2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 20: The battle belongs to God

Begin in prayer

Before you read about the great army that came against Judah, ask God to teach your family where to look when trouble comes. Ask Him to show you Jesus, who won the greatest battle.

Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, even then I will be confident.

Psalm 27:3

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that the battle is Yours, and lead us to Jesus, who fought for His people. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Moab, Ammon and others come against Jehoshaphat, and he is alarmed and sets himself to seek the LORD. He proclaims a fast, and all Judah gathers at the LORD's house to seek help from Him. Jehoshaphat prays that the LORD is God in heaven and ruler of all nations, and ends, “our eyes are on you.” The Spirit of the LORD comes on Jahaziel, who says, “the battle is not yours, but God’s.” The next morning singers go out before the army to thank the LORD for His loving kindness. When they begin to sing, the LORD sets ambushers against the enemy, and the enemy armies destroy each other.

As you read 2 Chronicles 20, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD fought for Judah while His people prayed and sang, because the battle was His.

A great army from Moab, Ammon and Mount Seir came against Judah, and Jehoshaphat was alarmed (verses 1 to 3). He set himself to seek the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah (verse 3). All Judah stood before the LORD in His house, with their little ones, their wives and their children (verses 5 and 13). Jehoshaphat prayed that the LORD is God in heaven, with power that no one can withstand (verse 6). He ended, “We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (verse 12). The Spirit of the LORD came on Jahaziel, who said, “the battle is not yours, but God’s” (verses 14 and 15). Singers went out before the army to thank the LORD for His loving kindness (verse 21). When they began to sing, the LORD set ambushers against their enemies, and Judah did not fight (verses 22 to 24). This shows a God who fights for those who look to Him, and the battle was His.

How does 2 Chronicles 20 show us that the LORD fought for Judah while His people prayed and sang, because the battle was His?

Jehoshaphat and all Judah turned to the LORD in prayer.

Jehoshaphat was alarmed, and he set himself to seek the LORD and called a fast (verse 3). All Judah came out of their cities to seek help from the LORD (verse 4). Jehoshaphat said the LORD is God in heaven, and that no one can withstand His power (verse 6). He said they had no might against this company, and they did not know what to do (verse 12).

The LORD said through Jahaziel that the battle was God's.

The Spirit of the LORD came on Jahaziel in the middle of the assembly (verse 14). He told them not to be afraid, for the battle was not theirs, but God's (verse 15). They would not need to fight, but would stand still and see the salvation of the LORD (verse 17). Jehoshaphat and all Judah bowed down and worshiped (verse 18).

The singers praised the LORD, and He set ambushers.

Jehoshaphat appointed singers to go out before the army and give thanks (verse 21). They said, “Give thanks to Yahweh; for his loving kindness endures forever” (verse 21). When they began to sing, the LORD set ambushers against the enemy (verse 22). Judah found the enemy dead, and they blessed the LORD in the Valley of Beracah (verses 24 to 26).

Jesus won the greater battle on the cross.

Paul says that on the cross Christ disarmed the rulers and powers and triumphed over them (Colossians 2 verse 15). Judah stood still and watched the LORD fight. Jesus won the battle against sin and death for His people, and they could do nothing to help.

Memorise

Don’t be afraid, and don’t be dismayed because of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

2 Chronicles 20:15

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, where are my eyes when trouble comes, and are they on Jesus?

Jehoshaphat prayed, “We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” The LORD answered, “the battle is not yours, but God’s.” Jesus fought the greatest battle, and Paul says that on the cross He triumphed over the powers (Colossians 2 verse 15).

Our enemies are sin and death, and we cannot fight them. We do not know what to do either. So Jesus fought for His people alone. At the cross He took the judgment against them on Himself, and the victory was won once for all. On the third day He rose.

So look to Him. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him will be forgiven, and need not fear the enemy again.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the battle was the LORD's, and that Jesus won the greater battle on the cross. Parents, verses 22 to 25 tell of enemies destroying one another, and verses 35 to 37 tell of Jehoshaphat's later mistake. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that the battle is His, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Now let those who fear Yahweh say that his loving kindness endures forever.

Psalm 118:4

Father, thank You that the battle was Yours and You fought for Judah. Thank You for Jesus, who won the victory over sin and death and rose again. Please help each of us to look to Him and trust Him. Amen.