2 Chronicles 20 Responding to Life’s Chaos

(ESV) 2 Chronicles 20 1 After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are inHazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi).

1. Unexpected timing

· Historical ups and downs

o Country’s problems – wicked kings / corruption / abandon God

· Wrong alliance – Ahab

· Yet taking a fresh start

(ESV) 2 Chronicles 19 4 Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers. 5 He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,

· New judges priests

· Removed idols / return to God

· Yet now trouble comes

2. Unexpected sources

· Lot’s family

3. Unexpectedly difficult

· Powerful / many / immediately

B. Total insufficiency v 12

(ESV) 2 Chronicles 20 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

1. Problem beyond my capability to handle

2. We do not know what to do

but our eyes are on you.”

C. Drivento seek the Lord v 3-5

(ESV) 2 Chronicles 20 3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraidand set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fastthroughout all Judah. 4 And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. 5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court,

1. Personal crisis – fear and seek

2. Need to meet face to face with the Lord

3. Need intentionally to focus on the Lord – set his face / intent

4. Need for the community to share the passion

II. Responding to life’s chaos: Turn to the Lord

A. Acknowledgingwho He is v 6

(ESV) 2 Chronicles 20 6 and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over allthe kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.

1. He is the God of the covenant – He reached out to us / promises / covenants

2. All under Him / even the trouble

3. He has all power and might – nothing can oppose Him

B. RememberingHis track record of deliverance v 7

(ESV) 2 Chronicles 20 7 Did you not, our God, drive outthe inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?

1. Is the God of redemption / helper / deliverer – as demonstrated previously

C. TrustingHis promises to hear us v 8-9

(ESV) 2 Chronicles 20 8 And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ …

1. Has given promises that he can claim

2. Hears prayer that offered in His presence

3. Looking to you alone

III. Responding to life’s chaos: His response

A. Be encouraged v 13-15a

(ESV) 2 Chronicles 20 13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. …. 15 And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, …

1. Don’t fear or get discouraged in spite of the massive problem

B. The battle is the Lord’s v 15b

(ESV) 2 Chronicles 20 15 … for the battle is not yours but God’s.

1. Not mine to fight – really about Him

C. Do what you can v 16-17

(ESV) 2 Chronicles 20 16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel.

17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, … Tomorrow go out against them,

1. Go out to demonstrate faith

2. Prepare to act

3. Be resolute

D. Place your faith in Him v 18-21

17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

1. Trust in Him in the face of the pressure – just stand

2. His presence is there

3. Worshipped

(ESV) 2 Chronicles 20 18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed his headwith his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. 19 And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

4. Place your trust in Him and will not falter

20 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.”

21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lordand praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

5. His steadfast love will be there

IV. Responding to life’s chaos: The outcome

A. God’s people are delivered v 22-28

22 And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. 23 For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.

24 When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped.

25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found among them, in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much.

26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the Lord. ... 27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies.

B. The lost recognize who the Lord was v 29

29 And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel.

C. God’s people find rest v 30

30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.

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