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When the battle with the Syrians
was ended, Jehoshaphat went home in peace to Jerusalem. Was God
pleased with all that Jehoshaphat had done? No; a prophet came, and
said to him, "God is angry with thee, because thou hast helped the
ungodly, and loved the enemies of the Lord." But God forgave
Jehoshaphat, because he repented of his sin; he did really love the Lord,
and try to serve Him. His ungodly friend was dead now, and
Jehoshaphat was in his own kingdom; and he taught the people in the right
way, and would not let them worship idols. But Jehoshaphat had some
enemies to fight. Who were they? The Moabites and the
Ammonites; and they came in very great numbers. Jehoshaphat was
afraid; but he knew what he ought to do in his danger: he sought the
Lord himself, and he commanded his people to fast, and to seek God
too. The king, and all his people, went to the temple; and there
they prayed for help. Jehoshaphat remembered, that when Solomon had
dedicated that house, he had asked God to hear the prayers which His
people should pray when they were in trouble. They were in trouble
now, and they went to the temple to ask for God's help. All the
people stood before the Lord, with their wives, and their little children;
and then the good king prayed, and said, "Lord, we know not what to
do; but our trust is in thee." Did God attend to these good
people? Yes; while they were praying, God's Spirit came upon a
Levite named Jahaziel, and he spoke to them, and said, "Thus saith
the Lord, Be not afraid. The battle is not yours but God's.
To-morrow you must go down to your enemies; but you need not fight them;
you may stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Fear not, for
He is with you." Then Jehoshaphat bowed down to the ground in
thankfulness and reverence, and all the people worshiped; and afterwards,
they stood up, and sang praises to God. They sang with a loud voice,
because they felt so happy, and so thankful to God. They knew that
He was their friend, and they did not fear. How pleasant it is to
have God for our friend when we are in trouble and danger! Next
day, all the people rose very early to go to the battle: but before
they went, Jehoshaphat called them and said, "Believe in the Lord
your God; trust in Him and all will be well, and He will give you the
victory." Then the good king commanded the singers to go before
the army, to praise God, and to give Him thanks. It was a beautiful
sight. First, the singers went, praising God in their holy psalms
and hymns; and then followed king Jehoshaphat and all his army, not
frightened and trembling, but bold and full of courage. When they
came to the place where their enemies were, what did they see? The
Ammonites and Moabites were all lying dead upon the ground; there was not
one there to hurt Judah. But who had killed them? Not
Jehoshaphat; not his army; it was God Himself who had subdued them
all. When the people began to sing their psalms of praise, God began
to save them from their enemies. The Ammonites, and Moabites, and
the people of Mount Seir had quarreled and fought one against another,
till all were killed: and when Judah came to the battle, they found
no enemies left to conquer. So they went to the dead bodies, and
took off all the fine things that were upon them. There was so much
spoil, that Jehoshaphat and his soldiers were three days gathering
it. When they had finished, they all came together, and blessed and
thanked God for subduing their enemies; and then they went home to
Jerusalem, to the temple, playing on harps and trumpets, and shouting for
joy. All the countries round, heard about this wonderful victory;
and they feared God very much, for they saw how powerful He was. God
gave rest and peace to Jehoshaphat, because he trusted in Him alone, and
not in his own strength. God is now as powerful as He was then; and
he is still willing to hear his people's prayers, and to comfort and save
them in all their troubles.
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