Discovery Journal

Clint W. - June 21, 2011

Scripture:

2 Chronicles 20: 15-17 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. 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, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’”

Observation:

The people of Judah don't have to fight, but they do have to be obedient to God. He has told them to get ready and go down to meet the army that is coming to attack them. He even goes so far as to tell them to take their positions. The men of Judah are instructed to do everything they would normally do in the event of a battle, but they will not have to fight.

Application:

I love this!! I too often think that I either need to fight the battle myself, or that I need to get completely out of it and let God do everything. In this instance, Judah doesn't have to fight the battle, but they do need to follow every command that God gives them. I think that God probably tells me to take certain steps in my battles that I blow off because I excuse it as my flesh just wanting to get in the way. I need to be obedient to God's commands in the middle of my battles so that He will be faithful to deliver me. Something else that happened was that the army of Judah got to see what God had done because they obeyed. God may have killed their enemies either way, but because they marched out, they saw the dead men and reaped the benefits of God's victory.

Prayer:

Jesus, thank You so much for fighting my battles for me. Your strength and might are unmatched, and Your justice is perfect. I pray that You would give me the insight to hear Your voice, and the strength to follow Your directions. Please set me back so that You can go forward and fight my battles for me. I pray that as I go through battles in my life that I would remember what You did for Jehoshaphat and Judah here, and be reminded that obedience will ultimately bring me victory. Amen.