201 And it cometh to pass after this, the sons of Moab have come in, and the sons of Ammon, and with them of the peoples, against Jehoshaphat to battle. 2 And they come in and declare to Jehoshaphat, saying, 'Come against thee hath a great multitude from beyond the sea, from Aram, and lo, they 'are' in Hazezon-Tamar—it 'is' En-Gedi.' 3 And Jehoshaphat feareth, and setteth his face to seek to Jehovah, and proclaimeth a fast over all Judah; 4 and Judah is gathered to inquire of Jehovah; also, from all the cities of Judah they have come in to seek Jehovah. 5 And Jehoshaphat standeth in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Jehovah, at the front of the new court, 6 and saith, 'O Jehovah, God of our fathers, art not Thou—God in the heavens? yea, Thou art ruling over all kingdoms of the nations, and in Thy hand 'is' power and might, and there is none with Thee to station himself. 7 'Art not Thou our God? Thou hast dispossessed the inhabitants of this land from before Thy people Israel, and dost give it to the seed of Abraham Thy friend to the age, 8 and they dwell in it, and build to Thee in it a sanctuary for Thy name, saying, 9 If evil doth come upon us—sword, judgment, and pestilence, and famine—we stand before this house, and before Thee, for Thy name 'is' in this house, and cry unto Thee out of our distress, and Thou dost hear and save. 10 'And now, lo, sons of Ammon, and Moab, and mount Seir, whom Thou didst not grant to Israel to go in against in their coming out of the land of Egypt, for they turned aside from off them and destroyed them not, 11 and lo, they are recompensing to us—to come in to drive us out of Thy possession, that Thou hast caused us to possess. 12 'O our God, dost Thou not execute judgment upon them? for there is no power in us before this great multitude that hath come against us, and we know not what we do, but on Thee 'are' our eyes.' 13 And all Judah are standing before Jehovah, also their infants, their wives, and their sons.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 20:1-13
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 20:1-13
(Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-13)
In all dangers, public or personal, our first business should be to seek help from God. Hence the advantage of days for national fasting and prayer. From the first to the last of our seeking the Lord, we must approach him with humiliation for our sins, trusting only in his mercy and power. Jehoshaphat acknowledges the sovereign dominion of the Divine Providence. Lord, exert it on our behalf. Whom should we seek to, whom should we trust to for relief, but the God we have chosen and served. Those that use what they have for God, may comfortably hope he will secure it to them. Every true believer is a son of Abraham, a friend of God; with such the everlasting covenant is established, to such every promise belongs. We are assured of God's love, by his dwelling in human nature in the person of the Saviour. Jehoshaphat mentions the temple, as a token of God's favourable presence. He pleads the injustice of his enemies. We may well appeal to God against those that render us evil for good. Though he had a great army, he said, We have no might without thee; we rely upon thee.