Introduction: When you are facing an enemy, do you praise the Lord? Or do you try to fight a flesh-and-blood battle? Good King Jehoshaphat learned the principle of just how amazing praising God can be! Try it—you’ll like it!

1. What do you do when the enemy attacks? (2 Chronicles 20:1-2) – “It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.”

Our infernal enemy attacks relentlessly. Therefore, we need to seek the Lord continually.

2. Do you remain fearful? (2 Chronicles 20:3-4) – “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

Fearful? Yes. But prayerful as well! Should we make it a practice to seek the Lord? Do you? Will you now?

Choice: Fear or Faith?

3. Will you exercise faith in the Lord? (2 Chronicles 20:12-13) – “O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.”

Notice the confirmation of answered prayer:

“Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah… came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation; And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:14-15)

Aren’t you glad to know that our Lord will always execute perfect justice, whether we see it in this life or in the life to come?

4. Does our Lord keep His promises as we seek Him and His will? (2 Chronicles 20:17) – “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.”

1 + God = Majority

5. Will our Lord bring vengeance upon His enemies? (2 Chronicles 20:21-22) – “And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.”

Payday someday.

6. What should our response be when our Lord answers prayer? (2 Chronicles 20:27-28) – “Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies. And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD.”

You can’t help but praise the Lord! He deserves it!

Conclusion: There is power in praise! From this biblical account, we can deduce that our great God, Jesus Christ, honors and rewards those who diligently seek Him.