Sunday's Reflection: The Battle

Wow! Have you ever been laid out flat, breath knocked out, mind blown by something you didn’t see coming? Sometimes, you know when bad things are flying your way and other times crisis’s and circumstances might be labeled “Mysterious Dispensations” and cannot be explained or at least not in the beginning, because you can’t see the entire picture.

The battle. Jehoshaphat knew about it.

“Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, ‘A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea.’” 2 Chronicles 20:2

Sometimes we fear, but there's no need to fear. God already knows what’s going on with us every moment of every day. Even before we were born he knew about this day (Jeremiah 1:5).

“ ‘…If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’” 2 Chronicles 20:9

We aren’t to fight any battle alone and sometimes not at all. But, certainly we are to keep our eyes on Jesus in the midst of our storms (Matthew 14:22-36) – that’s where our power lies.

“O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.” 2 Chronicles 12:2

“…This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.  …You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’” 2 Chronicles 15-17 (NIV) (emphasis mine)

Jehoshaphat wasn’t counting on himself or his army’s power. He looked to God.

“Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 20:18 (NIV)

Before Jehoshaphat saw the results of the battle, he praised God. He didn’t know the outcome, but he did understand God’s love and authority.

“After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

‘Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.’” 2 Chronicles 20:21

While Jehoshaphat and his people were worshiping and praising and believing, The Lord was fighting “the battle”.  

“As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.” 2 Chronicles 20:22

The enemy was defeated. The crisis was over. 

We are never alone. God is always on our side. I know this to be true because I experienced again this week that the battle was not mine, but the Lord’s.  

 

Read the entire story of Jehoshaphat’s here.

 

Scripture source: Holy Bible, Biblegateway.com