I practice this often. When I receive a threat or face a serious battle, I go to God, spread the threat (especially if it is written) before Him, and ask Him to intervene. It has been working perfectly for me and others. I learnt this also from King Hezekiah. The Assyrian king Sennacherib had written to the king of Judah; harassing, insulting them and deriding their God, comparing Jehovah with the other gods he had defeated with their nations. When Hezekiah got the letter, read it, he took it to the Temple and spread it before God. Please, do you permit me to just read this powerful prayer then we will return to our main discussion – Jehoshaphat and Judah? Thank you! Listen carefully and learn from this immutable principle:
“After Hezekiah received the letter and read it, he went up to the LORD’s Temple and spread it out before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed this prayer before the LORD: ‘O LORD, God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth. Listen to me, O LORD, and hear! Open your eyes, O LORD and see! Listen to Sennacherib’s words of defiance against the living God.
It is true, LORD, that the kings of Assyrian have destroyed all these nations; just as the message says. And they have thrown the gods of these nations into fire and burned them. But of course the Assyrians could destroy them! They were not gods at all – only idols of wood and stone shaped by human hands. Now, O LORD our God, rescue us from this power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O LORD, are God.”
2 Kings 19:14-19
Immediately, after this powerfully, skillfully crafted prayer, God sent a message to Hezekiah that He would not allow the boastful king of Assyria to step into Jerusalem, not to talk of shooting an arrow. And that same night an angel of the LORD went to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. Those that survived just woke up and saw dead bodies everywhere. And nobody told them and their King Sennacherib to run away! But why didn’t he stay? Royal fool! Yes, it’s only a fool that will challenge God. Even as he ran home, the unseen hand still pursued him. His own children killed him right where he was worshiping his god – Nisroch. My friend, there is power in taking your case to God in prayer – spreading it before Him. This is a standing spiritual principle. You know the bible said that two or three witnesses shall establish a truth (principle). Please, let’s go back to our main discussion. Like Hezekiah, like Jehoshaphat.
Now the same thing Jehoshaphat is doing here. He took this imminent threat of these three enemy nations to the house of God and prayed:
“O LORD, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? Your people settled here and built this Temple for you. They said, ‘whenever we are faced with any calamity such as , we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’
And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them. Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance.
2 Chronicles 20: 6-12
My God! What is this? This is sure one of the most powerful, most comprehensive and most effective prayer you can find in the bible and I have ever heard. And this is why I will never get tired of reading or preaching from it. I love it! Moreover, Jehoshaphat is one of my heroes in the scriptures; my role model. He loved God so much, and God had in return showed much respect for him. You remember when he joined King Ahab of Israel to go and retake Ramoth-gilead; an Israelite city then occupied by the Arameans? As they were preparing for the war, Ahab summoned his four hundred prophets to ask them how the battle will go. After their prophecy of victory, which has been corrupted by the spirit of lies, Jehoshaphat further asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of the LORD around, too? I would like to ask him the same question.” Then they called in Micaiah son of Imiah.
Did you hear that? Hundreds of opinions have already been given, promising victory, by this guy was not satisfied and would not step an inch without the full assurance of divine guidance and protection. That was the extent of his trust and love for God. You already know the outcome of that war. Though cornered by the enemy forces, Jehoshaphat was divinely, miraculously spared, and the ungodly King Ahab of Israel killed. Those that honor Him will always be honored and protected! True!
Also look at the battle against Moab. The king of Israel (Ahab’s son) mobilized Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom to go and fight against Moab for refusing to be bringing tributes after the death of Ahab. On the way, after seven days walk through the desert, there was no water for the horses and the soldiers. Everybody was dying of thirst and confused, but this same Jehoshaphat also asked a similar question “Is there no prophet of the LORD with us? If there is we can ask the LORD what to do.” And they called in Prophet Elisha. Now I want you to remark what the prophet of God said when he came. He told the king of Israel straight that if not for Jehoshaphat, he wouldn’t have bothered to attend to him (king of Israel). Then he gave them the word of the LORD, “This is what the LORD says: This dry valley will be filled with pools of water. You will have plenty for yourselves and for your cattle and your other animals. But this is only a simple thing for the LORD, for he will make you victorious over the army of Moab!”
And surely, the next morning, without any rain or wind, the water came in a great way! And not just for them to drink, it was also used to ensnare their enemies; who were well defeated. This was the extent of Jehoshaphat’s dealings with God. He loved, respected and meticulously followed the way of the God of Israel. He also did everything in his power to make Israel worship the only true God. He destroyed the idols in the land, ensured justice and sent out people to teach the laws of God throughout his kingdom. It is good we get this background so that we will know who was making these supplications that we are about to dissect and imitate. Now, let’s go back. He prayed against the armies of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir (Edomites).
Pray for forgiveness of sins and ask Him to come into your life.
Pray that God would increase His love in your heart.
Go to Him in prayer, spreading your request, case before Him.
You may declare a fast if you are led.
You can also do these as a people, a nation.
God of Heaven and Earth
Jehoshaphat rightly began this most important prayer by acknowledging and declaring that God of his ancestors is Jehovah; the God of Israel, the creator and controller of the heaven and earth. He called Him the Almighty and all-powerful. Wow! That was a good way to start; a solid foundation. Your knowledge, faith and declaration of God and His power is very vital to your success at the time of battle. True! You can definitely not trust the person you have not known. You have to know the person, His personality, antecedents and character before you can be able to determine his ability and what he will do. What