[Young Adult Reformed Fellowship] The battle is not ours, it is the Lord's
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John
Jul 23, 2009, 12:17:13 PM7/23/09
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I always appreciate learning about prayers in the Bible. This past Sunday I listened to a good sermon about Jehoshapat's prayer as the nation faced a rather large army coming against them. The sermon was delivered by Pastor David Steel at Grace Vally Fellowship. Here are my notes.
The sermon is based on 2 Chronicles 20: 1 - 30. The key verse is found in verses 15 - 17 which say "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, for the battle is not yours but God's. 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. 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.' "
When looking at the prayer of Jehoshapat we see that he requested God's help (vs. 1 - 13). In his prayer he recalled God's power, reviewed what God had done for his people, reminded God of his promises, and finally he declared a dependence upon his plan.
As a result of the prayer, God spoke through Jahaziel who was a Levite. (vs. 14 - 19) God declared that the battle was not theirs, but it was his to fight and win. They were to rely upon his strength, stand firm, and look for the deliverance that he will win.
It should be noted that the people began to praise God before and after the battle (which God won in rather spectacular fashion). They praised God for the splendor of his holiness. They rejoiced in his goodness as seen by his provisions. They praised him for the peace that came as a result of the fear of the Lord which came upon the nations after the battle.
As a reflection, I was glad to be reminded of this passage and what it means for me. First off, the prayer and the shape that it takes is a good guide for my prayers in the time of fear. When I call upon God and his power to protect me, I acknowledge my inadequacy and dependence upon him. This acknowledgement is compounded when I look back in time and history and see how God has protected me in the past. It is reiterated when I recall God's promises for my future. If I am to believe and hope in these promises, I must have a relationship of dependence and trust with the one who has given them. Specifically, I must confess a necessary dependence upon him and his will and plan.
Secondly, God's response to this prayer brings comfort. The battle is not mine. It is never mine. I am to stand firm in my faith. I must rely upon his strength. I must take a posture of steadfastness. This is consistent to what is written in Ephesians 6:10 -11. " Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."
And finally, perhaps the part that stood out the most to me was the praising of God. They began to praise before he even won the battle. The sheer amount of faith that takes is both humbling and provoking. When we praise God we are reminded of our relationship to and with him and when we praise him prior to his deliverance, we are declaring our dependence and trust in him.
"Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever."
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Posted By John to Young Adult Reformed Fellowship at 7/23/2009 12:16:00 PM
The sermon is based on 2 Chronicles 20: 1 - 30. The key verse is found in verses 15 - 17 which say "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, for the battle is not yours but God's. 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. 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.' "
When looking at the prayer of Jehoshapat we see that he requested God's help (vs. 1 - 13). In his prayer he recalled God's power, reviewed what God had done for his people, reminded God of his promises, and finally he declared a dependence upon his plan.
As a result of the prayer, God spoke through Jahaziel who was a Levite. (vs. 14 - 19) God declared that the battle was not theirs, but it was his to fight and win. They were to rely upon his strength, stand firm, and look for the deliverance that he will win.
It should be noted that the people began to praise God before and after the battle (which God won in rather spectacular fashion). They praised God for the splendor of his holiness. They rejoiced in his goodness as seen by his provisions. They praised him for the peace that came as a result of the fear of the Lord which came upon the nations after the battle.
As a reflection, I was glad to be reminded of this passage and what it means for me. First off, the prayer and the shape that it takes is a good guide for my prayers in the time of fear. When I call upon God and his power to protect me, I acknowledge my inadequacy and dependence upon him. This acknowledgement is compounded when I look back in time and history and see how God has protected me in the past. It is reiterated when I recall God's promises for my future. If I am to believe and hope in these promises, I must have a relationship of dependence and trust with the one who has given them. Specifically, I must confess a necessary dependence upon him and his will and plan.
Secondly, God's response to this prayer brings comfort. The battle is not mine. It is never mine. I am to stand firm in my faith. I must rely upon his strength. I must take a posture of steadfastness. This is consistent to what is written in Ephesians 6:10 -11. " Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."
And finally, perhaps the part that stood out the most to me was the praising of God. They began to praise before he even won the battle. The sheer amount of faith that takes is both humbling and provoking. When we praise God we are reminded of our relationship to and with him and when we praise him prior to his deliverance, we are declaring our dependence and trust in him.
"Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever."
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Posted By John to Young Adult Reformed Fellowship at 7/23/2009 12:16:00 PM
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