32. Help Asked And Praise Rendered.

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.

The sudden news of a great invasion came to Jehoshaphat, and, like a true man of God, he set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast. The people came together with all speed, and the whole nation earnestly cried to the Lord for his aid.

Let us notice carefully:

I. HOW THEY ASKED HELP.

· They expressed their confidence; Jehoshaphat cried, "Art not thou God in heaven? In thine hand is there not power and might" (verse 6)?

· They pleaded his past acts. "Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land?" (verse 7).

· They urged the promise given at the dedication of the temple. Read verse 9. "Thou wilt hear and help."

· They confessed their condition: humbly did they acknowledge their danger and their impotence. They had:—

o No power. "We have no might against this great company."

o No plan. "Neither know we what to do" (verse 12).

o No allies. Their wives and their little ones only increased their care (verse 13).

o They then lifted their souls to God. "Our eyes are upon thee." Where could they look with more certainty?

II. HOW THEY RECEIVED IT.

· By renewed assurance."The Lord will be with you" (verse 17).

· By the calming of their fears. "Be not afraid! Fear not, nor be dismayed." Courage keeps the field, but fear flies.

· By urging them to greater faith. "Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established" (verse 20).

· By distinct direction. "Tomorrow go ye down against them; ye shall find them at the end of the brook" (verse 16)

· By actual deliverance. The Moabites and Ammonites slew the Edomites, and Israel triumphed without striking a blow.

· It shall be greatly to our joy to see the right hand of the Lord getting us the victory.

III. HOW THEY ACTED BY THIS HELP.

· They worshipped. With every sign of reverence, the king and; his people bowed before Jehovah (verse 18). Worship girds us for warfare.

· They praised. Before they received the mercy, "He appointed singers unto the Lord." Read verse 21.

· They went forth, preceded by the singers, till they reached "the watch-tower in the wilderness" (verse 24).

· They saw the promise fulfilled. "They looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies" (verse 24).

· They gathered the spoil. "They were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much" (verse 25).

· They blessed the Lord (verse 26). The valley of Berachah heard their joyful notes, and then they returned to the house of the Lord with harps and psalteries and trumpets.

· They had rest. "So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about" (verse 30). God's victories end the war. The fear of God fell on all the kingdoms, and they dared not invade Judah.

· Let us when in difficulties have immediate resort to the Lord.

· Let us do this in the spirit of confidence and praise.

· Is there not a cause for our assembling even now to plead against the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites of superstition, worldliness, and infidelity?