JEHOSHAPHAT TRUSTS GOD

Have you ever had a problem or been in trouble that you did not know how to solve or get out of? Have you ever had a problem or been in trouble that you did not know how to solve or get out of?

Who helped you...if anyone?

As you look back on the problem now, is it as big as you thought it was then?

Have you ever been in a life or death situation...and you had to rely on more than just your wit and wisdom to be assured that you were safe?

Please respond.

Has the experience helped you to trust God more than you previously did?

What is trust?

Definition: "firm belief or confidence in the honesty, integrity, reliability, justice, etc. of another person or thing; faith; reliance; confident expectation, anticipation, or hope." "To allow to do something without fear of the outcome."

Hopefully, you trust your spouse, your children, your pastor, your friends. However, in life...somewhere in life, those you trust will fail in some aspect. It is inevitable...because we are fallible and we are prone to error (in some cases, disappoint).

God does not fail...He will do what is best for you...and will do it as you learn to trust Him.

Jehoshaphat trusted God. He did not learn this over one instance, one great experience...He learned to trust little by little, day by day, step by step.

When there is no other way out, we usually turn to God. We should trust God in the small things in life...and the "bigggg problems should be easier to turn over to God."

• Time of this event occurred at about the same time
  that Elisha succeeded Elijah as Israel's prophet.
• Jehoshaphat's reign as king of Judah was about the same time that Ahab was king of Israel.
• Jehoshaphat followed God in his early days as king and he did not worship Baal.
• Asa, Jehoshaphat's father, had led the people of Judah to return back to the worship of Jehovah God and Jehoshaphat followed in his father's footsteps.
• God blessed Jehoshaphat because of his faithfulness and caused other leaders to seek his favor. They brought him gifts (2 Chronicles 17:1-13).
• Over 1 million fighting men were available to Jehoshaphat for his bidding to protect Judah and its territories (2 Chronicles 17:14-18).
• Jehoshaphat learned of a vast army that was preparing to evade Judah from Edom.
• Instead of sounding the battle cry...he cried out to the Lord and wanted to know what the Lord wanted him to do.
• Priorities are important in life...for you, me, and kings (Presidents and Ambassadors).
• God responded to Jehoshaphat's prayer...through Jahaziel with a message that was tough to accept...this response had to be in total trust as to what the Lord wanted him to do.
• He told his army to not initiate the fighting...but just praise God in song and worship.
• Normally, an army encourages each other by chanting and shouting to build up faith and courage. This time was different.
• Jehoshaphat was not the only one to trust God...the whole army had to trust their king...and with no rebellious act of "doing his own thing."
• While Jehoshaphat's army sung praises and worshipped the Lord God, the enemy began quarreling and fighting among themselves.
• This event is similar to the victory God provided Gideon and his 800 men against the Midianite army (Judges 7:22).
• After God won the victory for them, Jehoshaphat's army carried off their plunder of war and immediately gathered together to praise God for the victory.
• They returned to Jerusalem and went to the Temple to worship.
• The fear of God came upon all the surrounding enemies of Judah and Jehoshaphat and the people enjoyed rest and peace because of their obedience.
• The pattern in Chronicles...When the kings of Judah were obedient to God...victory and peace were evident. When the kings were disobedient, turmoil, confusion, mistrust, and defeat were experienced.

We must do likewise...Trust and obey, God will
make a way.

Rebel and disobey, you will surely pay.

The bad thing about this...is that others are hurt because of our disobedience.

• Throughout Scripture, those who turned to God had help and support for their problems...Those who turned away from God simply created more problems for themselves.
• Imagine...what if we knew that terrorists had infiltrated the Fort Worth area and we saw pick-up loads of terrorist with guns outside our door ready to walk in any minute. What do you think you would do?
• What would you do if someone was trying to break into your home and you had only about 30 seconds to make a decision as to what to do...what would you do?
• Why?
• Being a leader can be a very difficult job. Many times, huge decisions are laid at the feet of leaders, and they have to make choices that affect hundreds, thousands, or millions of people. Where do you think leaders go wrong?

1 Kings 22:5, But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "First seek the counsel of the Lord."
Proverbs 15:22, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."
Proverbs 20:18, "Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance."
Proverbs 11:14, "For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure."
Psalm 16:7, "I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me."
Psalm 73:24, "You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory."
Isaiah 11:2, "The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him-the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord."
Isaiah 28:29, "All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom."

• As a father, what can you do to effectively lead your family?
• As a mother, what can you do to effectively lead your family?
• In the lesson today, Jehoshaphat gets the top billing. However, what can be said of the subjects and military behind the king?
• What should this say to us?

Problems will arise in our homes, our lives...

Will you always put God first in making the decision as to what to do?
How will you know that it is God's will?