Do you believe that God is kind enough to help you? Do you believe he is powerful enough to help you? Do you believe he cares enough to help you?  Are you willing to thank him for his answer even before you see it?  Many times during my life, I’ve come back to this Old Testament story because it shows me what kind of God we have. When we’re confronted with problems too big for us, we have Someone to run to who is bigger. He tells us not to be afraid or discouraged because of our circumstances. He tells us that he will fight for us. He tells us to face the problem knowing he is with us. I love this beautiful, true story because it reminds me how I should respond to trouble knowing what kind of God I trust.  (Look for the four different Hebrew words for praise in this short story.  I get the feeling that praise must be an important response to who God is!)

This story takes place during the reign of Jehoshaphat, king of the small nation of Judah. He suddenly found himself under unprovoked attack from his stronger neighbors. In this dire situation, he did the right thing. He and his people turned to God for help. We can learn from him!
When trouble hits:
Acknowledge that God is in control.
“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.” King Jehoshaphat leading the people in prayer at the temple of God as recorded in 2 Chronicles 20:6

Recall God’s help in the past.
“Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?” v 7

Remember God’s promises.
“If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.” v 9

Acknowledge our need and throw ourselves on God.
“Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” v 12

Wait for God (together)
“All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.” v 13

Listen to God’s answer
“Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel . . . as he stood in the assembly. [He was a priest.]
He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” v 14-15

Be brave
“Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’” v 16-17

Thank God in faith even before you see the outcome.
“Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. Then some Levites … stood up and praised* the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.” v 18-19. (These men were musicians, trained in praise music.)
*הָלַל Halal– to praise; give thanks; cheer, extol; be of renown; to make one’s boast in (the name of God); the word “Hallelujah” means praise Yah(weh)

Be bravely obedient.
“Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets [and in their prophecies] and you will be successful.” v 20

Give thanks while we trustingly obey and before we see the results.
“After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:“Give thanks* to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” v 21
* יָדָה Yadah– to express praise, give thanks, extol, make a public confession, make an admission;  to speak of the excellence of someone;  confess

“As they began to sing and praise*, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. . . When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped.” v 22,24
תְּהִלָּה *Tehillâ, praise, renown, glory; proclaiming the excellence of a person, boast

Soak up God’s blessings
“So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.” v 25

Thank God informally with others.
“On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised* the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Praise to this day.” v 26
*בָּרַך Barak– to bless, give praise, give thanks, extol, kneel, revere

Thank God in church with music and rejoicing
“Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets.” v 27-28

Enjoy God’s peace.
“The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.” v 29-30

So when we face trouble let’s do what good King Jehoshaphat did:
Acknowledge that God is in control.
Recall God’s help in the past.
Remember God’s promises.
Throw ourselves on God.
Wait for God (together).
Listen to God’s answer.
Be bravely obedient.
Give thanks while we trustingly obey and before we see the results.
Soak up God’s blessings.
Thank God informally with others.
Thank God in church with music and rejoicing.
Enjoy God’s peace.