Charles Spurgeon Commentary 2 Chronicles 20
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
2 Chronicles 20
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
2 Chronicles 20
"And it came to pass after this, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them some of 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 from Syria; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (the same is En-gedi). And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek unto Jehovah; and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah." — 2 Chronicles 20:1-3 (ASV)
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.
An angry God is to be sought. Even though he smites us, we must turn to him. It is from the hand that wields the rod that we are to expect deliverance, if it ever comes at all.
"And Judah gathered themselves together, to seek [help] of Jehovah: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek Jehovah." — 2 Chronicles 20:4 (ASV)
The host of enemies was so enormous that they threatened to eat up all the land. The men of Judah could not keep them out. They would soak and storm and burn and destroy right and left. You see the great peril. What a heavy chastisement it must have been to the king to see his land thus in danger of being destroyed. But they had begun to pray.
"And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Jehovah, before the new court; and he said, O Jehovah, the God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and art not thou ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? and in thy hand is power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee. Didst not thou, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and give 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 evil come upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house, and before thee, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, and thou wilt hear and save. 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 aside from them, and destroyed them not; behold, 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 out eyes are upon thee." — 2 Chronicles 20:5-12 (ASV)
What a prayer it is! How argumentative! How it pleads his case as an advocate in a court of law, appealing to the mercy of God as logically as if it were to be argued out of the divine heart. Oh, how good it would be if we learned to pray like this – in this earnest, importunate fashion! Let us ask the Lord to teach us to pray as He taught His disciples!
"And all Judah stood before Jehovah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children." — 2 Chronicles 20:13 (ASV)
It must have been a wonderful sight—the vast crowd, the pleading king, his voice heard from afar, and the men and the women; but, to my mind, the most touching thing of all was the little children standing there, making their silent appeal to God that He would not let the babies be destroyed—that He would not allow the young children to be slain by the cruel armies that then threatened the land.
Young children's prayers are powerful. Little ones, may God teach you how to pray.
"Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite, of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of Jehovah in the midst of the assembly;" — 2 Chronicles 20:14 (ASV)
Perhaps he had never delivered a prophecy before. This is his first sermon; but the Spirit of God was with him, and he could not hold his tongue.
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