2 Chronicles 19-20

2 Chronicles 19-20

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Chapter 19: Jehoshaphat Rebuked

                Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned safely to his house in Jerusalem. Jehu, the son of Hanani the seer went up to meet him and told Jehoshaphat if he should help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord, because the wrath of the Lord was going to be on him. But reassured him that because he had done some good that he could be saved from the wrath of the Lord. Jehoshaphat dwelt in Jerusalem and brought the people back to the Lord.

                Jehoshaphat set judges throughout the land and all the fortified cities of Judah. He instructs the judges to judge for the Lord and not for man. They can not take bribes and must act as an instrument of the Lord in the judging of his people.

Chapter 20: Jehoshaphat Prays and Fasts

                Shortly after, the people of Moab and the people of Ammon comes to battle against Jehoshaphat. Because of this Jehoshaphat becomes fearful and turns to the Lord and proclaims a fast throughout all of Judah. Judah gathered together to ask for the Lord’s help.

               
                Jehoshaphat stood amongst all of Judah and Jerusalem and spake unto them; “…O Lord God or our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? And rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee… If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or prestilence, or famine we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.” (2 Chronicles 20:6 & 9)

                Jehoshaphat began his great prayer by recognizing the power of the Lord, he also prayed recognizing God’s great works in the past on behalf of his people. Essentially say, God has done great things in the past, so He can also do great things now.

                God responds to Jehoshaphats prayer by telling him and all of his people to “…Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15)

                This is something that we must always remember when we are put in situations where we feel overwhelmed or outnumbered, like we can’t do anything. We must turn to God and let him fight our battles for us. This however doesn’t mean that we can completely sit back and do nothing. We must still do all that we can, but whatever we can not physically accomplish, we can accomplish with the help of God.

                God instructs them to go down against the armies in the morning, he tells them to go and stand before them and watch the salvation of the Lord, they wouldn’t even have to fight! Jehoshaphat and all of his people bowed to the ground and worshiped God, singing his name with voices on high. So the people wake up the next morning and head out to the Wilderness of Tekoa, where the Lord had told them to go. 

Jehoshaphat turns to Judah and gives them some advice; “…O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.” (2 Chronicles 20:20)

                This is some very good advice, if you believe in God you will be established with his word. But if you truly want to prosper with that word, you must have a prophet. A prophet is called of God as His one and only authorized respresentative on the face of the whole world. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the authorized church on this earth, with and authorized servant of the Lord, his prophet, who acts as an instrument and a mouth piece to speak to and teach his people. As Judah began to sing praises unto the Lord, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab on Mount Seir, who had come against Judah. They were completely defeated and Jehoshaphat and his people found all of the dead bodies, and on the dead bodies they found lots of valuables and precious jewelry. The spoil was so much that it took them 3 days to carry it all back, and on the 4^th day they praised the Lord for his mercy and blessings!

                Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king and he reigned for 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. And he walked in the way of his father Asa, and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for as yet the people had not directed their hearts to the God of their fathers. The rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel. After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted very wickedly. And he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion Geber. But Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works.” Then the ships were wrecked, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.