20:1 Later the Moabites and Ammonites, along with some of the Meunites, attacked Jehoshaphat.
Three large and powerful nations combined to attack Judah. The Moabites and Ammonites were two satanic nations who originated from the incestuous relationship between Lot and his two daughters. Lot’s two daughters had been educated in Sodom and Gomorrah. This prevalent Sodomite education was still prevalent in both of these two cultures. The Meunites were an Arabian tribe living in Edom.
20:2 Messengers arrived and reported to Jehoshaphat, “A huge army is attacking you from the other side of the Dead Sea, from the direction of Edom. Look, they are in Hazezon Tamar (that is, En Gedi).”
En Gedi was a common trade route for enemies since they were invisible to the people on the other side of the western mountains.
20:3 Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he decided to seek the Lord’s advice. He decreed that all Judah should observe a fast.
Judah was severely outnumbered. Fear was a natural reaction. The king prayed to God and declared a national fast. Political leaders who lead their nation into war without prayer and fasting are placing their people in harm’s way. These types of political leaders will learn a terrible lesson.
20:4 The people of Judah assembled to ask for the Lord’s help; they came from all the cities of Judah to ask for the Lord’s help.
King Jehoshaphat of Judah led the nation in national prayer and fasting. The electorate is too biblically ignorant to place godly leaders like King Jehoshaphat into power today. In America, one should never become angry at the political leaders who make godless decisions. Instead, believers should be angry at the electorate for voting these men into office. Even more, the electorate should be angry at the pastors in churches who do not not teaching bible doctrine from the entire counsel of the Word of God to the electorate.
In conclusion, the type of teaching from the pulpit produces either a godly or godless electorate. The electorate brings into office either godly or godless politicians. Man is so totally depraved and evil that he will either refuse to attend a strong bible doctrine church, or he will choose a church which tickles his ears and produces shallow teaching.
20:5 Jehoshaphat stood before the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the Lord’s temple, in front of the new courtyard.
King Jehoshaphat was the leader of the national prayer and fasting convention.
20:6 He prayed: “O Lord God of our ancestors, you are the God who lives in heaven and rules over all the kingdoms of the nations. You possess strength and power; no one can stand against you.
King Jehoshaphat of Judah led the nation in prayer. He began his prayer by praising God for his kingdom rule, strength, and power.
20:7 Our God, you drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and gave it as a permanent possession to the descendants of your friend Abraham.
King Jehoshaphat of Judah praised God for driving out the Canaanites and giving the land to Abraham. God considered Abraham his friend. The king is reminding God about His promise to his friend via the Abrahamic Covenant. Those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse Israel will be cursed. These three nations had violated the Abrahamic Covenant by attacking Judah, so Jehoshaphat was reminding God about the curses that they were to receive from God Himself.
20:8 They settled down in it and built in it a temple to honor you, saying,
After God drove the Canaanites out of the land. Israel settled in the land.
20:9 ‘If disaster comes on us in the form of military attack, judgment, plague, or famine, we will stand in front of this temple before you, for you are present in this temple. We will cry out to you for help in our distress, so that you will hear and deliver us.’
When disaster comes upon Judah, they will stand in front of the temple and pray for God to help them. King Jehoshaphat of Judah knows that God will hear them and deliver them from disaster.
20:10 Now the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir are coming! When Israel came from the land of Egypt, you did not allow them to invade these lands. They bypassed them and did not destroy them.
These three satanic nations wanted to destroy Israel as they were entering into the land, but God did not allow them to do so.
20:11 Look how they are repaying us! They come to drive us out of our allotted land which you assigned to us!
These three satanic nations wanted to destroy and plunder Israel. If they could destroy the Davidic line, then the Messiah would not come to Israel and crush the head of the serpent.
20:12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we are powerless against this huge army that attacks us! We don’t know what we should do; we look to you for help.”
Israel was powerless to stop these three satanic nations from completely destroying them. Only God could save Judah.
20:13 All the men of Judah were standing before the Lord, along with their infants, wives, and children.
Notice that the children were involved in this national prayer and fasting convention.
20:14 Then in the midst of the assembly, the Lord’s Spirit came upon Jachaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph.
The Holy Spirit raised up a prophet to speak to the assembly.
20:15 He said: “Pay attention, all you people of Judah, residents of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Don’t be afraid and don’t panic because of this huge army! For the battle is not yours, but God’s.
The prophet asked the people to pay close attention to the message from God. The people were commanded not to fear, because the winner of the battle would be determined by God’s will.
20:16 Tomorrow march down against them as they come up the Ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the ravine in front of the Desert of Jeruel.
The small army of Judah was commanded to march down and meet the enemy. Jehovah gave the army of Judah one day to prepare for the march.
20:17 You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand, and watch the Lord deliver you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! Tomorrow march out toward them; the Lord is with you!’ ”
The soldiers were only to be spectators of the battle. They would not even need their weapons.
20:18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face toward the ground, and all the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord and worshiped him.
King Jehoshaphat of Judah led the entire assembly in worshiping Jehovah.
20:19 Then some Levites, from the Kohathites and Korahites, got up and loudly praised the Lord God of Israel.
The Levites led the assembly in loud praises of Jehovah. Cheerleaders lead pep rallies before football games. The families of armies often led similar cheers before a battle.
20:20 Early the next morning they marched out to the Desert of Tekoa. When they were ready to march, Jehoshaphat stood up and said: “Listen to me, you people of Judah and residents of Jerusalem! Trust in the Lord your God and you will be safe! Trust in the message of his prophets and you will win.”
King Jehoshaphat of Judah gave a victory speech to the people before the battle.
20:21 He met with the people and appointed musicians to play before the Lord and praise his majestic splendor. As they marched ahead of the warriors they said: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his loyal love endures.”
The band played at the pep rally. The music of the band glorified God.
20:22 When they began to shout and praise, the Lord suddenly attacked the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
Notice that Jehovah attacked the three large satanic armies. These three armies did not have a chance.
20:23 The Ammonites and Moabites attacked the men from Mount Seir and annihilated them. When they had finished off the men of Seir, they attacked and destroyed one another.
God causes such confusion, that the Ammonites and Moabites combined and completely destroyed the Arabian army from Seir. Afterwards, the Ammonites and Moabites began attacking each other, completely wiping each other out.
20:24 When the men of Judah arrived at the observation post overlooking the desert and looked at the huge army, they saw dead bodies on the ground; there were no survivors!
The supernatural confusion which God produced left no enemy survivors. The three satanic nations wanted to completely destroy Israel, but they received the kind-for-kind curse of the Abrahamic Covenant. Instead, the three satanic nations were completely destroyed.
20:25 Jehoshaphat and his men went to gather the plunder; they found a huge amount of supplies, clothing and valuable items. They carried away everything they could. There was so much plunder, it took them three days to haul it off.
The three satanic nations wanted to destroy and plunder Israel. Instead, these three evil nations were the ones who were destroyed and plundered. The kind-for-kind curses of the Abrahamic Covenant were in effect.
Any nation who attacks Israel is very foolish. Any electorate who votes in political leaders who are anti-Semitic are foolish. They are inviting the curses of the Abrahamic Covenant upon them.
20:26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, where they praised the Lord. So that place is called the Valley of Berachah to this very day.
There are many churches in America called “berachah.” Berachah means “the place of praise.”
20:27 Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem with Jehoshaphat leading them; the Lord had given them reason to rejoice over their enemies.
Judah rejoiced over the victory in which Jehovah had given them.
20:28 They entered Jerusalem to the sound of stringed instruments and trumpets and proceeded to the temple of the Lord.
Notice that Jehovah was worshiped with all kinds of musical instruments. Churches who forbid musical instruments in their congregation are being legalistic. They are inventing additional rules and laws which are not found in the Bible.
20:29 All the kingdoms of the surrounding lands were afraid of God when they heard how the Lord had fought against Israel’s enemies.
All of the enemies heard how Jehovah wiped out these three satanic nations. All of these nations should have turned to the Lord. The result was that Judah was now living in peace, because the enemies were afraid of Jehovah. Many people fear God and believe that He exists, but they do not want to follow Him or be a part of His kingdom. They are totally depraved and evil and they would rather be a part of the satanic kingdom.
20:30 Jehoshaphat’s kingdom enjoyed peace; his God made him secure on every side.
King Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was blessed by the promises of the Mosaic Covenant.
20:31 Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king and he reigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.
King Jehoshaphat of Judah was a good king who was brought up by a godly mother. The Holy Spirit took notice of his mother.
20:32 He followed in his father Asa’s footsteps and was careful to do what the Lord approved.
King Asa of Judah was also a godly king. Judah was fortunate enough to have two godly kings in succession.
20:33 However, the high places were not eliminated; the people were still not devoted to the God of their ancestors.
Even though the people of Judah possessed two godly leaders in succession, their total depravity still caused them to worship other demonic gods. Unless the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of those who are totally depraved and evil, then even godly governments cannot lead them to God. Angels and demons are observing this helpless situation of man.
20:34 The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Annals of Jehu son of Hanani which are included in Scroll of the Kings of Israel.
These books survived the Babylonian Captivity, but they no longer exist.
20:35 Later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who did evil.
King Jehoshaphat of Judah made another alliance with another king involved in satanism.
20:36 They agreed to make large seagoing merchant ships; they built the ships in Ezion Geber.
These two kings wanted to control the trade of the Mediterranean Sea, just as Solomon and the Phoenicians had done.
20:37 Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, “Because you made an alliance with Ahaziah, the Lord will shatter what you have made.” The ships were wrecked and unable to go to sea.
The prophet predicted that the shipping enterprise would become a disaster. The ships were wrecked before they could even go out to sea. God does not approve of partnerships with those who belong to the satanic world system.