Daily Thought

Jehoshaphat was the son of Asa and succeeded him as king of Judah. He came to the throne at the age of thirty-five years and reigned for twenty-five years. We see in his reign many of the things which characterized his father, 2Chr.17. 4. He strengthened himself against Israel but then made an alliance with Ahab its king, 2 Chr. 18. 1, which resulted in his eldest son marrying the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. He showed zeal for the things of Jehovah and encouraged the priests to go throughout the kingdom taking the scrolls of the law with them and teaching the things of the Lord, 2 Chr. 17. 8, 9. He was made rich by tribute received from the surrounding nations and ‘waxed great exceedingly’, 2 Chr. 17. 10-12.

The verses under consideration record the threat brought upon Judah from the people of Ammon, Moab and Seir, 2 Chr. 20. 1. Jehoshaphat saw deliverance only by the hand of the Lord. None was able to help and, on this occasion, there was no benefit in any alliance. We read that ‘Jehoshaphat feared, and set his face to seek Jehovah and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah’, v. 3 NEWBERRY margin.

The lesson is that which is constantly brought before us in the scriptures, but how slow we are to learn it: God’s greatest work can only be done when we recognize our total inadequacy and total dependence upon Him. It is sad when fear drives His people to this position but, in grace and mercy, Jehoshaphat’s cry was heard and accepted. It is when we acknowledge our own inadequacy that we become aware of the greatness of our God, and only then is fear removed.

Jehoshaphat’s prayer rehearses before the Lord that which was remembered of His greatness and presents his petition. The response, in its promise and realization, transcended his highest expectation. Any attempt to contribute to it could only detract from it; ‘the battle is not yours, but God’s Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you’, vv. 15, 17.

They went forth confidently and their returning indicated that their fear had been replaced by joy, vv. 20, 27.

When we are fearful we need only to ‘seek the Lord’, v. 3.