I Give Up 12.16.07

2 Chron 20:15 And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.”

Jehoshaphat finds himself in an unenviable position. As king he must display boldness politically, or it is likely he will not be king for very long. Boldness on the part of leaders is what inspires loyalty on the part of followers, especially when fear is involved.

Here the nation of Judah finds itself in a fear-provoking situation, with a pending attack from three people groups from the east, the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Edomites. We are not told how many are in the attacking group, but it is enough that Jehoshaphat’s 1.06 million-man army is an extreme underdog.

There are many times in life when we face obstacles that appear larger than life itself. A bleak medical diagnosis. An untenable economic prognostication. An unbounded addiction. These are all times when we are more likely than not to regard our situation as “hopeless,” or at the very least dire. We think: “There is no way I can sit still in this situation – UNLESS – I just give in.” Giving in is an attractive alternative because it frees our mind to wallow. We allow ourselves to wallow in doubt, wallow in misery, or maybe even to wallow in self-pity. “Why me?!” Or possibly, “Why is God punishing me?!”

Perhaps Jehoshaphat felt exactly that same way. It was a reasonable assumption for God to be judging the nation because of Jehoshaphat’s sin in his entering into relationship with the family of the evil king Ahab. 2 Chron 20:3 tells us as much. Jehoshaphat feared. A simple statement that we readily understand. We ALL know the fear of the Lord – especially when we remember our sin.

But rather than giving in to his fear, and wallowing in a ‘Why Me?!’ mindset, Jehoshaphat set an example for his people and for us as well. He doesn’t give in, he gives UP. Rather than allowing fear of death, or shame of sin to cause him to run from the Lord – and to give in, Jehoshaphat remembers the Word of the Lord, and he runs to the Lord – and he gives UP.

What is it that Jehoshaphat gives up in this situation? He gives up his pride over his position. He gives up his notion of invincibility. He gives up any pretense that he is undaunted. He gives up any mantel of greatness, or political power. He allows himself to be seen as weak and hopeless in his own strength. And he begins to simply give up praise and worship to His God. Oh, and he also gives up his sin.

And because he did not count his weapons, or the number of his horses, or the numbers of his chariots, or the number of his armed men of valor, Jehoshaphat never had to use them. You see, this battle belonged to the Lord. So does yours.

- Pastor Bill