Jehoshaphat’s Story – Conclusion

What a journey we have been through over the past three months, as we studied Jehoshaphat’s story found in 2 Chronicles 20:1-30. One ordinary day, King Jehoshaphat learned that there was a vast army coming against him and the nation of Judah.

In our lives we might not see the same kind of battle that Jehoshaphat was up against, but we will face battles of many kinds on this earth. We have a very real enemy whose goal is to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). That is why this story is a meaningful one for us to study. This story teaches us to stand strong against whatever comes our way.

In the beginning of our journey, we learned that Jehoshaphat wasn’t a perfect man. He did make mistakes. None of us are perfect and we will make mistakes too. But one thing I appreciate about Jehoshaphat is that he learned from his mistakes, which in turn helped him to make better choices. And hopefully we can say the same.

With his past mistakes in mind, the first thing that Jehoshaphat did was turn to God. He knew that God was his rock. He knew that walking closely with God was the key to a blessed life. And we can say the same. Each day we have a choice to walk with God. And then when a difficulty hits, God won’t be far away, because He has been by our sides all along.

Next Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast for the entire nation. Fasting is often an overlooked spiritual habit. However, fasting is a powerful practice, especially when we are facing a battle. When approached correctly, fasting can draw us closer to Lord, open doors, bring us fresh insight, and bring breakthrough to things we are facing.

Then we saw the nation come together as one body and they sought God. Seeking God on a daily basis means turning our hearts towards Him. We have to be intentional about this every day of our lives. If we don’t seek Him, our hearts will search for other things to satisfy our longings. But truly only Jesus can satisfy us. And the fact that the nation came together as a community helped them to stand stronger against this attack.

In this story I appreciate how King Jehoshaphat stood before the nation and prayed. In the midst of a tragedy, the people would look to their king for guidance. If he was fearful, they would be as well. But Jehoshaphat decided to pray to the God of the universe. And I believe this step helped the people to also turn to God in prayer.

After this moving prayer, the people received a word from God. They were told to not be afraid or discouraged because the battle belonged to God. When we face a battle, this is a powerful truth for us as well. We often try to fight our battles in our own strength. But God is there to fight for us. That doesn’t mean we won’t have action to take. God might still ask us to do something. Therefore, listening to the Holy Spirit is key.

When the people received this encouraging word from God, they believed Him and trusted Him. This is important for us as well. The enemy will try to place doubt in our minds. Just like when he approached Eve in the Garden of Eden, he will have us wonder, “Did God really say that?” Holding tightly to The Truth will help us in these situations.

In the midst of a trial or not, this story taught us the importance of praise. As the men marched towards a potential battle, they praised God. Praising God has a way of moving mountains and filling our hearts.

When Jehoshaphat and his men arrived on the scene of the battle, victory had already been won. All the soldiers from the other nations had killed one another. The men of Judah didn’t have to lift a finger. What a miracle! And God also blessed them with piles of plunder from the other nations. When we keep God in the right place in our hearts, He will bring us victory and blessing.

Finally, we saw how Jehoshaphat and the nation of Judah held gratitude in their hearts. No matter what season we are in, gratitude is an important part of our walk with God. This helps us to see the ways He has blessed us. And as a result, it helps us to trust Him with whatever we are facing.

Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me. – Psalm 63:7-8 NIV

This story is packed with many valuable nuggets. No matter what we are up against, I pray that we can proceed with faith, as Jehoshaphat did in this story. I admit that it isn’t always easy. But we don’t have to rely on our own strength. We have Jesus with us at all times. He can give us strength and guide us along the way

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I am a bit sad to see it come to an end. But the lessons we learned can remain in our hearts, just as all of the truths found in Scripture can remain with us. Sometimes we will need to remind ourselves of truth. But it is always there for us. God gave us an amazing gift when He gave us the Bible. This is His Word, living and breathing. When we seek it daily, it has a powerful impact on our lives. And it helps anchor us to the Lord each day.

© 2018-2023 Bridget A. Thomas. All rights reserved.