Help Asked and Praise Rendered
2 €l)ron. n. 4. — “2lna lubal) gatljereo tfyemsetoes togetljer, to a0k fyelp of? Cora: com out of all tl)c cities of lubaf) %n came to stck? Cora.”
The sudden news of a great invasion came to Jehoshaphat, and, like a true man of God, he set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast. The people came together with all speed, and the whole nation earnestly cried to the Lord for his aid.
Let us notice carefully:
I. IIOW THEY ASKED HELP.
They expressed their confidence; Jehoshaphat cried, “Are not thou God in heaven? In thine hand is there not power and might?” (verse 6).
They pleaded his past acts. “Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land?” (verse 7).
They urged the promise given at the dedication of the temple. Read verse 9. “Thou wilt hear and help.”
They confessed their condition; humbly did they acknowledge their danger and their impotence. They
had:
No power.” We have no might against this great
company.”
No plan. “Neither know we what to do” (verse 12). No allies. Their wives and their little ones only increased their care (verse 13).
They then lifted their souls to God. “Our eyes are upon thee.” Where could they look with more certainty?
II. HOW THEY RECEIVED IT.
By renewed assurance. “The Lord will be with you”
(verse 17). By the calming of their fears. “Be not afraid.”
“Fear not, nor be dismayed.” Courage keeps the
field, but fear flies. By urging them to greater faith.” Believe in the Lord
your God, so shall ye be established “(verse 20). By distinct direction.” To-morrow go ye down
against them; ye shall find them at the end of the
brook” (verse 16). By actual deliverance. The Moabites and Ammonites
slew the Edomites, and Israel triumphed without
striking a blow. It shall be greatly to our joy to see the right hand of
the Lord getting us the victory.
III. HOW THEY ACTED BY THIS HELP.
They worshipped. With every sign of reverence, the
king and his people bowed before Jehovah (verse 18).
Worship girds us for warfare. They praised. Before they received the mercy,” He
appointed singers unto the Lord.” Read verse 21. They went forth, preceded by the singers, till they
reached “the watch-tower in the wilderness” (verse
24). They saw the promise fulfilled.” They looked unto
the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies”
(verse 24). They gathered the spoil.” They were three days in
gathering of the spoil, it was so much” (verse 25). They blessed the Lord (verse 26). The valley of
Berachah heard their joyful notes, and then they returned to the house of the Lord with harps and psalteries and trumpets.
They had rest. “So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet; for his God gave him rest round about” (verse 30). God’s victories end the war. The fear of God fell on all the kingdoms, and they dared not invade Judah.
Let us when in difficulties have immediate resort to the Lord.
Let us do this in the spirit of confidence and praise.
Is there not a cause for our assembling even now to plead against the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites of superstition, worldliness, and infidelity?
OBSERVATIONS.
This chapter, which begins with danger, fear, and trouble all round, ends with joy, peace, quiet, and rest. Two words seem to stand out in this chapter — PRAISE and PRAYER — twin sisters which should always go together. One word links them here — FAITH.
“Jehoshaphat set himself to seek the Lord.” His good example was soon followed. “Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord; even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.” What a prayer-meeting — a real one, a united one, with a definite object, and the king presiding! Notice the prayer (verse 5). It is a pattern one. Jehoshaphat felt his weakness and need; but he recognized that God is all, and over all, and has all power and might. He brings forward every plea and argument. He appeals to God’s power and promises, to his justice and love, and winds up with simple yet prevailing faith in God himself. “We have no might, neither know we what to do; but our eyes are upon thee” (verse 12). Placing all the responsibility on God, and they just looking to him, waiting for him; God answered at once. — Captain Dawson, in “Thoughts in the Valleys.”