A passage of Scripture that I have turned to many times is found in 2 Chronicles 20:12,15,17, and 20. There is a beautiful progression that takes place through these verses. King Jehoshaphat was facing the immediate prospect of a bloody battle with some of his enemies. His immediate reaction is to seek the Lord. In verse 12, he says: “O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.” What a great admission of his own inadequacy, as well as a confession that he expects God to have the solution. The Lord quickly responds to that honest confession by assuring him in verse 15: “And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” Talk about God knowing exactly what to say, validating how aware He is of and understanding of the human condition. God is basically saying: “To begin with, there is no reason to be afraid or even discouraged. I’ve got this.” What a perfect starting point for this situation.
2 Chronicles 20 Commentary
Next, God is saying: “Now to strategy Jehoshaphat. You are not going to have to fight the battle—that is My job. But you will need to go out tomorrow to face your enemy, and you must take up your position on the battlefield and stand firm. Then you will see how I will deliver you.” Once again, the Lord says: “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” See verse 17: “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.”
The Heavenly Father knows fear is a paralyzer. But He also knows that discouragement often precedes it.
Having received the God confidence he was so greatly in need of, Jehoshaphat is now able to admonish his people by telling them in verse 20: “And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, 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.”
What an example we have here. When facing our own battles, the first thing we must always do is bring them to the Lord in prayer, admitting we are at a loss with our own understanding, but we are looking to Him to work it out. Then we must be open to hearing God’s voice as he comforts and encourages us with His affirming words that He is in charge.
Oh yes, we do have a part to play in this. We have to face the enemy by showing up, standing strong in the knowledge that we can do all things through Jesus Christ, who empowers us. See Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
All the while being confident that the Almighty is standing right next to us to deliver us. We must just trust the Lord on that battlefield as we position ourselves firmly in our faith. We will be upheld.
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