2Ch 20:9-10 | KingComments | STEP | When the call is made by Jehoshaphat and the people have come, he himself takes the lead in prayer ( ). 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 ( ). 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 ( ). 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 ( ). 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 ( ). 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 ( ). He knows that this happened according to his promise to “Abraham Your friend” ( ; ; cf. ). 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 ( ). 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 ( ). Jehoshaphat recalls what Solomon said in his prayer at the dedication of the temple ( ; ). 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” ( ). 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 ( ; ). 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 ( ). 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 ( ). At this prayer also the little children are present. They occupy an important place to God ( ; ; ). 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.

‏ 2 Chronicles 20:9-10

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.