How To Act In Battle

When we’re in a battle and we don’t know what to do, II Chronicles 20 gives us a pattern to follow for certain victory. As we progress through this inspiring chapter, we’ll see the steps to a triumphant outcome.

It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi. And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. II Chrinicles 20:1-3 (KJV)

When the enemy comes against you and tries to get you to fear, the first thing to do is seek the Lord. When man can’t handle the challenge, God can.

And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. II Chronicles 20:4 (KJV0

Next, ask God for help. Our help comes from the Lord.

And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. II Chronicles 20:5-12 (KJV)

Talk to God, laying out the problem before Him and asking Him for His help. Honor Him and submit yourself to His power, authority and righteousness. Remind Him of His covenant. Put your eyes on the Lord, looking to Him as your source of help and protection.

And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. II Chronicles 20:13 (KJV)

Wait on the Lord. He will answer as we wait patiently to hear Him. He has the answer and He will not withhold it from you.

Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation; And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the 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. II Chronicles 20:14-17 (KJV)

Don’t fear, and don’t fight. Do not be afraid because God’s got this. The battle is His, not yours. Let Him fight for you. Don’t fight in the flesh or out of emotion. Stand still and watch God work on your behalf. You will partake in His salvation. Know that the Lord is with you and He hasn’t forgotten or forsaken you.

And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord. And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high. II Chronicles 20:18-19 (KJV)

Receive His Word and direction with a spirit of worship and gratitude. Praise Him and give Him glory.

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. II Chronicles 20:20-21 (KJV)

Believe God. Believe His prophets. Be obedient to God’s direction. Praise the Lord no matter how things look or how you feel. Declare the Lord’s mercies, His love. Why? Because God’s love never fails.

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. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. II Chronicles 20:22-24 (KJV)

God will use your praise to defeat the enemy. Know that He will fight for you and not one will be left standing.

And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much. II Chronicles 20:25 (KJV)

Gather the spoils of the battle. It’s all yours for the taking. Take back everything that’s been stolen from you and more. Make the enemy regret that he ever messed with God’s kids. There’s always a great reward at the end of the battle when we let God fight for us.

And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the Lord: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day. Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies. And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the Lord. And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel. So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about. II Chronicles 20:26-30 (KJV)

Don’t forget to give God all the glory and praise, blessing His holy name. Praise Him with music. Praise Him for His goodness in every way that you can. God is good, and His love endures forever. God is love and He loves us. Believe that He always takes care of His own.