Pastor Anders explains how King David was a conqueror because he walked by faith, sought forgiveness when he failed, and feared God more than man. That pattern became the standard for later kings of Judah. After reviewing Hezekiah (from Wednesday), Pastor Jeff holds up Jehoshaphat (~100 years after David) as another conqueror who walked “in the ways of his father David.”
- The Choice
- The Character
- The Covenant
- The Conquests
**2 Chronicles 17 (KJV)**
And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim; But sought to the LORD God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance. And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah. Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.
And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.
And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store. And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem. And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand. And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand. And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.
And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand. And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war. These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.
**2 Chronicles 20:1–25 (KJV)**
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. 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.
And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 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? 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? And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, 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.
And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. 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.
Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, 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. To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
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; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high. And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
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. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.
And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.
Series recap (Choice → Character → Covenant → Conquests) David conquered as:
- shepherd (lion, bear, then Goliath)
- soldier under Saul (victories, then ~10 years as a fugitive)
- sovereign over Israel (Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites; borders expanded like the promise to Abraham)
The keys drawn from David’s Psalms: faith (hear God and obey), forgiveness (confess and get right), fear of God (God’s word over man’s opinion). Hebrews 11 is cited for conquering by faith.
Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 17 — four marks
- Work — He strengthened Judah against northern Israel: forces in fenced cities, garrisons in Judah and in cities of Ephraim that Asa had taken. Like David, he built military strength to protect the people.
- Walk — He walked in the ways of David, sought not Baalim but the Lord God of his father, and kept the commandments (not the ways of Israel). He was not perfect (Pastor points ahead to bad decisions in ch. 19), but God looks for direction, not perfection. He tore down high places and groves. Application: let God search out idols (wicked or “good” things that crowd Him out) and tear them down.
- Wealth — Because of that walk, the Lord established the kingdom. Judah brought presents; he had riches and honor. Philistines and Arabians brought tribute/flocks. He built castles, cities of store, and a huge army of mighty men. Blessing followed David-like obedience.
- Word — In year three he sent princes, Levites, and priests with the book of the law to teach in every city of Judah. The fear of the Lord fell on surrounding kingdoms. Military forts protect bodies; Bible teaching fortifies souls. Strong gospel push: much “Christianity” is works-based (emotion/decision/try-harder) rather than resting in Christ by faith alone; people think they’re saved or walking with God who aren’t, largely because the Word is neglected for stories and jokes.
War — 2 Chronicles 20 Moab, Ammon, and others (Mount Seir) come as a great multitude. Jehoshaphat fears, sets himself to seek the Lord, and proclaims a fast. Judah gathers to seek God (families included).
His prayer: God rules heaven and the nations; He kept the promise to Abraham; if evil (sword, judgment, pestilence, famine) comes and they cry at the house where His name is, He will hear and help. The invaders are “rewarding” Judah’s kindness by trying to cast them from their inheritance. Climax: we have no might… neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee.
Spirit comes on Jahaziel (Levite of Asaph). Word: fear not / be not dismayed — the battle is God’s (same truth David spoke facing Goliath). They won’t need to fight; stand still and see the salvation of the Lord; go out tomorrow, the Lord is with you.
Judah falls on their faces and praises before the victory — that’s faith. They rise early, go out trusting, and singers praise (“his mercy endureth forever”). When they began to sing, the Lord set ambushments; Ammon/Moab/Seir turn on each other and destroy themselves. Judah arrives at the watchtower to find corpses and so much spoil it takes three days to gather. They leave richer than they came.
Close Want to be a conqueror? Fear God, seek forgiveness when you fail, trust Him when the enemy is too big — like David, like Jehoshaphat. Prayer for God to break strongholds and do the inner work only He can do.