Victory(10):
Basics are important in a time of crisis 2 Chronicles 20:1-4,9,13,18,20
When Korea
appears on the World Cup, almost everyone goes to the TV to watch the game. At
that time, there is one sound that is always heard from the commentators. This
phrase, “Yes, that player’s basics are good” is often heard. Whether the player
makes a mistake or scores, the commentators always talk about the basics.
When I was
learning to play sports, I understood how difficult it was to learn the basics
well. One day, I was bored and went to play a game and as expected, it did not
go as well as I learned. So, I ended up finding a teacher again to master the
basics. If so, do we also need to apply basics to our faith? I think so.
This is
because our faith is a constant battle. How well we get accustomed to the
basics of faith is the key to winning a spiritual battle. Today, we will see Jehoshaphat,
whose basics of faith are strong. To him, another crisis arises. In verse 1,
Moab, Ammon, and Maon unite and attack Judah. If we look at verse 2, the attack
is reported to be from “a vast army”.
Jehoshaphat
getting surprised is an obvious reaction (v. 3). The number of the opposing
force was great, but also they were so close to Jerusalem. According to verse
2, the enemy is reported to be encamping on the west coast of the Dead Sea. In
fact, En Gedi is only 56 km away from Jerusalem.
In two
days of walking, the soldiers would have arrived. This is because they crossed
over the Dead Sea, according to verse 2. This too would have surprised
Jeshoshaphat. So, in verse 20, it tells that Jehoshaphat quickly gathered
troops and built a defense line the next day.
The troops
assembled in the desert of Tekoa, only 15 km away from Jerusalem. They were in
a crisis where if this place collapsed, Jerusalem could be ruined in the
morning. It was only natural for Jehoshaphat to be afraid because the country
was on the brink of collapse. However, what he was really afraid of was
something else.
This is
because of the prophecy we saw last week by the prophet Jehu in chapter 19. In union with Ahab of Northern
Israel, he struck Aram and returned, just barely saving his life. At that time,
he remembered prophet Jehu’s rebuke, “The wrath of the Lord is on you.” (19:2).
And, that day of wrath arrived.
What Jehoshaphat was really afraid of was the wrath of God. We must know God's wrath, and we must truly fear it. This is the basis of our faith journey. (#1). COVID-19 is spreading worldwide and has reached the United States. It is already in our midst.
We are all
afraid but the Coronavirus is not what we should fear. We should fear the wrath
of God, who judges us for our sins. If we call ourselves believers, we must see
this. Only then will we understand the second essential of faith to survive the
spiritual battle. Please see the prayers of Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah
in verses 3 and 4.
Turning to
the Lord (v. 3), all the people come and plead for God’s help (v. 4). At this
time, the attitude of their cries are shown in verse 9. They believed that God
would hear their cries and rescue them. And verse 18 shows the outward attitude
of a true worshipper to God.
The king
and all the people bow down on the ground and worship the Lord. In this
difficult time, I pray that we would come to the Lord faithfully in prayer
humbly in worship in our individual homes (#2). For the saints that live in the
last ages and fight the spiritual battle, this should be the foundation.
There will
be no saint that will not pray in this difficult time due to Corona. However,
the last foundation that I want to introduce might seem like nonsense. Let’s
take another look at verse 3. “Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the
Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah”.
If the
enemy is two days away, would fasting help give the people strength during the
war? If the army needs to go out and fight, but doesn’t eat, they will be in a
situation where they will faint before even trying. However, the Bible teaches
us that fasting is essential for us before facing a crisis (#3). This is hard
to understand. Therefore, we stray away from it. However, if this is essential,
we must master it.
Why would
God like fasting? Fasting is the most thorough form of repentance that humans
can show before God. As in verse 3, it is also good to seek and go to God for
supplication. However, if our children plead saying, “I didn’t eat and Father,
I was really wrong. Please forgive me once.”, would the Father coldly refuse?
To those
who truly repent, God will relent. In that way, repentance combined with
fasting is the best. This is proved not by the Israelites, but the Gentiles. In
John 3:5,7,8, when destruction was proclaimed, the people of Nineveh believed
in God and fasted without drinking any water and wearing sackcloth only.
The city
did not fall when the Ninevites fasted and truly repented. What should we do?
Should we only cry out to God to save our families? Or should we now come to
God with thorough fasting and true repentance? Now, there are more and more
believers all around the world.
Husbands,
there are more times when our children are at home now. This is a good
opportunity for us in the face of a crisis. Excluding those who are advised to
avoid fasting from a doctor, pregnant women, the elderly, and patients,
everyone from young children to adults, please join by fasting on Mondays for
one meal or the whole day until the Coronavirus pandemic disappears.
I hope everyone, not just our church, can participate in fasting. Those who spend this difficult time truly fearing the Lord, earnestly and humbly praying, and truly repenting through fasting are blessed in the name of the Lord to move the heart of God our Father.