“Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord and so bring wrath on yourself from the Lord? But there is some good in you for you have removed the Asheroth from the land and you have set your heart to seek God.” 2 Chronicles 19:3,4 Jehoshaphat was not perfect not a perfect leader of Judah. He had his faults and failures but he consistently set his heart to seek after God. Do you think that you are required to live a perfect life on earth? What expectations do you place on yourself that are unnecessary? As Jehoshaphat set his heart to seek God he was learning to cling to God and love Him with all of his heart, mind, soul, and strength. The evidence of Jehoshaphat’s focus on God is seen in 2 Chronicles 19:5-11 as he sets out to bring the people of Judah back to the Lord.
How do you measure your faith in God? Can faith be measured? What do our actions say about our relationship with God? In 2 Chronicles 20 the people of Judah are being invaded by the the sons of Moab, the sons of Ammon, and the Meunites. Judah was out numbered by these armies. What would you do in this situation? Could more weapons help? Would powerful alliances with nations lead to deliverance? Jehoshaphat knew that it was God who was ultimately in control and he calls for the people of Judah to fast and seek out God’s deliverance. ”O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are you not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in your hand so that now one can stand against You.” 2 Chronicles 20:6 Jehoshaphat pleads before God acknowledging that He is fully in control of all that happens to Judah.
God hears the cries for help from Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah. “Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not your but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel. You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.” 2 Chronicles 20:16-19 God delivered Judah from the calamity that had come upon them in such a mighty way that the dread of the Lord was upon all of the inhabitants around Judah. When Jehoshaphat pleaded for help from God he didn’t know how deliverance would come but he knew God to be faithful to those who set their hearts towards Him.
Do you run to God as Jehoshaphat did when he faced an insurmountable problem? Set your heart towards God today as you learn love Him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. When problems great or small fall upon you and cause you to despair set your heart after God and wait upon His deliverance.
