Mon.’s Devo - The Victory is the Lord’s

Read: 2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37; Romans 10:14-11:12; Psalm 21:1-13; Proverbs 20:4-6 Jehoshaphat returned from his battle with King Ahab and was met by Jehu the seer who told him that God was not happy about his alignment with Israel. God didn’t take his kingdom away because of the good things Jehoshaphat had done. He had encouraged the people to return to the Lord and appointed judges to judge rightly. He appointed priests to judge things having to do with the Law. News came that the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites were coming to declare war on him. Jehoshaphat was afraid and called out to the Lord and declared a fast. He declared the sovereignty of the Lord and reminded Him of his promise to save them if they called out to him and repented. God put his word in Jahaziel, one of the prophets gathered to pray. He told them to march toward the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opened up to the wilderness. Once they got there they were to stand still and watch because God was going to fight their battle. The next day, Jehoshaphat stood and encouraged the soldiers. He sent out singers to walk before them singing and giving praise to the Lord. Their sound caused the armies of Moab and Ammon to fight against one another. When the army of Judah got to the lookout point, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground and not a single one of them had escaped. Jehoshaphat’s army just picked up the plunder which was more than they could carry. They praised and thanked the Lord and called the valley: The Valley of Blessing. They walked back and went to the Temple to the sound of the music of the minstrels. When news traveled that God had fought for them, everyone was afraid to attack Judah and Judah lived in peace and rest. Jehoshaphat didn’t learn his lesson with King Ahab and agreed to enter into a shipping business with Ahaziah, the King of Israel. It failed and the ships never left the harbor. God was not pleased with Jehoshaphat for doing this. In Romans, Paul explains that he was sent to bring the Good News of Salvation through Christ, but not everyone could receive it. Israel as a nation had rejected the good news so it was sent to the Gentiles who did receive it. God did have a remnant of Jews that he called and opened their ears, eyes and hearts to believe and receive it. The others were put to sleep and could not see or hear. The blessing of receiving has fallen on the Gentiles to provoke the Jews to jealousy because in the end they will have their eyes opened and they will come into salvation. Lord, may we remember that praise and worship is our greatest weapon and You never fail.