It’s easy to think of 1 and 2 Chronicles as boring books, with their genealogies and the repetition of so much that we’ve already read in Samuel and Kings. But they have their purpose, and they also include some new details of Israel’s history that other books don’t include.
One of those accounts is the story of Jehoshaphat’s faith when met with the news that a massive army of Israel’s enemies is gathered for battle against him. I love what verse 3 of the chapter says. Right after he hears the distressing news, we’re told that “Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord…”
How many times are we afraid, but fail to think of seeking the Lord, of calling out to Him, and praying for His help and guidance?
How often do we go into panic mode, or start desperately trying to make our own plans to deal with an impossible situation?
We have so much to learn from Jehoshaphat’s example!
We’re going to take a good, hard look at Jehoshaphat’s prayer – what he knew about God and His character, what he knew about himself and his helplessness.
We’ll look at God’s quick answer to Jehoshaphat’s prayer, and Jehoshaphat’s humble, trusting response to the reminder that the battle wasn’t his, but God’s – something so ridiculously hard for us to remember when faced with our own challenges!
We’ll watch all of Judah worship and praise God, and then march out to face their enemies with the priests and musicians in front of the army, praising God’s faithful, never-ending love and trusting Him for victory – before they had even witnessed His delivery!
We’ll watch God set Judah’s enemies at war against each other, and Judah reach the hilltop to find every last one of their enemies dead, all without them ever raising a hand against them!
All they had to do was pray, believe, obey, head out to face their enemies while singing God’s praises, and then spend the next three days gathering all the spoil!
Can you see how this account, (as the Holy Spirit teaches us) holds the promise of changing the way we see God and the way we respond to our fears, our crises, our challenges? This could be life-changing!
In addition to our normal study of the chapter, you’ll also have the option of doing some Level 5 study by navigating to the additional instructional material for each lesson. In that extra material, we’ll be talking about how to design your own study of other passages – for your children, for a friend you’re discipling, for a group of young ladies, or a Bible study group at church.
We’ll look at how we find background materials, how we decide which words to mark, what lists to make, what study resources to use, what kind of questions to ask to help us think about who God is and who He has called us to be.
So, in this study, you’ll have the opportunity to complete a Level 2 and a Level 5 study at the same time as we go through 2 Chronicles 20!
Lessons by Email (members only)
Bonus Resources (members only)
Level 5 Instructions (members only)
Member Access
Click “join this study” for access to lessons, and an option to get lessons by email. Free for all members of Mama’s Refill.
I’m very excited to begin this study, see you all soon!
This looks great and the timing is perfect. Looking forward to another study.
Critical timing for me also ! Can’t wait
As a mom of 6 kids… 5 boys and 1 daughter… 4 of them teens now… I have found myself living w fear … have I taught them enough, are they grounded in God deeply… this study is so what I need NOW!
Judy- I also have 6 children, 5 boys and 1 girl. We have 3 teens. You aren’t the only one who struggles with wondering if you’ve done enough.
Just wanted you to know that you’re not alone. Keep pressing on.
-RaShell
This was an amazing study. It is probably the most difficult one I’ve done so far. I struggled a little with all the background study at the beginning but oh how it widened my understanding. This may actually be the most impactful study I’ve done. I hope my prayer life will never be the same. I have applied “J’s” prayer to my own prayers when I face something impossible. Life changing!
Now I’m going back to do all the level 5 opportunities made available in this study.
This study has been such a great blessing to me. A great reminder to look unto God first when we face troubles or challenges in life, and not to trust our own strength or look for help elsewhere. The background study really aided in the deeper understanding of why we should not yoke with unbelievers.
The power of prayer is greatly demonstrated in this chapter.
I’m going through certain challenges in my personal life and this study has been great blessing to me. It has prepared my heart to keep praying Jehoshaphat’s prayers. It has taught me that the battle is the Lord’s and I just have to stand still and let Him do the work. I just need to trust Him!
Thank you Pam for this great study! Thank you for taking the time and energy to make such beautiful studies and the great Bonus Resources to aid in these studies. Really appreciate your efforts!
May God bless you and yours!