WORDS TO REMEMBER (florilegium, latin – “flower-sipping” or “flower-culling”):  These are short portions of biblical texts and sayings (aphorisms for meditation) that sum up and distill the essential teachings of the whole Scripture.

THEME:  Encouragement

SCRIPTURE:  2 Chronicles 20:15; 20:17, (and surrounding verses)

Daily Life Situation:  Facing Extremely Difficult Situations

Sometimes we find ourselves faced with extremely difficult situations that seem impossible to overcome. These situations sometimes come so fast we barely have time to think. But before we allow ourselves to be overtaken, remember the situation with King Jehoshaphat when he was about to be attacked by not one, not two, but three armies.

Some people came and reported to Jehoshaphat that three armies were coming to attack his people. Johosaphat knew he could not fight against three armies. They were not strong enough. He feared, but he “set himself to seek the LORD.” He proclaimed a fast in all Judah.  He then gathered all of Judah together, and he stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD and prayed to God asking for His help. While he was praying, the Spirit of the LORD fell on one man who was in the congregation (the Prophet Jahaziel), and the man cried out saying: “Listen, all of 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 (2 Chronicles 20:15).’” The prophet continued to report the words of the LORD: “‘You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you….(2 Chronicles 20:17 NKJV).’”

So Jehoshaphat did as the LORD told Him to do. The next day they went out and began to sing and to praise the LORD. While they were singing, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir. So the people of Ammon and Moab set against Mount Sier and defeated them. Then Ammon and Moab fought and destroyed each other.

Judah then came to the place where they could look toward the multitude and they saw dead bodies fallen on the earth. No one escaped. Jehoshaphat and his people went to the dead bodies and stripped them of all their valuables and precious jewelry. They were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much. And on the fourth day, they assembled together and blessed the LORD. Then they returned to Judah and Jerusalem with Jehoshaphat in front of them. And they shared great joy among them for the LORD made them to rejoice over their enemies.

Lesson Learned:

So if you are a true believer and you are faced with what seems to be an impossible or insurmountable situation; and you are convinced that there is nothing else you can do about it, before you give up or give in to the situation (before walking out with your hands up), remember this: “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s (2 Chronicles 20:15)” and “Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you… (2 Chronicles 20:17, NKJV).”