The Hoardes Are Coming

I came across one of my new favorite verses the other day when I was listening to my Bible.is app on my phone. I was making my way through 2 Chronicles 20 when I heard "For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you". The answer that followed was "Do not be afraid of this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's."   We do have modern day hordes of stress and trouble that come against us. And truth be told, we really don't know what to do much of the time. The good news is that we really don't have to. Our best strategy is always to look to God first and let Him do the fighting. 

To get the full feel of what's going on in this passage, grab a Bible and read 2 Chronicles 20 for yourself.  Then check out this personalized break down of 2 Chronicles 20 with practical applications as I see it.  

 

Lessons from 2 Chronicles 20—English Standard Version

Verses 1-2:  A great multitude is coming against you.

Verses 3-4:  You are afraid, so look to God.  Get all your people to look to God with you. 

Verses 5-8:  Remember and confess who God is and what battles God has already won for you—“You (God) rule over all the kingdoms of the nations.  In your hand (God’s hand) are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you (God)”.

Verse 9:  What if with a plan and statement of faith—“If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save”. 

Verses 10-11:  Enemies will come…sometimes even after you’ve already given them mercy and grace. 

Verse 12:”For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us.  We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”  Our dilemma:  Realization of the threat and our powerlessness over it. Our action plan:  Turn our eyes to God and keep them there.  Leave the judging and punishing up to God while confessing your utter dependence on God

Verse 13-14:  Gather together, stand before the Lord and wait upon Him.  Listen to your prophet.

Verse 15:  “Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid of this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s’.

Verses 16-17:  Go to the battle…face your enemies…but don’t fight the battle…”You will not need to fight this battle.  Stand firm, hold your position and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf…Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed.  Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

Verses 18-19:  Praise and worship before the battle.

Verse 20:  Get up early; don’t drag your feet, head out for battle believing correct beliefs…” And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness… Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed”.

Verse 21:  The worship team dressed in holy attire lined up and marched toward the battle in front of the warriors leading them in worship…”Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

Verse 22-24:  March forward in faith and praise; and the Lord will fight and win the battle in the most surprising ways…often times making your enemies destroy each other while you stand by and watch.

Verse 25:  Gather the “spoil”…Riches are often found after the battle.  Pick them up and take them home.  The Lord often times provides blessings to his people when they allow him to execute the judgment and fight the battles.

Verses 26-28:  More singing and rejoicing and praising the Lord…not just once; do it again and again.

Verse 29:   We point to God’s victories not our own.  God will be feared and respected and we will be protected.

Verse 30:  God will provide rest and peace after the battle.

Verses 31-32:  Walk in the ways of the Lord.  Do not turn away.  Do what is right in the sight of the Lord.  

Verse 33:  Not everybody will accompany you as you continue to walk in the ways of the Lord.  Some will desert even after the battle has been won.

Verse 34:  Record your acts…keep your chronicles…Journal your life so that you can remember.

Verse 35-37:  Watch out for your alliances.  Don’t join with those who act wickedly even if it seems to be a good thing you are doing.  Don’t set off to build your own “ships”.  Don’t go off planning your own route.  Don’t go off thinking to provide for yourself.  Don’t go off planning to carry yourself to your own destination or the Lord will destroy all that you do to demonstrate once again how puny our own efforts are and how mighty he is.  Let us not forget to fear and respect the Lord after he has won the battle for us. 

Questions for Personal Reflection

What are the hordes that are coming against you these days?

What have you tried to do to prevent them from overtaking you?   

How have you tried to battle them by yourself?

How successful have your solo efforts been?

Today I choose to look to God and rest in Him for He will fight the battle and the hordes will be defeated. Tomorrow I will choose to look to God again.