Bible Study - Give Thanks - Anyway - 2 Chronicles 20:10-12, 14-17, 2022, 29-30 - November 27, 2016

Bible Study – Give Thanks – Anyway – November 27, 2016

This is a special Thanksgiving Lesson.

Focus scripture is 2 Chronicles 20:10-12, 14-17, 20-22, 29-30.

We can give thanks in every situation.

This is an appropriate study for our celebration of Thanksgiving. We are thankful for GOD’S grace toward us as humans. John 3:16-18 reflects GOD’S love and concern for every human who has been or will ever be born upon earth:

16 "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.

Do you think that you are upon earth by random probability and chance? No! It is by design. This is your time to be redeemed from sin and its consequence, eternal death. At the end of your life you will go into eternity. You will either be reconciled with GOD through faith in JESUS or forever cut off from GOD, Who loves you by rejecting JESUS as your Savior. The choice is yours to make.

Those who accept JESUS as their Savior are most thankful to GOD because HE provided redemption and salvation through HIS love for each human by sending HIS only Son, JESUS, to earth to provide the way of salvation/redemption from sin and its consequence of eternal death.

Accept GOD’S gift now by asking JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for HIM to come into your heart and experience the miracle of rebirth in your spirit. The miracle of rebirth means that you are born in your spirit into GOD’S family as HIS Son or HIS Daughter, and receive eternal life and citizenship into Heaven.

Be thankful for a loving GOD Who goes to all lengths to redeem you from eternal death which is Hell.

Our scripture focuses upon a physical event that helps us to understand GOD’S care for us in the Spiritual realm. Let’s explore!

King Jehoshaphat (jih HAHSH uh fat) reined over Judah for 25 years. He was a faithful ruler and worshiper of Yahweh, the LORD. Our focus scripture is part of Jehoshaphat’s prayer which begins in verse six.

Let’s read 2 Chronicles 20:5-9: (Lead-in)

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard

6 and said: “LORD, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.

7 Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?

8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying,

9 ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’

Jehoshaphat reconfirmed their relationship with GOD and HIS relationship to them. Often, in times of trouble we need to rethink our relationship with GOD. It is a time to review our relationship and our faithfulness with HIM. If in that process of review issues are revealed, where we have sinned and we need to confess them and ask for forgiveness, then we must respond. Afterwards, we are in a position to move forward with our request and seek GOD’S help in times of need or trouble.

Let’s read 2 Chronicles 20:10-12:

10 Now here are the Ammonites, Moabites, and [the inhabitants of] Mount Seir. You did not let Israel invade them when Israel came out of the land of Egypt, but Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them.

GOD had prevented Israel from attacking the very enemies that were now poised to invade Judah.

11 Look how they repay us by coming to drive us out of Your possession that You gave us as an inheritance.

Jehoshaphat did not have to remind GOD that they were exactly where GOD wanted them to be but he and the Israelites needed to be reminded. Often in times of distress or trouble we need to reflect upon why we are where we are. 

Are we where we are because of GOD’S design or our desires? In this case, they were exactly where GOD wanted them to be.

12 Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast multitude that comes [to fight] against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to You.

In essence, since we are where YOU want us to be “Will YOU not judge them?” That was a question with a positive and confident response in mind. 

Simply, we are where YOU desire for us to be and we are powerless to defend ourselves. We are helpless to defend ourselves but GOD YOU are all powerful and we confidently look to YOU and YOU alone for our protection.

There are times in our lives when all of our efforts are useless to solve the issues in life that we face. Only GOD can come to our rescue as we look to HIM for help.

Our recent presidential election is a case and point to consider.

Let’s read 2 Chronicles 20:13-17:

God's Answer

13 All Judah was standing before the Lord with their infants, their wives, and their children.

Jehoshaphat was praying but all of Judah was standing before the LORD including their infants, wives and children. Such an assembly reflects the heart of the nation.

Do we reflect that same dependent attitude toward GOD for our nation? Do we have a sense of relief that we think we have a leader we think will lead us? We cannot back off from our desire to be a nation who lifts up JESUS as our Savior and LORD. Having a nation where people mouth the name of JESUS without their hearts being changed is of little to no value. JESUS said it best in Matthew 7:21-23:

True and False Disciples

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’

23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

I say of little value because mouthing the name of JESUS can always lead to a realization that the person mouthing HIS name needs a personal relationship with JESUS. Do not play the game of trying to fool GOD by playing like a Christian because GOD knows your heart.

GOD is giving America a second opportunity to get it right. Will we as HIS people serve HIM or attempt to amass wealth for ourselves?

14 In the midst of the congregation, the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel (son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph's descendants),

There was unity and harmony as the people gathered seeking help from GOD and guess WHO responded through Jahaziel, GOD.

15 and he said, "Listen carefully, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what the Lord says: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.

Jahaziel spoke the words GOD revealed to him. GOD assured the Judahites that victory was theirs because this was GOD’S battle. When Christians come up against the issues of life, they need to seek the wisdom of the LORD. Whose battle are we facing? What is our part and what is GOD’S part? Are we in a situation because of sin or following our own desires or are we in a situation because GOD’S desire for us to see HIS hand at work? HIS working could be for our benefit, the benefit of others or both. Life is walking with GOD through faith in JESUS or to find JESUS if we do not already know HIM.

16 Tomorrow, go down against them. You will see them coming up the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel.

The people had to put into action what GOD revealed to them. They had to take a step of faith. The people had a choice: Do we respond or do we sit back and see if GOD will defend us without us having to do anything. NO! GOD commanded them to ----

17 You do not have to fight this [battle]. Position yourselves, standstill, and see the salvation of the Lord. [He is] with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Tomorrow, go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.' "

Faith in action is what GOD desires from HIS children. This is as true today as it was in the Old Testament days. The key is for GOD to reveal and for us to take the revealed action. We must be careful not to respond when GOD has not revealed how HE desires for us to respond.

So what will the people do? Let’s read on.

Let’s read 2 Chronicles 20:20-22, 29-30:

Victory and Plunder

20 In the morning they got up early and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa. 

As they were about to go out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem. Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed."

King Jehoshaphat reminded the people that their faith in GOD and HIS power as revealed in the scriptures through HIS prophets equals success. Now, they would experience GOD’S care for them. That is faith in action.

21 Then he consulted with the people and appointed some to sing for the Lord and some to praise the splendor of [His] holiness. When they went out in front of the armed forces, they kept singing: Give thanks to the Lord, for His faithful love endures forever.

Judah had an army but greater than their army was their faith in GOD. King Jehoshaphat was a Godly king and he consulted with the people. Was he soliciting volunteers? The key is that he appointed some to go before their army and sing for the LORD and praise HIS holiness. This was a confident display of their confidence and dependence upon GOD. It sent a powerful message to the enemies of Judah.

22 The moment they began [their] shouts and praises, the Lord set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moabites, and [the inhabitants of] Mount Seir who came [to fight] against Judah, and they were defeated.

The instant the Judahites who were marching ahead of their army began to shout and praise the LORD, the LORD took action.

GOD reveals to us what HE desires for HIS children to do but HE does not act until we obediently respond.

What is an ambush?

We read that GOD set an ambush against the enemies of Judah. What did GOD do? Let’s read verses 23-28:

23 The Ammonites and Moabites turned against the inhabitants of Mount Seir and completely annihilated them. When they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped destroy each other.

GOD turned the enemies of Judah against each other and they destroyed themselves. WOW! GOD is faithful. HIS ways are not our ways and HIS thoughts are above our thoughts. Who would have ever believed what GOD had in mind to defeat the enemies of Judah? Our part is to be faithful to HIM as we, HIS Children, march ahead of our power as we go into battle each day.

Are we secure in our faith such that our LORD is at work in places where we have no clue about what HE is doing in our behalf?  

Romans 8:28 comes to mind: (GOD works on behalf of HIS Children or HIS Children to be.)

28 We know that (GOD is in) all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

When the people of Judah approached the battle field, what did they see?

24 When Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude, and there were corpses lying on the ground; nobody had escaped.

25 Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to gather the plunder. They found among them an abundance of goods on the bodies and valuable items. So they stripped them until nobody could carry any more. They were gathering the plunder for three days because there was so much.

26 They assembled in the Valley of Beracah on the fourth day, for there they praised the Lord. Therefore, that place is still called the Valley of Beracah today.

They gave GOD the credit. They knew that GOD came to their rescue in a mighty way. When GOD comes to our aid, we must not neglect to praise HIM and keep in mind HIS care for us. But sadly many of us forget and return to life as usual and relegate GOD to the back burner of our lives. But what did the people of Judah do? Let’s read on.

27 Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem turned back with Jehoshaphat at their head, returning joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord enabled them to rejoice over their enemies.

28 So they came into Jerusalem to the Lord's temple with harps, lyres, and trumpets.

The people returned not to bathe themselves in their success but to worship because of the faithfulness of GOD. Is our relationship with GOD such that we praise and honor HIM when victory comes in our lives? Does HIS care for us result in us standing in awe of HIM? If not, why not? If that is our nature, we need to go before GOD and ask HIM to reveal our hearts and help us to be changed through the renewing of our minds to obedient serve HIM. Life is all about having the right relationship with GOD through active faith.

Let’s read 2 Chronicles 20:29-30:

29 The terror of God was on all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel.

The obedience of the Judahites under the leadership of King Jehoshaphat resulted in sending a powerful message to surrounding kingdoms. The message was that the GOD of Judah is all powerful and fights in their behalf.

Guess what? GOD still fights for HIS Children every day today.

30 Then Jehoshaphat's kingdom was quiet, for his God gave him rest on every side.

Only our faith and confidence in GOD through our faith in JESUS can give us peace during the storms that are sure to come into our lives as Christians. Christians are not exempt from troubles, just as Judah faced a multitude of enemies.

We as Christians face a multitude of enemies each day. In whom do we place our trust and confidence through an intimate, loving relationship? GOD loves you and has a plan for your life. Place your trust in JESUS, GOD’S only SON and receive salvation. Experience the miracle of rebirth in your spirit to be born anew into GOD’S family as HIS Son or Daughter and receive eternal life. 

Happy Thanksgiving! Blessings!!!