Recently, my husband and I suddenly found ourselves in what felt like an overwhelming circumstance. We didn’t see it coming, but nonetheless we woke up one day and it was there. I suppose the majority of trials we face appear to be just like this, completely unexpected, and potentially more than we feel equipped to handle emotionally, spiritually, and perhaps even physically. And when, not if, circumstances of this nature occur, we are always faced with a choice to either lean into the trial in trust and faith, or cave into pressure and give way to despair. And although a steady diet of sunny skies would be lovely and truthfully preferred by the majority, of which I am included, reality is life comes complete with trials, and unfortunately no one is exempt.

 

So last week upon receiving a report that brought confusion and the potential for despair, I sat on my porch, my favored quiet spot in our home, and began journaling my prayers, thoughts and emotions. I find journaling to be an effective and positive approach to sorting out feelings and gaining God’s perspective. When I finished writing, I sat quietly, gazing out the window, admiring the beauty of the day. And in that peace-filled moment, a verse of scripture came to my recollection and I quickly looked it up…

O our God…We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help. 2 Chronicles‬ 20‬:12‬ (NLT)‬‬

Eureka! This verse completely summed up how I was feeling in the moment. Yes, I did feel powerless and helpless. And yes, I honestly did not know my next step. However, at the same time I truly believed and continue to believe that God is absolutely in control of all things, including my personal challenges and adverse circumstances. And because of this, my final affirmation, like the previous two, was an additional resounding yes. As in yes I realized that in order to walk positively through this trial with peace, hope and even joy, my spiritual eyes would need to remain fixed on God. And one of the most effective and powerful ways to accomplish this is by looking intently into the Word of God.

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. James‬ 1‬:25‬ (ESV)‬‬

So in my effort to keep my gaze vertically affixed on truth, I decided to reread the entire account of King Jehoshophat’s faith-filled response and commitment to stand firm in the face of impending war upon the country he loved and the people he led. By the way, if you are in need of encouragement, inspiration and you love a great ending, as I do, I recommend reading or rereading this story in its entirety for yourself. (This narrative is recorded in 2 Chronicles 20:1- 30). But for now, I have chosen to highlight several key points of this account that I found to be of most significance.

King Jehoshaphat’s story begins on a day like every other, when quite unexpectedly he receives a most grievous report…

A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at Hazazon-tamar…. 2 Chronicles‬ 20‬:2‬ (NLT)

Although the King’s initial response is fear, and honestly who wouldn’t be afraid, he immediately regroups and moves into proactive mode with the following actions: First and foremost he personally seeks the Lord. Next he proclaims a fast throughout the land of Judah. And these two steps work positively together, leading all of Judah along with the King in seeking the Lord.

And the story continues to get better….

Following this committed stance by both the King and the inhabitants of Judah to seek and depend solely on God for help and direction, Jehoshaphat now stands courageously in front of the people offering a bold and incredibly faith-filled prayer to Yahweh. I absolutely love this, and if you recall, our narrative began by stating that the King of Judah was not simply afraid, but according to the NTL he was actually more than afraid…

Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news… 2 Chronicles‬ 20‬:3‬ (NLT)‬‬

And honestly this sounds about right to me. However as the story progresses, we witness the once fearful king, now responding as the courageous leader of the nation of Judah, praying boldly to God for protection and deliverance on behalf of the people and the land. King Jehoshaphat begins this beautiful and inspiring prayer with declarations of Yahweh as the one true God in heaven and the sovereign ruler over the nations.(2 Chronicles 20: 5& 6). He then continues his prayer by reminding God of His promise to respond to the prayers offered before the Temple where He has chosen to be worshiped. (2 Chronicles 7-9). And this is followed by a heartfelt discourse regarding the extreme adversity and overwhelming circumstance that the king and the Judean people were currently facing. (2 Chronicles 20:10 & 11)

And finally King Jehoshopshat concludes his prayer with a sincere and humble confession….

O our God…we are powerless against this great multitude which is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You. 2 Chronicles‬ 20‬:12‬ (AMP)‬‬

I absolutely love this!! This is not simply my favorite part of this prayer, although it truly is, but far more significantly it is a critical portion of this prayer revealing sincerity, humility and absolute dependence on God. Restated, this prayer might sound something like this…

All Powerful, Almighty God, we seriously have no idea what our next move is. We truly don’t know what to do, but we trust that You are in control. Together we confess and acknowledge that You alone know precisely what we should do, and because of this we are keeping our gaze heavenward. Holy Father, our eyes are fixed on You!

I can only imagine after following Jehoshophat’s simple, yet incredibly powerful prayer, a holy hush settling over the people, filling every heart with a quiet trust and a confident peace. And it was in this moment, as the Spirit of God was powerfully present among the people, that a prophetic word came forth from Jahaziel, a Levite and descendant of Asaph. And not to be redundant, but I must say once again, the story only continues to get better from here!

Jahaziel’s prophecy …

Listen carefully, all [you people of] Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. The Lord says this to you: “Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Go down against them tomorrow. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the river valley, in front of the Wilderness of Jeruel. You need not fight in this battle; take your positions, stand and witness the salvation of the Lord who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.” 2 Chronicles‬ 20‬:15‬-17‬ (AMP)‬‬

Don’t you just want to burst out singing, The Battle Belongs to You by Phil Wickham?! Honestly I do!

Continuing…

Next in response to the prophetic Word of encouragement and assurance of victory from God to His people, King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah bow in reverent worship in honor and praise to God. And this is followed by a further act of praise as the clans of Kohath and Korah also express their worship to God, but rather than quietly bowing, they stand to their feet shouting! (a quick note aside here on my part, I absolutely love seeing the various demonstrations of worship.)

As the narrative continues we read that early the next morning following the beautiful evening of praise and worship, the army of Judah begins their journey through the wilderness of Tekoa, (not to be confused with Tekoa, Georgia). If you are reading this and potentially you’re not from the southeast, you may be thinking huh? And if so, scratch my comment, and my feeble attempt at humor, and let’s move on because it’s about to get seriously even better. Now as the army led by King Jehoshophat is moving forward, the king pauses for just a moment to empower the people, however not with a strategic battle plan but rather with words of encouragement…

Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets and you will succeed. 2 Chronicles‬ 20‬:20‬ (NLT)‬‬

And immediately following the king’s brief power speech, he assembles a praise team of singers and bestows upon them the privilege and task of walking ahead of the army while singing. (another quick personal note aside here: This is a brilliant example of worship serving as spiritual warfare!)

And this was their song…

Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever! 2 Chronicles‬ 20‬:21‬ (NLT)‬‬

And as worship filled the atmosphere, God responded to the praises of His people in a most unique way. He caused a mass confusion to settle over the enemy, resulting in the armies of Moab, Ammon and Mount Seir fighting against each other instead of against Judah. And when the army of Judah finally arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness all they saw were dead bodies. Not a single one of their enemies escaped. The war had ended, and the Judean army never even had the chance or the need to engage in battle. On this glorious and incredibly momentous day, the Lord of heaven’s armies fought on behalf of His people and won the victory!

What an amazing story! What an incredible twist of events! What a triumph for the people of Yahweh! What an awesome God!!

Then all the men returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, overjoyed that the Lord had given them victory over their enemies. They marched into Jerusalem to the music of harps, lyres, and trumpets, and they proceeded to the Temple of the Lord. When all the surrounding kingdoms heard that the Lord himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them. So Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side. 2 Chronicles‬ 20‬:27‬-30‬ (NLT)‬‬

The End!

Epilogue…

As I reflect upon this story, I am overwhelmingly inspired, challenged, and soberly reminded to keep my eyes on God at all times. He is with me when the waters are calm and He is with me when the sea is raging. He is with me on the highest mountain and He with me in the lowest valley. In my humanness and frailty, admittedly at times I lose sight of truth when faced with extreme challenges and difficult trials. But if I will make the choice like that of King Jehoshaphat, to look to God in humble dependence, acknowledge Him as Lord over all, and worship Him in the face of, and in the midst of trials, then I can be assured that in God’s time and in His way, I will eventually experience victory, resulting in great praise and honor to the Most High God!

Personal reflection:

Consider the specific ways in which the story of King Jehoshaphat’s commitment to look to God in the face of trials and extreme circumstances has inspired you. Perhaps record your response in your journal.

Read 1 Peter 4:12 & 13, James 1:2-4, John 16:33. What do these scriptures teach about the purpose of trials, the response to trials, the perspective in trials and God’s promise through trials? Underline key words or phrases included in these scriptures that speak to you.

What positive and practical steps can you take to look unto God for answers, direction and counsel in whatever trials or circumstances you may currently be facing?

Close your time by praying a prayer of commitment to God to trust in, depend on, and look unto Him for all things and at all times.