We may think that prayer is nothing more than raw emotions. This couldn’t be further from the truth as we examine this prayer in depth and learn from it. This was one prayer that was not just emotions-packed but also sprang out from the left side of the brain. It was cognitive and seek to reason with God.
The neighbouring nations threatened Judah with war (v1). Their combined army was described as a ‘multitude’ (v2). Judah came together to fast and seek God. Jehoshaphat prayed a prayer of faith. He also liberally recounted the historical context that have connected Judah with these nations. He did this to strengthen his prayer and to give reasons for God to act.
Have we ever given reasons to God when we pray and why He should act? How about recounting the history of mercy and lovingkindess of God in our lives as we pray and believing He will continue? Or recalling the enemy’s ungratefulness or wickedness and grudgingly asking God for mercies for the oppressor and victim? Do we persuade (emotive) and reason (cognitive) with God in our prayers?
Jehoshaphat set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. What and how did he pray? Let us learn from him!
- Establishing God’s Reign and Power. You can see the chain of logic ending with the declaration of “no one is able to withstand You.”
“Our Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?” (v6) - Historical covenant and friendship between Abraham and Israel with God. The seal was the land.
“Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?” (v7) - Promised Land and the Temple were inseparable. God dwell in the Temple in Land. God would act on behalf of His people in the Land.
“And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.” (v8,9) - History recounted on how Israel spared these people on God’s command. They were strong and the enemies were weak. They trusted God before and have no reason not to continue trusting now.
“And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them” (v10) - The nation was in clear and present danger of being dispossessed of their Land. The enemies were not grateful. They were now attacking not only Israel but also God. They were strong but now weak. They have not taken advantage of their strength to destroy the enemies. At role reversal, the enemies mounted an attack. Indirectly, that’s not only being ungrateful but also despicable. God would judge them.
“Here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. (v11) - The emotive prayerful appeal was powerful. Will not God take charge over this invasion? They did not blame it on God. They only made known their total inability to defend themselves and did not know what to do. The clincher again, they obeyed God in faith by not destroying the enemies in the past (v10) and they are casting their eyes (trust) in God again.
“Our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” (12) - The whole nation stood in prayer and in attention to the God of their Land, God of their fathers, the all-Powerful One, a Friend, the Presence in the Temple and Judge who will do the right thing.
Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord. (v13)
What was our posture when we pray: prostration or prideful? Were we always praying our own personal problems or taken to heart the things of God and the family? Have we counted your blessings in your prayers today? Can we recall God’s faithfulness to you and your family? When was the last that we obeyed God and situation turned out worse at least in our own eyes? What happened when we trusted to the end?
