THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS

"Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned." (Isaiah 40:2). 

 

2 Chronicles, chapters 17-20, tells the story of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, who lived during the 10th century B.C.  Jehoshaphat was a good king.  Scripture tells us, "his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord." (2 Chronicles 17:6).   He was not a perfect man, however.  He made the mistake of allying himself with Ahab, king of Israel, against the Syrians.  This displeased the Lord because Ahab was a very wicked man who had led Israel away from worshipping God and taught them to worship Baal instead.  It is said of Ahab, "Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him." (1 Kings 16:33).

 

After the battle with the Syrians in which Ahab was mortally wounded and Jehoshaphat escaped with his life only because of God's divine intervention, the Lord sent the prophet Jehu to confront him about his choices.  He said, "Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.  Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves [of Baal] out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God." (2 Chronicles 19:2b, 3).  This great mercy that the Lord showed to Jehoshaphat inspired him to seek the Lord all the more.  He went throughout the cities of Judah, doing the work of an evangelist as it were, and brought the people back to the service of the true God.  He also admonished the judges, priests and Levites, who administered both religious and civil judgments for the people, to be fair and righteous, and not take bribes or have respect of persons. 

 

As so often happens, when we are seeking the Lord the most, some trial comes our way to try our faith.  This is what happened to Jehoshaphat.  Right when things were going great for him and his kingdom, Moab, Ammon, and some other countries decided to send their armies against Judah.  What was Jehoshaphat's reaction?  "And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah." (2 Chronicles 20:3).  It is not wrong to feel fear, but it is important that we know what to do with our fears.  Jehoshaphat knew to seek the Lord.  God's strength is made perfect in weakness.  When we can acknowledge our weaknesses to God, and, at the same time, acknowledge His strength and might, we are on the right track.  Jehoshaphat had set the right example for his people because we're told, "out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord." (v. 20:4). 

 

The prayer of Jehoshaphat, which he prayed before all of his people was very powerful.  Never underestimate the power of a godly prayer.  "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16b).   Jehoshaphat affirmed God's great might and power, and acknowledged His rule over all the kingdoms on earth.  He then reminded God that the tribe of Judah was His people, and that God had promised and given the land to Abraham and to his seed forever.  Finally, he reminded God of the promise that if the sword came against them and, "we stand before this house, and in Thy presence, (for Thy name is in this house,) and cry unto Thee in our affliction, then Thou wilt hear and help."  (2 Chronicles 20:9).  The last words of Jehoshaphat's prayer are, "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." (v. 12).  This sounds so familiar to me.  Many times I feel helpless in the face of situations that confront me in my life, and I feel like I have no might against what is assailing me.  Besides that, I often am at a loss to know what to do to resolve, or at the least, cope with the situation.  The most important thing that I can do when I feel this way, though, is to keep my eyes on Jesus.  It is He Who can still the storm and calm the waves.  It is He Who will give me boldness in the face of my fears.   It is He Who will give me clear direction.  Like Jehoshaphat, I must acknowledge my weakness in order to experience the fullness of God's power.

 

After  Jehoshaphat prayed, God answered through a man by the name of Jahaziel upon whom the Spirit of the Lord fell.  God spoke through this man and said, "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."  (2 Chronicles 20:15).  The battle is not yours, but God's!  How often we try to fight the battles of our life in our own strength when God has already taken them upon Himself.  He will defend us from any assault on our faith.  In Christ Jesus our Lord, all battles have already been decided.  The weapons of our warfare are not carnal (like guns, knives, fists, harsh words, or willpower), but they are spiritual, and they are mighty through God.  God said moreover through Jahaziel, "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; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you."  (2 Chronicles 20:17).  We do not need to fight in our own strength, but we do have to face our enemies.

 

The plan of attack was ridiculous.  Instead of sending warriors into the battle, they arose early in the morning and sent singers!  "And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for His mercy endureth for ever." (v. 20:21).  What happened next was truly a miracle.  "And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.  For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.  And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped."  (2 Chronicles 20:22-24).  We should never underestimate the power of prayer, and neither should we ever underestimate the power of praise!  In another story, Paul and Silas found themselves beaten, shackled, and thrown in the midst of a Philippian prison, it was after they began to pray and praise the Lord that the foundations of that jail were shaken by the mighty power of God, and their shackles fell off, and the prison doors sprung open.

 

So, my friends, don't be surprised if you are attacked right when you are feeling the greatest blessings in the Lord.  It is merely a trial of your faith.  Set your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, and He will direct you and keep you safe.  He will take your battle upon Himself.  God may just anoint another individual to speak to you, and to encourage you as He did when the prophet Jahaziel spoke God's message to Jehoshaphat.  His prophets are all around us, and His Spirit often falls on those whom we least expect.  He may just speak through His Word to you.  Either way, "Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper."  (2 Chronicles 20:20b).  He will replace your weakness with His great strength.  He gives power to the faint, and increases the strength of those who have no might.  Just remember: the battle is not yours, but God's!  He will fight for you if you are committed to following His leading in your life.

 

"Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered: let them also that hate Him flee before Him."  (Psalm 68:1).

 

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."  (Isaiah 40:31).