This week's Come Follow Me study.
Today's devotional focuses on 2 Chronicles 20, where King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah face an overwhelming invasion. This passage beautifully illustrates the principle of seeking the Lord and trusting in Him for deliverance during times of adversity.
Our scripture block this week covers several chapters from 2 Chronicles, focusing on the kings of Judah who either sought or neglected the Lord. Today, we turn to the reign of King Jehoshaphat. He was a righteous king who had previously made efforts to turn his people back to the Lord. The narrative in 2 Chronicles 20 begins with the alarming news that a vast army from Moab, Ammon, and Mount Seir (Edom) is advancing to attack Judah. Faced with this immense threat, Jehoshaphat was afraid, but instead of relying on military might, he resolved to seek the Lord, proclaiming a fast throughout all Judah and gathering the people in Jerusalem to pray in the temple.
The account of Jehoshaphat demonstrates a powerful pattern for facing adversity: when we humble ourselves, seek the Lord through prayer and fasting, and put our trust in Him, He will deliver us and provide strength. Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah, despite being outnumbered and overwhelmed, were told by a prophet to "fear not, nor be dismayed... for the battle is not yours, but God's" (2 Chronicles 20:15). Their act of faith in marching out with singers praising the Lord resulted in their enemies destroying each other, a miraculous deliverance. This week's theme emphasizes that when our eyes are truly upon the Lord, our seemingly insurmountable challenges become opportunities for His divine intervention.