And he said, "Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God. Sermons
I. GOD'S READINESS TO ANSWER THE PRAYER OF HIS PEOPLE. "In the midst of the congregation," while they were still before the Lord, in the very act and attitude of prayer, an answer was vouchsafed to them. While they were yet speaking, God heard (Isaiah 65:24). Though he does not constantly grant us so speedy a response, yet we may be quite sure that he always hearkens and heeds; and if there be such reverence and faith as there were on this occasion, we may be sure that God always purposes at once to send us the best kind of deliverance, even if he does not at once start the train of events or forces that will bring it to pass. II. THAT WE NEED NOT BE GREATLY AFFECTED BY MERE MAGNITUDE. "Be not afraid by reason of this great multitude" (ver. 15). We are in no little danger of overestimating the worth of numbers, whether they be on our side or against us. It is a great mistake to imagine we are safe because we are in a large majority. There is no king and there is no cause "saved by the multitude of an host" (Psalm 33:16). History has shown again and again that the presence of a vast number of people (soldiers or supporters) often begets confidence, and confidence begets carelessness and negligence, and these lead down to defeat and ruin. Besides, it is never quantity but quality, never size but spirit, never numbers but character, that decides the day. Better the small band of fearless men under Gideon's command, than the large numbers of the faint-hearted who were left behind, or even than the innumerable host of the Midianites. We may not trust in the number of our friends, and we need not fear the hosts of our enemies. If the "battle is not to the strong," it certainly is not to the multitudinous. III. THAT IT IS EVERYTHING TO HAVE GOD ON OUR SIDE. We may be sure that when the people of Judah had this assurance from Jahaziel, they were not only calmed and comforted, but they had a sense that all would be well with them. 1. That God had made their cause his own. "The battle is not yours, but God's" (ver. 15). 2. That God's presence would be granted to them. "The Lord will be with you" (ver. 17). 3. That God had promised them his salvation, and would therefore work on their behalf. "The salvation of the Lord" (ver. 17). This was enough even for the timid and the fearful-hearted. This should be enough for us. Conscious that the battle we fight is that of the Lord himself, and is not ours only or chiefly; knowing that he will be with us, and assured that he will work out a blessed issue, we may be calm, and even confident, though the enemy is advancing. IV. THAT WE MUST BE READY TO TAKE OUR PART AND TO DO OUR WORK, whatever that may be. "Go ye down against them" (ver. 16); "Set yourselves, stand ye still" (ver. 17). To do this may have been too much for the inclination of the cowardly or the indulgent; it may have been too little for the active and the militant among the people; but it was enough for the obedient and the trustful. God will have us bring our contribution of activity as well as devotion to the great spiritual campaign. But it may not be just that kind or just that measure which we should select if we had our choice. We must let him choose our service as well as our inheritance (Psalm 47:4) for us; and whether that be high or humble, greater or smaller, we should be more than content that he is calling us to the field in which Christ is our Captain. V. THAT A SPIRIT OF REVERENT GRATITUDE IS ALWAYS BECOMING. (Vers. 18, 19.) Before the shouts of victory are in the air, while we are going forth to the battle in which God is leading us, while we are serving under a Divine Saviour, while we are anticipating the issue, so long as we are trustful in him and not confident in ourselves, we do well to let our hearts be filled and to let our songs be heard with reverent joy. - C.
For the battle is not your's, but God's. I. LET US REMEMBER THE GREAT TRUTH ENUNCIATED HERE, AND LET US IN ALL THANKFULNESS ADDRESS OUR TRIBUTE OF PRAISE TO GOD FOR THE SUCCESS WHEREWITH HE HAS CROWNED OUR EXERTIONS.II. LET US NEVER FORGET THAT WAR MUST ALWAYS BE CONSIDERED AS A JUDGMENT, HOWEVER IT MAY, IN ANSWER TO A NATION'S PRAYERS, BE ACCOMPANIED WITH VICTORY. (J. Bainbridge Smith, M.A.) I. A COMMITTED THING TO GOD. The course of events was committed by a specific act to God; and Jehoshaphat and Judah stood in expectation of what He would do. Solemn acts of committal are of great importance in our spiritual life. If we have a bad habit to fight with, or a temper or special temptation to overcome; or if we have to deal with some wayward spirit; or if we want to attain to some grace, or even to do something that is too hard for our own strength, but which lies before us in the path of duty, let each of these be "committed things." II. AN ACCEPTED THING BY HIM. God espoused Jehoshaphat's cause: "The battle is not yours." When we commit matters to God and He accepts them, we may see them in new lights altogether. We often do so, and wonder that we were so blind before. But we need not wonder. The light came in with God. When matters seem very dark to us, let us be fully assured that they are capable of being lit up. 1. "Not yours!" Why not? Because another interest had come in. In one respect the battle is always ours, inasmuch as we are the persons to reap all the substantial benefits, but in another it is God's; He has interests as well as we. In our trial time, we must view Him as an interested God. 2. How was it not to be theirs? Just by God acting in the matter in His own way. We seem at times more as though we wished God to follow our leadings than that we should follow His. God will lead us by ways which we know not. We have to learn the double lesson of the insufficiency of known ways and the all-sufficiency of unknown. God has continually to teach us the last through the first. By taking the battle out of their hands, God severed Jehoshaphat and Judah from the depressing thoughts of the results being affected by their weakness. Conclusion: Consider Christ, who "committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously," and Paul, who said, "I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." (P. B. Power, M. A.) 1. Individually. The Divine ideal for each man is the perfection of each man's character, and therefore he makes the successful prosecution of the warfare for this end his own. 2. What is true of the individual is also true of the race. A redeemed and regenerated world is the idea of God. Our .conflict, therefore, for these ends against the evil of sin and the corruption of the world is a battle of God. II. These words imply THAT THE METHOD OF VICTORY IS DIVINE. If the cause is God's, the forces we employ and the mode of our warfare must also be His. The Koran might be accompanied with the sword, but not the gospel. Its weapon was a Cross, and in that sign it triumphed. So in all the battle of life he who would win the victory for God must use the Divine armour. Eloquence, learning, wealth, and even physical force, have contributed at times to the success of the Church, but quite as often they have been hindrances. The method of Jesus is meekness and truth, the Word ever spoken, the life quietly lived, and the testimony borne and the faith kept clear and strong in the darkest and most distressful hour. How often in the conflict of life we try to fight the battle in our own way! We seek to conquer indwelling sin, to overcome the attack of the enemy who would destroy us, by some methods of our own. We always fail. III. IF THE BATTLE BE GOD'S, THEN WE MAY BE CONFIDENT THAT THE END WILL BE THE DIVINE END. 1. How many good people are greatly distressed about their final salvation. But salvation is a condition of mind and heart — a present trust and submission to God, each moment assured, and therefore assurance for the next moment. Leave the end with God. It will be God's triumph. 2. In respect of the final outcome of the conflict between good and evil, in the Church and the world, let us believe that God will take care of the issues, and that all will be well. Let us leave our doubts, and our forebodings, and our mistrustings with Him. (Llewelyn D. Bevan, D.D.) Monday Club Sermons. I. JEHOSHAPHAT'S PRAYER TEACHES US WHEN WE MAY EXPECT HELP OF GOD.1. In matters which we know God has at heart. 2. In matters for which Christ's atonement stands pledged. 3. In matters for which we have not ourselves to blame. 4. In matters wherein we are powerless to help ourselves. II. HOW WE MAY SECURE GOD'S HELP. 1. We must come into communion with Him. 2. We must pray for God's help. 3. We must implicitly follow God's guidance. 4. Faith is an especial prerequisite to God's aid. III. HOW GOD'S HELP IS GIVEN. 1. Not always or necessarily in the shape we desire it. God makes spiritual growth His first aim in all His dealings with His people. 2. But when compatible with higher advantages, God aids us in temporal things. 3. God gives us blessings beyond His promise or our asking.Conclusion: 1. In God's people the Divine help awakens gratitude. 2. Those who are not Christians are never unaffected when they see God help His children: "the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel." (Monday Club Sermons.) The text addresses a word —1. To all who are bearing Christian protest against evil. 2. To all who are undergoing severe temptation. 3. To all who are labouring for the good of the world. 4. To all who are engaged in controversy on behalf of Christian doctrine. (J. Parker, D.D.) Luther's strength lay in the way in which he laid the burden of the Reformation upon the Lord. Continually in prayer he pleaded, "Lord, this is Thy cause, not mine. Therefore do Thine own work; for if this gospel do not prosper, it will not be Luther alone who will be a loser, but Thine own name will be dishonoured."( C. H. Spurgeon.) People Ahaziah, Ammonites, Aram, Asa, Asaph, Azubah, Benaiah, Berachah, Dodavah, Eliezer, Geber, Hanani, Jahaziel, Jehoshaphat, Jehu, Jeiel, Kohathites, Korahites, Korhites, Levites, Maonites, Mattaniah, Meunim, Meunites, Moabites, Seir, Shilhi, Tamar, Tarshish, ZechariahPlaces Ammon, Edom, Egypt, Engedi, Ezion-geber, Hazazon-tamar, Jeruel, Jerusalem, Mareshah, Moab, Mount Seir, Seir, Tarshish, Tekoa, ZizTopics Account, Afraid, Army, Attend, Attentive, Battle, Discouraged, Dismayed, Ear, Face, Fear, Fight, God's, Hearken, Inhabitants, Jehoshaphat, Jehosh'aphat, Jerusalem, Judah, Listen, Multitude, O, Reason, Says, Thus, Troubled, Vast, YoursOutline 1. Jehoshaphat, invaded by Moab, proclaims a fast5. His prayer 14. The prophecy of Jahaziel 20. Jehoshaphat exhorts the people, and sets singers to praise the Lord 22. The great overthrow of his enemies 26. The people, having blessed God at Berachah, return in triumph 31. Jehoshaphat's reign 35. His convoy of ships, according to the prophecy of Eliezer, unhappily perishes. Dictionary of Bible Themes 2 Chronicles 20:15 5165 listening 8129 guidance, examples Library A Strange Battle'We have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon Thee.'--2 CHRON xx. 12. A formidable combination of neighbouring nations, of which Moab and Ammon, the ancestral enemies of Judah, were the chief, was threatening Judah. Jehoshaphat, the king, was panic-stricken when he heard of the heavy war-cloud that was rolling on, ready to burst in thunder on his little kingdom. His first act was to muster the nation, not as a military levy … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Holding Fast and Held Fast Of the Public Fast. The Coast of the Asphaltites, the Essenes. En-Gedi. "Thou Shall Keep Him in Perfect Peace, Whose Mind is Stayed on Thee, Because He Trusteth in Thee. " That the Employing Of, and Associating with the Malignant Party, According as is Contained in the Public Resolutions, is Sinful and Unlawful. Commerce Concerning Peaceableness Chronicles Links 2 Chronicles 20:15 NIV2 Chronicles 20:15 NLT 2 Chronicles 20:15 ESV 2 Chronicles 20:15 NASB 2 Chronicles 20:15 KJV 2 Chronicles 20:15 Bible Apps 2 Chronicles 20:15 Parallel 2 Chronicles 20:15 Biblia Paralela 2 Chronicles 20:15 Chinese Bible 2 Chronicles 20:15 French Bible 2 Chronicles 20:15 German Bible 2 Chronicles 20:15 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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