Today's Share Your Heart Tuesday encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 20: Stand Still and See. At times in my life I have considered the Old Testament boring, but that does not at all describe this chapter.
I have been struggling to trust the Lord recently with all of the things and pressures and stresses in our lives, even to the point of wondering if God has forgotten us. Silly me. God never forgets, and especially those he loves, died for, and adopted!
When God brought the phrase to mind: “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord” I was prompted to go search for it. In what context does God say that and to whom, and how does he send his salvation? The answer is found in the exciting chapter of 2 Chronicles 20 and the fearful, stressful, situation King Jehoshaphat found himself in.
Jehoshaphat's Problem:
The people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, had gather together to battle against Jehoshaphat. What does he do?
He fears.
He sets himself to seek the Lord.
He encouraged his people to seek the Lord by proclaiming a fast through all of Judah.
He brought them together before the Lord.
And then he says some things similar to what I've found myself saying lately:
“O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven?
You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations.
In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.
Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? …
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.” (vs 6-12 ESV)
And God answered him:
Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of then Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you. (vs 17 KJV)
Jehoshaphat's Response:
He worshipped.
He called his people to praise the Lord for what he had promised (and they trusted him) to do.
The next morning, they obeyed, they went forth, they praised again.
And while they were praising, God was working.
And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.
And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. (vs 20-22 KJV)
The Salvation of the Lord:
When they finally came to the enemy, they found them all dead, and it took them THREE days to gather all of the spoils (treasures, money, jewelry, weapons, goods) of their enemies.
The end result was victory, glory to God, rejoicing, testimony among the other people of the land who were watching them, and ultimately peace.
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. They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the Lord. 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. So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around. (vs. 27-30 ESV)
This historical narrative gives me hope. I know my God is the same God who triumphed for Jehoshaphat. He wants me to praise him, trust him and give him glory before others for the victory in my own stressful situations. I am excited to see what God will do when I believe and praise.
What about you?
What is God doing in your life or heart today? What is he asking you to trust him for? How can we pray for you?