Sun.’s Devo - The Battle 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 home from fighting on behalf of Ahab. Jehoshaphat had watched Ahab listen to the words of false prophets and reject the word of God given by one of God’s prophets. Ahab had put God’s prophet in prison while every word he said came true. To our knowledge, Jehoshaphat didn’t step in and object. *** The prophet, Jehu came to ask Jehoshaphat why he would help the wicked (Ahab) and love those who hate the Lord. God was not pleased with Jehoshaphat for going to war with Israel, but he had seen how he removed the Asherah poles in his land and committed himself to the Lord. *** Jehoshaphat appointed judges to help him judge the people. He instructed them to fear the Lord in their decisions and told them to show no partiality. They would judge all civil cases and the high priest would judge all cases pertaining to God. *** The armies of Ammon, Moab, and Menuites declared war against Judah. Jehoshaphat went immediately to the Lord for help. He declared a fast and reminded God of his promises to them. *** God spoke through a Levite named Jahaziel. He told them to march to the ascent of Ziz which opens up to the wilderness of Jeruel. Ziz means “a blossom” and Jeruel means “fear the Lord”. They would not fight this battle because God would. They were to take their positions and stand. They won the battle the moment they prayed and fasted. When they heard this word, they worshipped the Lord. They shouted to the Lord because the victory had been proclaimed. *** The next day they marched to the battle with the singers leading them. They were singing “Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever.” *** The enemies began to turn on each other, then on themselves, so by the time Jehoshaphat arrived with his armies, there was not a living soul on the field. It took them three days to collect the plunder. *** They returned to Jerusalem singing praises to God. The fear of the Lord fell on the other nations. *** Jehoshaphat ruled 35 years and was remembered as a good king, though the people did not fully commit their hearts to the Lord. *** In the end of his years, Jehoshaphat went into the ship building business with Azariah, the evil king of Israel. It was a total flop and the ships never sailed. *** The people in the Old Testament were under an old covenant and didn’t have the gift of the Holy Spirit like we do. Paul calls our new covenant the good news! God had prophesied the salvation of the Gentiles even as far back as Moses. They rejected God and his prophets, so salvation came to the Gentiles that through us the Jews might be jealous for God again. They will one day repent and accept Christ and that will be a glorious day. *** Lord, thank you for the new covenant of salvation to all. May we live out our love for you in a way that it provokes your children to return to you.