In Second Chronicles, chapter twenty, verse six, Jehoshaphat based his prayers and confidence in God on five principal truths. God has the power over all people and situations, as in verses six through seven; God has been faithful to His people in the past and present, as in verses seven to nine; God’s people are helpless without Him, as in verse twelve; God’s promises are a sure foundation for faith, as in verses fourteen through seventeen, and verse twenty; and God’s active presence among His people means deliverance and victory, as in verse seventeen.
Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa, who was the Son of David and the King of Judah, had the King of Israel enquire of the Lord for situations concerning decisions of going to battle against the opposition, as in First Kings twenty-two, verse five, and restated in Second Chronicles eighteen, verse six. However, due to the threat of a raid to combat the King of Judah and receiving a message from his people that the children of Moab and Ammon and Ammonites were somewhere nearby preparing to attack, he had no choice but to inquire for himself. Although fear made Jehoshaphat in verse three of this theme chapter set to pray, the arrangement and preparation in verses four through five are how believers should approach God and sustain communication beyond times of trouble but also in days of peace and blessing. The prayer of Jehoshaphat is a model prayer to inhabit because he expresses sincerity and truth, acknowledging who God is and the situation he is facing now.
In all dangers, public or personal, our first business should be to seek help from God. So, the advantage of days for fasting and prayer is something to incorporate. From the first to the last of our inquiry to the Lord, we must approach him with humiliation for our sins, trusting only in his mercy and power. Jehoshaphat acknowledges the sovereign dominion of the Divine Providence. Believers who use what they have for God may comfortably hope he will secure it for them.
Every true believer is a son of Abraham, a friend of God; with such everlasting covenant is established, to such every promise belongs. Jehoshaphat mentions the temple as a token of God’s favorable presence. He pleads the injustice of his enemies. We may well appeal to God against those who render us evil for good. Although he had a great army, he still asked God to help him.