HAVE YOU EVER...heard of Jehoshaphat?

My last blog was about prayer.  I love praying.  I especially love praying for other people.  I have learned about prayer from God’s word, but also from other people in my life.  I especially remember my preschool teachers teaching us how to pray.  I remember how some of my friends prayed for me in high school and college.  I remember how Pastor Kellogg prayed.  You always remember those precious times when someone stops what they are doing and prays with you on the spot.  Awesome. 

In 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles, there are stories of one of the few kings of Judah who walked with the LORD.  He didn’t just walk with the LORD; he went to the LORD anytime he had a big decision to make.  We do that.  We bounce big decisions off of our spouse, friends, or other family.

In the 2 Chronicles 20, there is a big battle planned against Jehoshaphat by 3 other armies.  The Bible says that he was alarmed, proclaimed a fast, and brought all of his people together to seek help from the LORD.  Jehoshaphat then stands before his kingdom and God and says this beautiful prayer.

The Spirit of the LORD comes upon a man who stood in the assembly.  He tells them, “For the battle is not yours but God’s…You will not have to fight this battle…Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you.”  They all fall to their knees praising God.  Then they get out the instruments and praise him some more. 

The next day, they take their places and the LORD does exactly what he said he would do.  Three days later, they march home with their plunder.  They go straight to the temple and worship the LORD.

I love all of these Old Testament battle stories of King Jehoshaphat, Joshua, and Gideon.  They didn’t even have to fight.  I would not have wanted to live through one of these stories though.  We talk all of the time about these battles we are fighting in our own lives.  We do all of this talking.  We expect people to pray for us or tell us how to fix it or fix it for us.  Do we trust the LORD enough to bounce the decision off of him?  King Jehoshaphat did.

HAVE YOU EVER…trusted God?

Psalm 62:8, Luke 5:16