Sunday: Putting God First
Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-22. What important spiritual principles can we take from this story for ourselves, whatever struggles we are facing?
Toward the close of Jehoshaphat’s reign, Judah was invaded. Jehoshaphat was a man of courage and valor. For years he had been strengthening his armies and his fortified cities. He was well prepared to meet almost any enemy; yet in this crisis he did not put his confidence in his own strength but in the power of God. He set himself to seek the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. The people all gathered together in the court of the temple, as Solomon had prayed that they would if faced by danger. All the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their wives and children. They prayed that God would confuse their enemies that His name might be glorified. Then the king prayed, “We have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (2 Chronicles 20:12, NKJV).
Image © Jim Howard at Goodsalt.com
After they committed themselves to God in this manner, the Spirit of the Lord came upon a man of God who said, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. … You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 20:15-17, NKJV).
So, early the next morning the king assembled the people, with the Levitical choir in the front to sing the praises of God. Then he admonished the people, “Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper” (2 Chronicles 20:20, NKJV). Then the choir began to sing, and their enemies destroyed one another, and “none escaped” (2 Chronicles 20:24). It took the men of Judah three days just to collect the spoils of the battle, and on the fourth day they returned to Jerusalem, singing as they went.
Of course, the God who delivered them is the same God whom we love and worship, and His power is just as great today as back then. The challenge, for us, is to trust in Him and His leading.
| Read 2 Chronicles 20:20. What special significance should this text have for Seventh-day Adventists? |
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We sometimes have this notion that because God is omnipotent (all-powerful) that he should answer our prayers instantaneously. Sometimes, according to our perspective, God is a little slow off the mark and has another agenda than instantaneously solving our immediate perceived needs.
Some of my students had a serious problem. They had to pass an examination so that they could graduate. They would pray earnestly that they would pass their examination. Failure was a big thing. It meant that they would not get a job and they would have to pay for another semester of study. I had the tough job of marking the examination papers of these students. In the end, I had to fail some of them. They had not done the work; they had skipped classes; they were not even within a bull's roar of passing. Putting God first meant starting a lot sooner than these students thought. By the time they were in serious trouble, God had another agenda in mind - and that included learning from failure. (I know - been there and done that myself!)
When times are tough, we need to pray for wisdom and patience because sometimes God wants to teach us slowly and carefully,
Trust is something developed based on experience. Do I have enough experience with God to trust Him completely? Or is my relationship with Him so shallow that I just remember Him when despair strikes? Do I exchange my thoughts, feelings and desires with Him? If I do, I'm probably developing friendship with Him, thus I can trust Him, because He is the kind of friend that will never fail me.
#1. The king feared & sought the Lord & proclaimed a fast
#2. All of Israel came together to seek the Lord
#3. They prayed, they asked questions, and they recounted all that the Lord had done for them
#4. Then they affirmed that their eyes were on him, they were not seeking their own will, but his will
#5. The Lord spoke through one of them and revealed his will and reminded them not to be afraid or dismayed - twice
#6. They bowed before the Lord and worshiped him in humility
#7. Then they stood up and praised the Lord in song loud and high
#8. They rose early in the morning and went out confidently singing and praising God's name
#9. They watched God fight for them
When we are hard pressed with troubles of this life, sometimes all that it takes to win the battle after making your prayers known to God is to pause, reflect and count your blessings. Be grateful to God for his goodness and his mercies. Sing his praise’s loud and clear just like Jehoshaphat and his Levitical choir did. By doing so, it refocuses your attention from the problem to believing that God has done it already it’s a matter of time. If the walls of Jericho came down because of singing praises to the redeemer and the deliverer we can also practice praises in the midst of our troubles and see the salvation of the Lord. Amen
It would be so much more inclusive to rephrase the question under Sunday's lesson to read something like "What significance should this text have for christians or God's people or some other phrasing". Our SS lessons are replete with unintentional insensitivity that undermines the effectiveness of the mission of Sabbath School. I would hope that our writers, including editors, could broaden the language without compromising.
If the question was implying that Seventh-day Adventists were better or more privileged than Christians at large, then I would agree with you. However, I see this question as asking us to think about our relationship with God. And in the context of a Seventh-day Adventist lesson, I think that it is appropriate to address Seventh-day Adventists specifically. In fact, as I read the question I think it could be more specific and read thus: What special significance should this text have for Maurice Ashton?
I read books and blogs by other Christian authors where they refer to their own churches' issues and I do not take offense when they refer to their churches by name.
I agreed with you Mark.
The creative way God dealt with Judah’s enemies is astounding – here, He confused them to the point were they turned against each other. He did not send His angels or chose to strengthen the warriors of Juda, He fulfilled His promise without them even needing to get into the fight; this is the power of our God at work when we have faith and praise Him for Who He Is.
What also stood out for me is the fact that Jehoshaphat praised God's faithfulness as he recounted His works on behalf of Israel; not his own or that of his people, 2Chr.20:5-11. He included the mention that they were experiencing this threat after having faithfully followed God’s will during the time of the wars to posses their new homeland, but no mention of 'deserving' His help. He rather expressed his total dependence on believing that true help can only come from the God of Israel.
This brings to mind another thought - is it not presumptuous to expect to hear from God in answer to prayers without having had an ongoing, good relationship with Him? And again, don't we need to know the one we declare to be our God in Whom we believe and trust in, to be vigilant to carefully maintain our relationship with Him in an honest and upright manner at all times - thanking Him for all the blessings we have received already?
Just like Jehoshaphat walked closely with God by faith, for us to prepare and to be prepared for the struggle against the ultimate enemy here on earth, I present to always carefully watch the disposition of our heart and mind. In the end, this determines how closely we are able to walk with God – Matt.25:1-13. It is His kingdom of heaven here on earth that we are willing to live in until the bridegroom comes.
Hi, Brigitte. You ask an interesting question.
It would be hard to say otherwise, but should we hesitate to pray, knowing that our past relationship with God is not at all what it should have been? My understanding is that God will graciously answer every sincere prayer, regardless of our past. And if we don't pray, then we are leaving ourselves under the control of the adversary of souls.
R.G. – thanks for commenting on this question. I asked this question in light of the parable of the 10 virgins as they waited for the bridegroom to arrive. This 'waiting' depicts, in my opinion, the times when the believer is absorbed by life’s affairs and neglects to maintain their spiritual relationship (keeping oil in their lamps) with the Lord – Matt.25:1-4.
What I considered to be presumptious is that those who neglect staying close to Him as they 'wait', still expect to hear Him clearly as time progresses and events unfold which require a clear hearing/understanding of His voice.
My concern is that they may not have enough time to repair/prepare to 'welcome the bridegroom' at the time of His appearing - Matt.25:5-13.
Hi Brigitte,
I also find this an interesting question.
"Is it not presumptuous to expect to hear from God in answer to prayers without having had an ongoing, good relationship with Him?"
Interesting, because a few days ago I was reading in Isaiah 45:5,6, about how God will equip even those who do not yet know Him... I have no recollection of reading this text before.
“I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me,
That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting. That there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other;” - Isaiah 45:5,6
It really is quite powerful and suggests we humans can sometimes be quick to judge others without fully understanding their situation or motivations.
Hello Raewyn – thank you for sharing your thoughts. Yes, God will always make a way for Himself. The Scripture you quoted is part of a prophecy to Cyrus whom He will prepare and use as a vessel in order to bring His people back to their homeland.
The whole chapter of Isaiah 45 is an incredible account of His interaction with those who are not yet part of the direct family of God. We learn and understand that God can/will use anyone to further His cause.
In a broader context - yes, God will touch every heart and knock on every ‘door’ to see if He will be invited in. Blessed is he/she who hears His Voice and follows it.
I learn something very important from this lesson. Oftentimes a family faces a challenging situation, only mom and dad at best wrestle with it and present their petitions to God. Understandably, some situations require secret prayers (Matt 6:6).
What we see however in this account is the involvement of the family (nation); The impending crisis would affect them all with terrible consequences. Their action, as well as ours should be together to .."Call upon me (the Lord) in the day of trouble; I (He) will deliver you (us/family), and you (we/the family) shall glorify me (Him)" (Psalm 50:15).
This lesson reinforces the action of prayer taken by the church in Acts 12 when Herod persecuted the saints. The apostle Paul also highlights the effect of such prayers in 2 Cor. 1:11.
We rest in the assurance that God “is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6)