2 Chronicles 20:1–19 (October 7, 2025)

Jehoshaphat's Prayer

20:1 After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites,[a] came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom,[b] from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). 3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.

5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 6 and said, “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. 7 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? 8 And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment,[c] or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ 10 And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— 11 behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12 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.”

13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 And the Spirit of the Lord came[d] upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 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. 16 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. 17 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.”

18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. 19 And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

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Footnotes

2 Chronicles 20:1 Compare 26:7; Hebrew Ammonites

2 Chronicles 20:2 One Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts Aram (Syria)

2 Chronicles 20:9 Or the sword of judgment

2 Chronicles 20:14 Or was

Faith That Sings in the Face of Fear

Summary

After Jehoshaphat’s reforms, a massive coalition rose against Judah—“the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites” (v. 1). They advanced from beyond the Dead Sea, and messengers came saying,

Jehoshaphat was afraid, but instead of panicking, he set his face to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah (v. 3). From every city, people gathered to seek God. Standing before the new court of the temple, Jehoshaphat prayed a model prayer of faith and humility:

His prayer acknowledged God’s sovereignty, recalled His past deliverance, and confessed Judah’s helplessness. The entire assembly of men, women, and children stood before the Lord (v. 13). Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, a Levite, who proclaimed God’s answer:

Hearing this, Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all Judah and Jerusalem fell down before the Lord in worship, while the Levites stood up to praise the Lord with a very loud voice (vv. 18–19). The battle was not yet won, but faith had already begun to sing.

Who is God?

God is the sovereign Warrior who fights for His people. He is the God of heaven, ruler over all nations and kings, whose hand holds power and might. Yet He is also the God who listens to the prayers of the fearful. He delights in humility that seeks His face rather than human strategy. He fights not because His people are strong, but because they trust in His covenant love. The Lord’s power is revealed most clearly when His people confess, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

God’s glory shines when worship rises before victory.

What is our guilt?

Our guilt is that we often look elsewhere before turning to God. We rely on our own plans, political leverage, or emotional control instead of seeking Him in prayer. Fear drives us to action before submission. Even when we do pray, we sometimes treat it as a ritual rather than an act of surrender. We want God’s blessing without waiting for His direction. Like Judah before the fast, we fear the multitude but forget the Almighty. Our guilt is misplaced confidence—in ourselves, our resources, or our instincts—instead of quiet dependence on the Lord.

How does grace shine?

Grace shines in God’s invitation to rest in His victory. He does not rebuke Judah for fear but calls them to stand still and see His salvation. This anticipates the greater battle Christ fought for us at the cross. When humanity stood helpless before sin and death, Jesus stood firm on our behalf. The battle was not ours but God’s. Through His death and resurrection, He won eternal victory, turning our fear into faith and our mourning into song.

Now, in every battle, God still says, “You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord.” The grace that once fought for us still fights within us, turning trembling hearts into worshipers who sing before deliverance comes.

Prayer

O Lord, ruler of heaven and earth,

you are mighty in power and steadfast in love.

We confess that we often fear our circumstances and rely on our own strength.

Forgive us for forgetting that the battle is yours, not ours.

Thank you for Jesus Christ, who fought and won the ultimate battle for our salvation.

Teach us to seek your face when we are afraid,

to wait upon your word, and to worship before we see victory.

May our faith sing even in the shadow of fear.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.