Jehoshaphat had learned his lesson. He now inquired of the Lord first when confronted by the great alliance. We are told that he ‘feared’ because he knew this danger was the expression of the divine wrath; cf. 19. 2. He called the nation to prayer and fasting, 20. 3, 4. It was an act of national self-humiliation implying an admission of guilt. It was intended to invoke the pity and help of God. All Judah came together to pray. There was fellowship in the matter. Jehoshaphat set the example by leading the people in prayer. He based his prayer firstly on God’s greatness – because He is so great, He must be able to help, v. 6. Then he claims a relationship with God – ‘Are You not our God?’, v. 7 NKJV. Furthermore, God had given them the land to be their rightful possession; cf. Gen. 13. 15; 17. 18; 18. 22, 23. He surely must help them. Jehoshaphat prayed in the Temple, God’s house – God must surely help those who prayed to Him there; cf. 1 Kgs. 8. 33-45; 2 Chr. 6. 24-35. A spirit of dependence breathes through the prayer. They were consciously dependent – ‘our eyes are upon thee’, v. 12; cf. Ps. 27. 1; 46. 1; 62. 5, 6. There is no better plea for divine help than a confession of weakness; cf. 2 Cor. 12. 9.
The Lord’s answer was ‘Fear not’, v. 15. The battle was not theirs but the Lord’s; cf. 1 Sam. 17. 47. The Lord would be with them. The words of Moses are quoted almost identically; cf. Exod. 14. 13. It showed that, as then, the deliverance would be wholly from the Lord. When Jehoshaphat’s army eventually arrived, it was all over, v. 24. The Lord had brought these armies as a punishment upon Judah, and as His purpose had been achieved, and in their extremity His people had called upon Him, the Lord removed the armies Himself. But before ever this happened, prayer had given place to trustful praise, vv. 18-21.
There was a confidence in His promise and thankfulness for so extraordinary a favour. Nothing but faith can raise a song of praise before the battle has begun. It showed that they regarded the victory as already obtained. It was when they began to sing that their enemies were confounded. Judah was saved without engaging in battle.
