Deliver Us from the Evil One

Some enemies are too big, some battles too hard, some mountains too steep, some valleys too low for us to go alone. We need help. Let that sink in. In our day of self-sufficiency, we can lose sight of the fact that we need help.

One of my favorite Old Testament stories is an account where King Jehoshaphat needed help only God could give:

After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

2 Chronicles 20:1-4, esv

I love the honesty of this passage. Then Jehoshaphat was afraid. He’s a scared leader. If you’ve ever coached a team, parented a child, led an organization, spear-headed a project, you’ve been afraid. It’s the common cold of leadership. Jehoshaphat had reason to be afraid. Not one, not two, but three of Israel’s bitterest enemies had formed a coalition and were coming against him. He set his face to seek the Lord. And he led the entire nation to do the same. They came together, with the sounds of trumpets and horses hoofs in the background, to seek the Lord.

Listen to his public prayer, before the people, to his God:

And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy—behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

2 Chronicles 20:5-12, ESV

Jehoshaphat’s prayer is worth emulating. He remembered who God is. He recalled what God had done. He reminded God of his promises! And that last line! We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.

What enemies are marching in formation toward your camp this Monday morning? Afraid? You’re in good company. Concerned? Cry out to God. He stands ready to deliver. Keep your eyes on him, all day long. Until he comes through victoriously.