Jehoshaphat – Part 11
Jehoshaphat’s Prayer, Part i
And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, (2 Chronicles 20:5)
And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? (2 Chronicles 20:6)
Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? (2 Chronicles 20:7)
And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, (2 Chronicles 20:8)
If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. (2 Chronicles 20:9)
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Ephesians 3:14)
Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (Ephesians 3:15)
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;(Ephesians 3:16)
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, (Ephesians 3:17)
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;(Ephesians 3:18)
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:19)
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (Ephesians 3:20)
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.(Ephesians 3:21)
The prayers in God’s holy book is for our learning. They are a window into the souls of men moved by the Holy Spirit of God, and if we lay hold of these lessons in prayer they will truly enrich our lives with our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. As we experience the lesson or lessons in these two prayers: one from a king, Jehoshaphat, and one from an apostle, Paul, should we not look to the heavens above and say within our spirit, Father into Thy hands, I commend my spirit. (Luke 23:46) And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. There is no prayer that ascends up to God the Father except by the Spirit of Christ. God’s Holy Spirit is the only authority in our prayer. He sees the attitude of our soul and heart. He is the one who offers up our prayers to the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth.
Humbleness in Prayer
The prayer of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles, Chapter 20, is an interesting prayer. He was drawn by the Holy Spirit through his own failures and the failures of his people; it was this state of past failures whereby he presented himself and his people to a most holy God. He depended on a God of faithfulness and a God of promise, for the Almighty said that when the people of Israel humble themselves and present themselves before His house that He would hear from heaven and deliver them.
In the prayer of Paul in Ephesians, Chapter 3, we have something that is far above earthly circumstances. Where Jehoshaphat’s prayer was for an earthly people, Paul’s prayers is for a heavenly people, and that they would be powered by heaven on earth. Where do we begin in prayer? Do we begin on our knees? No, we begin in our heart and our soul. There is no prayer that does not begin with a humble spirit before the Almighty God. As the Holy Spirit brings us to prayer He joins with us and He presents our prayer to the majesty on high.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26)
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:27)
The Attitude in Prayer
According to the Book of the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, the prayers of the saints are a sweet incense ascending up to God. These prayers are not casual requests, or motivated by self interests, but they are prayers of humility of a spirit laid bare before an Almighty God. Even in our rejoicing in our prayers the flesh has to be consumed by the fire of God. The attitude of heart needs to be sincere in front of the God of heaven who knows all the secrets of the heart. The Bible shows many attitudes of the human figure praying before God. We see men standing, sitting, laying, and also kneeling; all these are just positions, and without the correct attitude of heart they are all futile. Let us return to the first prayer that was offered before this great house.
Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. (1 Kings 8:12)
I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever. (1 Kings 8:13)
And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel stood;) (1 Kings 8:14)
And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying, (1 Kings 8:15)
Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose David to be over my people Israel. (1 Kings 8:16)
And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. (1 Kings 8:17)
And the LORD said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart. (1 Kings 8:18)
Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name. (1 Kings 8:19)
And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. (1 Kings 8:20)
And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt. (1 Kings 8:21)
And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: (1 Kings 8:22)
And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: (1 Kings 8:23)
Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day. (1 Kings 8:24)
Therefore now, LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me. (1 Kings 8:25)
And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father. (1 Kings 8:26)
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? (1 Kings 8:27)
Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day: (1 Kings 8:28)
The Process in Prayer
Solomon began his prayer standing before an Almighty God. If we follow through to the end we see a servant of God on his knees. From the lofty heights of a king’s throne to the humility of a servant before His God. Have we not learnt a lesson here? That he who only asked wisdom from God applied that wisdom and humbled his own heart before His creator. The process of this prayer had a divine effect on the king who was presenting his prayer to God. During the course of his prayer, the Holy Spirit was opening the majesty of God to the heart of Solomon. Solomon was able to approach God with a humble and holy heart before his God. We must stand before God without self. In the prayer of Solomon, he acknowledges the past promises of God fulfilled, and that God would fulfill the requests that Solomon would make this day. His prayer encompasses the past, the present, and the future glory of Israel and her kings. In verse 54 of 1 Kings, Chapter 8 And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. In Solomon’s prayer we learn that there is a process of the Holy Spirit of God in the heart and soul of those who love God. Solomon began standing before the Almighty God, and in the process of his prayer he became smaller and smaller till we see him on his knees lifting his hands to heaven, and magnifying the Almighty God in heaven.
In the prayer of Paul, we see a man already in the position of humility, but we see a different prayer. A prayer or request to God that the Ephesians would be endowed with the same blessings and same spiritual presence as Paul enjoyed in himself. That God would grant them according to God’s riches in God’s glory, and that they would be strengthened in the inner man by the Spirit of God. He desired heavenly blessings for the Ephesians, that above all, Christ would dwell in their hearts by faith. That they would be rooted and grounded in the love of Christ. Solomon had built a material house for God, Paul was building a spiritual house in his prayer for the Ephesian believers. He wanted their knowledge in Christ to surpass all knowledge, and that each one of them would be filled with all the things of God. He reminded them of the ability of the Almighty God, that He was exceedingly capable, and abundantly above all that they would ask or think. And this was according to the power that worked in them through the Spirit of God. Paul ended this prayer for the Ephesians on a heavenly height, that it would be to the glory of God amongst the Church, and it would be through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ throughout all ages, yea, throughout all eternity, world without end. I believe that Paul was referring to the eternal resting place of the saints in the new heaven and the new earth.
As we follow Solomon’s prayer there are two points that I would like to draw out. The first is his attitude as he began, he was standing and in verse 13 he began with I have, in verse 54 we see a progression of soul and heart. It is not what I have done, but the supplication that Solomon had made, not only for himself, but for the people of Israel. Remember, that the kingdom had not been divided yet. Before this marvelous house of God, Solomon as the representative of the people was presenting those very people before an Almighty God. In verse 52 Solomon desired that the eyes of the Almighty God would be opened to all the people of Israel that when they in their humility would cry out to God, He would answer them and deliver them as they had been delivered out of the midst of the furnace of Egypt. That thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee. (1 Kings 8:52) In his prayer being the first prayer of a king before the house of God, the throne of God on earth. It is the longest prayer delivered by any of the kings that stood before this temple. It contained all the instruments for Israel to live a godly life before the Almighty God. And if they trespassed there would be a way of return, a place of humility before the God of heaven. In this dedication of the temple we see two parts; Solomon approaching God for the people; and we see the Spirit of God through Solomon’s prayer approaching the people. In Solomon we see the same character and humility of his father David revealed to us through the Psalms.
The Prayers of David in the Psalms
The Psalms begin with the humility of a man who mediates on the law of God both day and night (Psalm 1). As we read the Book of Psalms and the prayers of David, we see God the Holy Spirit examining the perils of life through David. Even in his inner thoughts God exposed them so that we can see David’s heart laid bare before us; God used David in a unique way in presenting a majestic God to the world. He also revealed the bitter conflict he had in the depths of his soul with the enemies of Jehovah. There is prophetic value in his psalms as he introduces us to a King who is far greater than he. A King whose dominions is everlasting. In Psalm 72, verse 20 the Holy Spirit in all simplicity delivers to us this message; The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended. This is the Holy Spirits mark of finality, He put His seal upon the prayers of David the son of Jesse. Psalm 72 is a prophetic psalm of the great King to come, truly the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. What better way to end the prayers of the son of Jesse; the prayers of David have come to a close.
Solomon was David’s son, and he was granted the throne of his father by the word of God. In Psalm 72 David went much further than his son, Solomon, for David went to a greater then Solomon in verse 17: His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. The name of this King will endure forever. He will not only outshine the sun, but shall continue as long as the sun, and beyond the sun, for He is the Creator of all things. This King will be a blessing to man, and they in turn shall bless Him, and all nations shall call Him blessed. I find it truly a work of the Holy Spirit of God that in the very Psalm that the Lord Jesus is brought forth as the eternal King, it would be the last recorded prayer of David, the sitting king on the throne of Judah. This is an unusual prayer, it is a prayer that also embraces prophecy, and then notice the double closing in verse 19 that the Holy Spirit gives, Amen, and Amen.
The Five Shadow Books in the One Book of Psalms
Throughout the span of 150 psalms, we have 5 inner books. These 5 books shadow the first five books of Moses, the Pentateuch. In the first three (3) books we have the same ending Amen, and Amen.
Book 1 ends at Psalm 41:13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.
Book 2 ends with Psalm 72:19, And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.
Book 3 ends with Psalm 89:52, Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.
Book 4 ends with Psalm 106:48, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.
Book 5 ends with Psalm 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
Notice that in the ending of each one of these books there is tribute to the Lord God to glorify Him. I see this in prayer, the final expression of the heart towards the Almighty God. No matter what we desire of God, no matter what He would fulfill or give, all prayer is empty without His Presence, and without the heart glorifying Him. Even the last Psalm begins high, and then rises even higher into the heavens until we see that everything that draws breathe should give praise unto the Almighty in Praise ye the LORD. I’m sorry for our little side trip, but I think it was worth it to understand prayer. Now let’s get back to Jehoshaphat.
Respect and Reverence in Prayer
This is the first time we see Jehoshaphat standing before the Lord in the Lord’s house. This is the first time we actually hear from the heart of the king. This is a king on earth praying to the King of heaven, the Creator of all things. Notice how the king began with heart felt respect for the Almighty God. He began with, O LORD God of our fathers. Jehoshaphat was looking at God as One who should be held in all reverence. He desired that God would receive his words, so he approached God by announcing God’s majesty, O LORD God. Today, when we approach our Savior, the one who died on the cross of Calvary, the one who destroyed all our enemies, the one who rose from the dead, the one who made us a new creature, a new man in Himself, the one who ascended on high, and is sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high; if a king like Jehoshaphat approached God with such majesty, why should not we in our age be aware that the proper address for our King and our Savior is the Lord Jesus Christ. If Paul could show this reverence, why can’t the serfs of today show the same reverence and respect for the Almighty God?
This one sits upon the throne with a scepter of righteousness. We approach the throne of grace in prayer. Should not this throne of all eternity demand the greatest respect and reverence? In our heart can we not like Peter address Him as Lord, even in our simple relationship of love towards our Creator. Peter declared, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. After Jehoshaphat addressed the Lord, he gave the world a theology lesson. He was not reading from a book, he was not praying according to his notes, he was speaking by the power of God from his own heart and soul. We have all heard of canned sermons, and canned prayers, how can the heart through the Spirit of God relate to such things? Jehoshaphat showed his submission to God, he was standing before the Almighty as Moses stood before the great, I AM. Jehoshaphat declared that this God is the God of his fathers, all the way back to Abraham and David. This is the God of heaven which has given all His promises through Abraham and David to the nation of Israel; these were the covenants and God gave them both to Abraham and David. These covenants were concerning the seed of Abraham and the seed of David. Jehoshaphat travels now, in his heart, deeper into the mind of God. He addressed the God of heaven upon His throne in heaven, and acknowledged that God rules over the kingdoms of men.
That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.(Daniel 4:25)
I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me. (Jeremiah 27:5)
In the earlier life of this king Jehoshaphat we saw a struggle over God’s preeminence over Jehoshaphat’s throne. I’m sure that Jehoshaphat acknowledged that he sat upon the throne because he was from the seed of David. I think that he now realized in his prayer that it was Jehovah and Jehovah alone who had placed him upon the throne. In the early life of Nebuchadnezzar he stated that it was his throne, and that he was the possessor of that throne, until God humble him, then he realized like Jehoshaphat that it was God who rules in the kingdoms of men.
In the society of the world today, we have world leaders openly denying the word of God, or misrepresenting the word of God so that they can have their own will upon their throne. Little do they know that whether in obedience or disobedience God still rules over the kingdoms of men. This is what we learn from Nebuchadnezzar, and this is what Nebuchadnezzar learned from God. When the world and it’s leaders deny the word of God, they are only subject to their own ignorance. There’s no knowledge in the kingdoms of men greater than the knowledge of God; it is the knowledge of God that will make them accountable both Jehoshaphat and Nebuchadnezzar learned that lesson. I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me. (Jeremiah 27:5)
The Result of the Lack of Knowledge of the Holy
We hear so much about democracy today; yet, democracy is the frailest form of government; for if sinners control their government then their government will be a sinful government. If voters determine morality, there will be no morality. If the voters pick a man or leader it will be based on vanity and pride. Their desire is to build a national tower of Babel. This is why the Bible is not read in their presence and is not distributed throughout their government to give them direction and guidance. Even if one holds or places a Bible on their desk, it is of no value unless the pages are well worn by the possessor. God’s wisdom, though free, comes only to them who desire His guidance and presence and have His saving grace.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)
The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (Hosea 4:6)
The world does not want the knowledge of the holy, for if they wanted the knowledge of the holy, the world both Jew and Gentile would have received the light of the world in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was not because of one individual sin that they rejected the Lord Jesus Christ, for it was the accumulative sin of the world, and this world that is united by their sin rules and controls the leaders of the world; therefore, in the accumulative affect of sin God executes judgment upon all people of all nations. Do not think that your vote gives you a leader. God counts the final ballot, and that vote is His and His alone. He allows man to deceive himself in acquiring leaders of unrighteousness. He will give the leader that the people deserve, and that leader will divide and manipulate his nation. Nations reject God by their sins, by their atrocities, and by their openness in casting off the word of God, and the God of His word. It was darkness in a world of sin that cast the prince of life out of this world. Grace is not for nations, it is a fortress for those who are called out of this world, and out of these nations. The Lord Jesus declared that He would send the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was sent by Him to glorify the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (John 16:7)
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:8)
Of sin, because they believe not on me; (John 16:9)
Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; (John 16:10)
Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (John 16:11)
Notice these words recorded by the Holy Spirit. They were not from the mouth of John, nor from the mouth of Paul, they are the words that were spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The Lord Jesus stressed that when the Holy Spirit would be given first the Holy Spirit would reprove the world of sin. How does the Holy Spirit reprove the world? From Moses to this day, and onward, the Almighty God has preserved His word with all holy integrity upon the face of this earth. And although men refuse the word of God the Holy Spirit uses the divine word to reprove this sinful world. Of course, this sinful world will have none of it; for they have blinded their eyes, and deafened their ears with the mud of their sin. The Holy Spirit uses God’s children to reprove this world. If we belong to heaven, and we have the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ then we are responsible both inwardly and outwardly to condemn the actions and the abominations of a sinful world. If the Holy Spirit has been sent to judge the world, and the Holy Spirit dwells within the children of God then they, through the power of the Spirit of God, should reprove the world of their ungodly sins. We are not only here to testify of grace, but we are also here to reprove those who deny and reject the grace of God. In our day the word ‘sin’ is not in the vocabulary of the world’s people. They commit all kinds of atrocities, wickedness, evil, and abominations before God, and yet, they cannot pronounce the word SIN. In fact, because of the abomination of the doctrine that they hold called evolution, many believe there is no such thing as sin. Well, the Holy Spirit is not going to let you get away with that because He has been sent here to reprove the world of sin.
We Live in Grace and Judgment Every Day
Has the world listened to the Holy Spirit? No. Have the nations listened to the Holy Spirit? No. Has the religions of this world listened to the Holy Spirit? No. I believe that this world is at a point of no return. I believe we are in the days of Noah, and that every second that ticks brings us closer to the divine judgment of God upon this world through tribulation and great tribulation. Don’t we see the seeds of this all around us? Is it not related to a world of sin? Remember, not only is the Holy Spirit here to reprove the world of sin, but He is here to reveal the righteousness of God that no man living in Adam can acquire the righteousness of God. That righteousness must come from God and be by God to those who repent and cast themselves upon the Lord Jesus Christ. And to them who are in Christ and will continue to dwell in a sinful world, the doctrine of grace becomes their fortress; for within their fortress they abide with the righteous one who is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit of God brings forth birth to those who call on the Lord Jesus Christ. They are born not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man. They are born of God by the Holy Spirit from heaven’s glory. The Holy Spirit is the invisible thread tightly woven that joins and motivates the sons of God. And because they are born of the Spirit of God they dwell in the fortress of grace with the Lord Jesus Christ. Never think that you are alone in this world. You have God the Holy Spirit, you have God the Son, and you have God the Father. You have the Godhead watching over you and protecting you in your salvation. And don’t forget the innumerable company of angels for they have been sent forth to minister unto them who shall be heirs of salvation, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit reproves the world, reveals God’s righteousness, and then judges the ungodly world around us both night and day. He is constantly judging this sinful world before our eyes. They have been weighed in the balance of God’s righteousness, as their sin and their unrighteousness weigh in the balance of God’s divine righteousness, God ministers judgment unto this world by the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit had not been judging this world for the past 2000 years, man with his evil heart would have totally destroyed himself. It would have been man’s just reward. It would have been what nations deserve. We live in judgment every day because of a world that is without repentance of any kind. We have seen such abominations spewing forth from men, women, and children openly flaunting their rebellion in the face of the Almighty God. We live in such peril that even the leaders of this world condone and assimilate these wicked acts. We are saddened by the example of leaders when God uses divine judgment against those who commit such wickedness and the leaders and the people of this world have sympathy for those who are judged. It only leads to one assessment that the people and the leaders have joined with them in their abominations; thus, it also leaves no alternative for the Holy Spirit of God for He will have to continue these judgments upon them. What is so sad today is that the abominations of the so-called world church has gone with the world, and has lost sight of God’s view and thoughts, and commands of what sin and repentance really is. They live in a mystical world, they have built this world for themselves. They have a god who is not capable of judging sin, and stands on the corner handing out, or selling lollipops to sinners. This is the sweet tasting false gospel that they utter every day, This gospel is from the pit of hell and is authored by Satan himself. The Holy Spirit of God has tried to reprove the world church as well, but they like the world, will not listen. The Holy Spirit reproves, that is, He tells you of your sinful condition, He convicts you, and if there is no repentance then you stand before the righteousness of God and are condemned by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit not only judges against nations, He judges individuals, and He also judges the world church.
They Cannot See The Sword Turned Against Themselves
Now with Jehoshaphat . . . how did the king of Judah in B.C. 896 know that his God ruled over the kingdoms of men? Today, with all the many making of books, and the schools of learning (both lower and higher education) we have come to a world with all this knowledge of men; and yet, they cannot see the hand of God all around them in judgment. In our study that reaches back in time to B.C. 896 to a world that was also divided, we will see how God turned the sword of His children’s enemies against themselves. Cannot God divide the world through their sin? Can their own living in sin bring division? Can we not see the world, the flesh, and the devil working every day through the debauchery of every sin under the sun?
The Source of All Power
In verse 6 of 2 Chronicles, Chapter 20, Jehoshaphat went to the source of all power. And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? Jehoshaphat was appealing to the God of heaven that has all power over heaven and earth. In fact, the Lord Jesus declared all power was given unto Him. In Hebrews, Chapter 1, the Holy Spirit tells us that Christ upholds all things by the word of His power. The disciples of the Lord Jesus witnessed this omnipotent power many times.
And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. (John 6:17)
And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. (John 6:18)
So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. (John 6:19)
But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. (John 6:20)
Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. (John 6:21)
This is only one example of the great power that the Lord Jesus exhibited over His creation while He was upon the earth. This was God in His Person, this was the Son of God, God’s Christ. The disciples witnessed this power that had formed the world and all creation. He not only hushed the storm, but immediately they were transported to safety; this is our King, and all power is given unto Him.
In Jehoshaphat’s prayer he drew God closer to his heart and affirmed before the people God’s power and acts of salvation. Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? Let’s go to the New Testament . . . and let’s consider Ephesians 1:18-23.
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,(Ephesians 1:18)
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,(Ephesians 1:19)
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 1:20)
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (Ephesians 1:21)
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,(Ephesians 1:22)
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:23)
In Ephesians the Holy Spirit paints a picture of our Savior, and His divine grace. We have a Savior with all power over heaven and earth and eternity. He draws our hearts and souls to Himself so that our heart can cry out to Him as Jehoshaphat cried out to Jehovah.
Can Not Our Prayer Be As Jehoshaphat’s Prayer
Can we not pray thus, Has not thou given thy people the treasures and riches of thyself. Did not by thyself, O Lord, defeat all our adversaries on the cross. Death was defeated by thee, sin was put out of the way by thee, the prince of this world, the devil, was judged by thee, and thou has vanquished the fires of hell for thy people. It was the travail of thy soul, and thy suffering that brought peace with God to us. (Isaiah 53) And with all this, now that we belong to thee, thou has given us all things in thyself not only in this life, but through all eternity.
The Garment
As we look into the future with the eyes of the Spirit of God, we see a bride being presented to her bridegroom in Revelation 19:8, And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. What do we see? We see a bride in a white linen garment presented to the Lord of glory. This garment represents all those who have trusted in the power and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are represented by each stitch in this garment. Each one of our hearts has contributed to a garment clean and white. This garment has been made by the Lord Himself. Each one of us is seen in a single garment. Christ has made this garment for us, stitch by stitch. Each one of our lives that He has called out of darkness contributes to the garment that was stitched by His suffering and death. We will be seen in a garment of righteousness, His righteousness.
A Psalm] of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, [bless] his holy name. (Psalm 103:1) There will be one man in glory for us. There will be one bride to sit beside Him. There will be one love, the love of God. And there will be one body called out of darkness finally united around one Christ, our Lord. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4) These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
As the sons of God we dwell in the fortress of grace which God’s only begotten Son has built for us. We are safe from the slayer, and we are there to enjoy, to worship, and to love our Savior, Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ has overcome the world for us, and it is to Him that power and dominion both now and forever has been given. In 2 Chronicles 20, verse 8 and 9, And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, (2 Chronicles 20:8) If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. (2 Chronicles 20:9)
In Jehoshaphat’s prayer, he draws us into the sanctuary. This is a place set apart by God for the heart and soul of man so that man may know the God of glory, and that man may know God’s dwelling place. Jehoshaphat was beginning to see his own city of refuge in the sanctuary of God. A place of divine safety and security, a literal home for his soul. A sanctuary denotes a place of safety and tranquility, a place away from the destroyer of mans soul, a place to find personal safety and peace.
The Divine City or Refuge and Sanctuary
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (Ephesians 2:19)
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Ephesians 2:20)
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (Ephesians 2:21)
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)
As the Spirit of God reveals to us that we are fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God, we begin to see this divine building that has been built by Jesus Christ Himself. He is the foundation of our faith, and we (like Jehoshaphat) have found our building in Jesus Christ, our Lord. We have been called out of this world, and our affections are above with our Savior. We read every word in the book of God as a love letter to His bride. He sends these letters to our hearts through the Holy Spirit of God. They awaken our soul to His very presence. We open the door of our heart and in the inner chamber He fills it with His light and glory. He sits and sups with His own. He expounds all things concerning Himself from Moses and the from prophets, and from the psalmists. The Holy Spirit of God leads us through the green valleys of the Gospels, and then in Acts, Chapter 7, we see heaven opened. As Solomon said, behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee. Stephen looked up and the heavens opened for him. He saw the man Christ Jesus standing at the right hand of God, the world had rejected him and cast him out of this world. If we desire light from above we must travel to the presence of that light. We must look into heaven and receive from heaven itself. We must always anticipate the day that God will call us home. We are in the world as strangers, we are wandering in the wilderness of sin of this world. But because we have the Holy Spirit to guide us and keep us, and as all power has been given unto the Lord Jesus, we in turn, have the powers of heaven working for us, and through us. In this ungodly world we must make a path of righteousness. We are no longer strangers to heaven or foreigners for our citizenship is in heaven. As we dwell on earth, each soul that comes to the Lord Jesus Christ is making up His great house. It is His house, the house that He purchased with His blood. He is the builder, and He owns every stone of that great house. But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:6)
As Jehoshaphat saw the sanctuary of God, the physical house of God in Jerusalem, we have a sanctuary that is in Christ Himself. He is our eternal sanctuary, and this sanctuary bears His name. And herein is the mystery that was hid in Christ from the beginning of the world. Amen.
© Copyright 2016, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)