Grace for Española
 
As we enter the summer months, many of us will have more free time with school being out and less structured activities. Some of us may be busier trying to make the most of the summer opportunities for vacation and outdoor activities. Whatever the case, let’s remember to keep the main thing the main thing in our Christian lives—which is to keep God at the center of our thoughts and lives. If we fail in this, we fail in everything. To help us with this goal, I’d like us to reflect on the revival under King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20, almost 3,000 years ago. This has long been a favorite Old Testament passage for me. As we look at it over the coming weeks let’s interact with each principle we learn by considering the following "R’s." Let this study be further training in Bible meditation as we have considered in recent weeks in this column.

* Recognize the truth of the principle.
* Reflect on or meditate on the truth of the principle.
* Relate the truth to real concerns (the enemies of the soul – the world, flesh, devil), trials, personal conflict, etc.
* Rehearse the principle in prayer or pray according to the truth.
* Respond to or take action on the truth of the principle. Apply it to specific areas of concern in your life.

The Setting

After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar" (that is, Engedi). Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord (2 Chron 20:1-5, ESV).

During the reign of King Jehoshaphat over Judah in 853 B.C. a sudden and unexpected invasion took place by a combined force of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites. When Jehoshaphat heard of the encroaching armies, he immediately turned to the Lord for help. Jehoshaphat called for a national fast and all of Judah gathered together in Jerusalem to seek the Lord in prayer. Jehoshaphat then led the nation in a prayer reminiscent of Solomon's prayer of dedication of the temple in 2 Chronicles 6:24-39. It is from this prayer and the related actions that several principles for effective prayer are found. Take a few minutes to look up and read 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 right now if you can.

A. God has power over all people and situations (vv. 5-7).

And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 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. 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?

The Bible presents God as One who is all-powerful and completely sovereign over all His creation. For this reason, prayer is not a light matter. The believer in prayer has access to this divine power. Commentator J. Oswald Sanders made an astonishing observation about prayer. He said, "It invests puny man with a sort of omnipotence." The believer need not fear any foe under heaven when he is fully surrendered to the will of God. Effective prayer brings the believer to this state of submission to God's sovereignty.

Now take some time to think through or write down your interaction with this first principle:

* Recognize the truth of the principle.
* Reflect on or meditate on the truth of the principle.
* Relate the truth to real concerns. How does the truth of God’s sovereignty impact you today?
* Rehearse the principle in prayer or pray according to the truth. Express your confidence in God’s sovereignty as you go to the Lord in prayer.
* Respond to or take action on the truth of the principle. How does knowing God is in total control of all things affect your decisions, attitude, concerns today?

In the following weeks, we will look at additional principles from this dramatic story of revival. May you have a truly God-centered summer filled with the joy of knowing the all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving God who saves His people!
 


Comments




Leave a Reply