If you’re looking for names for your baby, look no further than Matthew 1:8.

Matthew 1:8a

8 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, …

Yes, I’m kidding. Little Jehoshaphat would probably have a pretty hard time in grammar school! Anyway, there is a great story about Jehoshaphat and a prayer he makes that I’d like to look at.

2 Chronicles 20:1-30

1 Now it came about after this that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat.

2 Then some came and reported to Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, out of Aram and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is Engedi)."

This is a huge military alliance between 3 different kingdoms coming against Jerusalem.

3 Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. (No time to eat!)

4 So Judah gathered together to seek help (to seek help from where?) from the LORD; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD.

Notice, they didn’t make a lot of military preparations, they didn’t talk over strategy. They weren’t going to get off their knees until the Lord told them what to do!

Jehoshaphat's Prayer

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD before the new court,

6 and he said, "O LORD, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You.

He’s not trusting in fortifications or armies. He is trusting in the Lord.

7 "Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?

8 "They have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary there for Your name, saying,

9 "Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your name is in this house) and cry to You in our distress, and You will hear and deliver us.'

He remembers the promise God has made, and makes the application. When a believer follows the right procedure in prayer, as Jehoshaphat does here, two things will happen: The Lord will hear, and the Lord will answer!

10 "Now behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt (they turned aside from them and did not destroy them),

11 see how they are rewarding us by coming to drive us out from Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance.

12 "O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You."

13 All Judah was standing before the LORD, with their infants, their wives and their children. (take your family to church!)

Ever have a hopeless situation? That’s what’s facing the Southern Kingdom of Judah! But note their perspective – their eyes are on the Lord!

Jahaziel Answers the Prayer

14 Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph;

15 and he said, "Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the LORD to you, (here comes the answer!) "Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's.

16 "Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel.

17 "You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the LORD is with you."

What impossible battle situations are you facing today? Are they health problems, work problems, financial problems, relationship problems? The answer for us today is the same as the answer was for the people of Judah. Stand fast, and leave the battle to the Lord!

18 Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.

19 The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

20 They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the LORD your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed."

21 When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the LORD and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, "Give thanks to the LORD, for His lovingkindness is everlasting."

Notice this point: They are praising God for a solution that He has not yet provided! He has only promised to do it! When you face battles, put your trust in the Lord, and thank Him for solving the problem! Even if the adversity does not go away, you can be confident that you can end up glorifying Him in the midst of it.

Now, (big surprise here), the Lord comes through for them:

22 When they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed.

23 For the sons of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir destroying them completely; and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

24 When Judah came to the lookout of the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude, and behold, they were corpses lying on the ground, and no one had escaped.

25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found much among them, including goods, garments and valuable things which they took for themselves, more than they could carry. And they were three days taking the spoil because there was so much.

Triumphant Return to Jerusalem

26 Then on the fourth day they assembled in the valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the LORD. Therefore they have named that place "The Valley of Beracah" until today.

27 Every man of Judah and Jerusalem returned with Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies.

28 They came to Jerusalem with harps, lyres and trumpets to the house of the LORD.

29 And the dread of God was on all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.

30 So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God gave him rest on all sides.

Notice that this situation came out infinitely better than anyone could have hoped! When a huge army was approaching, would anyone have thought that they would have ended up with more plunder than they could carry without ever having to fight?!

Do you have a problem? Do you have a battle that needs fighting? Quit trying to solve it yourself, and put it in the hands of the One who can solve it, and who has promised to solve it. Then praise God for the solution He is going to provide!