gen 12:5). In his prayer, Jehoshaphat calls the Meunites “the sons of … Mount Seir” (2Chr 20:10; cf. 2Chr 20:22-23), which means that they are Edomites, or descendants of Esau. These peoples have always revealed themselves as enemies of God’s people. They represent people who have a certain relationship with God’s people, but hate God’s people and God’s truth. We must be wary of this enemy.

Jehoshaphat gets the message that the enemies are coming and he is told where they are at that moment (2Chr 20:2). He is not suddenly attacked by the enemy, but is a warned man. Although Jehoshaphat has a good and brave army, he does not place his trust in it. He realizes what is said in Psalm 33 (Psa 33:16 ; 20).

The fear of the enemy drives him and all the people to God in fasting and prayer (2Chr 20:3). Fasting is voluntary renunciation of food – more generally, renunciation of things that are lawful – in order to pray more intensively. Fasting is making oneself small before God, it is humbling oneself.

All Judah is called together to seek help from the LORD (2Chr 20:4). From all the cities of Judah they come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD, to ask Him what they should do. Normally the people come to Jerusalem three times a year on the occasion of the three great feasts (Deu 16:16). But now they come to have fellowship in prayer, not because it is prescribed, but because they feel the need.

Jehoshaphat is the true spiritual leader of his people. Spiritual leadership is expressed in it that one does not want to be great, but wants to be small together with the people. Need brings the people together and on their knees (Acts 4:23-24).

Prayer of Jehoshaphat

When the call is made by Jehoshaphat and the people have come, he himself takes the lead in prayer (2Chr 20:5). He leads in prayer while standing in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem. He is one with his people. The place of prayer is “the house of the LORD before the new court”. He knows that God’s house is a house of prayer, and he makes an explicit appeal to this later (2Chr 20:9-10).

The chronicler also mentions that Jehoshaphat is ‘before the new court’. This may have something to do with the altar renovated by his father Asa (2Chr 15:8). It emphasizes what is new. Jehoshaphat is new and fresh in his approach to God. He is not approaching God from rut, but from a new arising desire.

Jehoshaphat prays orderly, there is coherence in his prayer. This is important for public prayer. He begins by addressing God as the “God of our fathers”, the God Who has been their God throughout the ages (2Chr 20:6). His dwelling place is not a limited place on earth, as it is for the idols, but He lives in the heaven that is stretched out all over the earth. Certainly He has chosen Jerusalem and the temple as His dwelling place on earth, but Solomon also said that this house and even the highest heaven cannot contain Him (2Chr 6:18).

Jehoshaphat describes God in His omnipotence and exaltation. He calls to the God Who rules over all kingdoms, including the hostile nations with their gods. The enemies that are raised up against him are in his hand, a hand in which is power and strength, so that no one can stand against Him.

Jehoshaphat knows how God used to act to give His people their land and reminds Him of that (2Chr 20:7). He knows that this happened according to his promise to “Abraham Your friend” (Isa 41:8; Jam 2:23; cf. Jn 15:14). Abraham is His confidant to whom He has made His thoughts known. Did He not give the land for ever to the descendants of Abraham? Then it cannot be that the enemies will drive them out of it. Jehoshaphat pleads with God on the basis of God’s promises. We can do the same.

The offspring has gone to live in the land and has built a sanctuary there for the name of the LORD (2Chr 20:8). It is as if Jehoshaphat presents the building of the sanctuary for the LORD as the great goal of living in the land. That is true. God’s goal with the deliverance of His people from Egypt is to dwell among His people. Moses has already pointed this out in the song he sings immediately after he has led the people out of Egypt (Exo 15:13 ; 17).

Jehoshaphat recalls what Solomon said in his prayer at the dedication of the temple (2Chr 20:9; 2Chr 6:20-25). He and his people are now in a situation mentioned by Solomon. Solomon said that the LORD will hear and deliver when they cry out to Him out of their distress. Is this not also a great encouragement for us to cry out to the Lord in our distress, pleading with Him on His promises to hear and to deliver?

Then Jehoshaphat points out the immediate danger to the LORD with the words “now behold” (2Chr 20:10). He asks as it were whether the LORD wants to look closely at the danger in which they find themselves. The people who are coming to them now, the LORD did not allow to attack them at the time. And now the people whom they had to spare and leave in their own inheritance come, to drive them out of the inheritance which God gave His people (2Chr 20:11; Deu 2:8-9 ; 19). This should not happen, should it? Surely, it will not be the case that their former obedience is now punished, will it?

Jehoshaphat addresses “our God” and asks a question that already contains the answer (2Chr 20:12). Will God not judge them? Of course He will. After all, He knows that in Jehoshaphat and his people there is no strength against the great force of the enemy.

While he himself also has a large army and is powerful, Jehoshaphat declares his powerlessness. The fact that he has a large army indicates that he does not neglect his responsibility; he is ready for it. But when it comes down to it, he is also aware of the fact that without the LORD all these provisions will not benefit him and have no meaning. Therefore he and his people turn their eyes to the LORD. With this they say: “LORD, if there is help to come, it must come from you. That’s why we look at You.”

When Jehoshaphat prays, the whole people stays in silence before the LORD, waiting for His reaction (2Chr 20:13). At this prayer also the little children are present. They occupy an important place to God (1Chr 25:8 ; 1Chr 26:13; 2Chr 31:15; 2Kgs 23:2). It is an important and encouraging experience for them to see how the elderly seek the LORD. The fact that several categories of the people are mentioned by name shows that the whole people, young and old, men and women, are of one soul, of one thought, of one desire.