First… Get Help from Heaven

So, I’m in 2 Chronicles in my morning quiet time and frankly it’s depressing.

Israel started well with King David, even considering his failures, David’s heart was after God.

Solomon started well but ended dismally.

Then, after Solomon, king after king, administration after administration tried to solve national and international problems with force, negotiation, alliances, and bribery.

Jehoshaphat was a momentary bright spot in the line-up of scoundrel kings in Judah.

Not perfect, but determined to have Judah serve the Lord.

So, in 2 Chronicles 20, when Jehoshaphat gets word that a vast multi-national force is on its way to attack him and his people, it is his first consideration that I want to highlight for us all.

He doesn’t send emissaries to Samaria to bribe Ahaziah to join with him to defend Jerusalem.

He doesn’t offer a daughter to some neighboring king to forge an alliance against the enemy.

He doesn’t send for the treasures of gold and silver from the Temple to buy off the enemy.

He went straight into the presence of the Lord to seek God’s guidance.

He called all of the nation to prayer and fasting.

He called the people of Judah to join him in Jerusalem to cry out to the Lord for help…”with their little ones, wives and children” (2 Chronicles 20:13).

Then, Jehoshaphat led the prayer meeting in the courtyard of the Temple, declaring their confidence in the character of God, testifying to God’s faithful acts for previous generations, and crying out to God for His help.

“O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help” (20:12).

A stark contrast with some of his forbears who found themselves in similar situations!

No sooner had the king said, Amen, and a miracle happened. The Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the Levites in the prayer meeting, who spoke a word from the Lord about where the enemy could be found, and a promise that God would be with them, fight for them and give them the victory…which is exactly what happened. It took three days for the king’s army just to gather the spoils.

It’s a clear lesson for us and the Church right now.

With the unprecedented battle Christians and the Church are facing right now, we need to take a page out of Jehoshaphat’s book.

Call a prayer meeting to seek God’s guidance first.

Gather the whole church.

Call for a fast to underscore the level of our desperation for what God alone can do.

Declare God’s unchanging character.

Remind Him of His faithfulness to generations.

Repent of our self-sufficiency.

Own our helplessness.

Cry out to the Lord for what He alone can do to deliver us.

And wait for a word from the Lord.