The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
Day 47 — The Holy Spirit Comes Upon Jahaziel: Answers Prayer
2 Chronicles 20
Context: 2 Chronicles 17-19
Jehoshaphat becomes king of Judah when his father Asa dies. Israel has split into Israel and Judah. He was one of only 8 good kings in Judah of their 20 kings. (Israel was 0 for 19.) He had gotten rid of high places and the Asheroth from the land and sought the Lord. However he made an alliance with Ahab, a faithless king of Israel for which he was rebuked by Jehu. It was pointed out that he still had good qualities and that he had set his heart to seek God. In response he made further changes and charged the judges to not judge for man, but for God without partiality or bribes.
Problem: 2 Chronicles 20
Ammon, Moab and the Meunites made war against Jehoshaphat who was told a great hoard was coming and he was afraid.
Approach:
1. Jehoshaphat turned his attention to seek the Lord
2. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah
3. Judah gathers together to seek help from the Lord.
4. Jehoshaphat stands praying the midst in the house of the Lord:
a. “O, Lord, are You not God in heaven and ruler over all kingdoms of the nations?
b. Power and might are in Your hand, no one can stand against You.
c. Did You not drive out the inhabitants of the land before Your people forever?”
d. We will cry out to You in this house and You will hear and deliver
e. We are powerless before this great multitude.
f. We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on You.
Answer from God: 2 Chronicles 20:14-30
13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly.15 And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.” 18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. 19 And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
20 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe His prophets, and you will succeed.” 21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
22 And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. 23 For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.
Obedience and Praise and Results: They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah,for there they blessed the Lord. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this day. 27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28 They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the Lord. 29 And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.
Observations:
1. Jehoshaphat declared his need for God and seeking His way
2. Shared the need with the people, united in prayer
3. In the assembly, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahziel who declared:
a. Don’t be afraid—the battle is the Lord’s
b. You don’t need to fight. Stand and see the salvation of the Lord
c. They believed and worshipped
d. Jehoshaphat led them in thanksgiving
e. As they sang, the Lord set up ambushes
f. Corpses everywhere, spoils
g. Celebration, blessed the Lord
h. The dread of God on all kingdoms when they heard of the Lord fighting Judah’s battle
(Note: His father Asa led the way in listening to Azariah, seeking the Lord in chapter 14 &15, but in
chapter 16 he seeks his own means to solve his problem. Jehoshaphat learned by watching his father.)
Questions:
1. What do you think moved the heart of God to send His Spirit to speak through Jahaziel?
2. What was special about Jahaziel?
His name appears 5 other places in the Old Testament on lists of people and
genealogies, plus one reference to his blowing a trumpet.
3. What actions did the Holy Spirit tell them to take to win this battle?
4. When a church is in crisis list the steps that can be taken to make room for God’s solution.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
5. Have you ever had the Holy Spirit impress upon you in a prayer meeting that you needed to share a word of
encouragement, but thought that it was not going to be received, or that you were too small a player?
If the Holy Spirit is leading you, why would you not share?
6. Jahaziel needed to truly be empowered by the Lord.
What if he was like the Ahab’s false prophets in 2 Chronicles 18 who just said things to
Ahab to make him feel good?
They were not empowered by the Holy Spirit, but by a deceiving spirit. (See 2 Chronicles 18:18-22)
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
Day 48 The Holy Spirit Comes Mightily Upon David From That Day Forward
Reflection, Notes and Prayer