20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! HAVE FAITH IN THE LORD YOUR GOD AND YOU WILL BE UPHELD/ESTABLISHED; HAVE FAITH IN HIS PROPHETS AND YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL/PROSPEROUS.’ 2 Chronicles 20
Jehoshaphat and Judah were now under serious threat from a vast army of several nations approaching from the south. The threat was already close at hand, so they had little chance to prepare.
3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to enquire of the Lord, and HE PROCLAIMED A FAST FOR ALL JUDAH. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, THEY CAME FROM EVERY TOWN IN JUDAH TO SEEK HIM.
Jehoshaphat and the WHOLE NATION turned to seek God in fasting, it was a national emergency.
The people of the United Kingdom also turned to God for their stranded troops during World War 2 and witnessed the first of a number of miraculous deliverances during the war.
(So bad was it that King George 6th called a National Day of Prayer on May 24th 1940 when our troops were marooned at Dunkirk. THE VERY LONG QUEUE AT Westminster Abbey was replicated in every church, chapel and synagogue in the land. MILLIONS WENT TO PRAY.
On June 9th there was a Day of Thanksgiving. The second day of National Prayer was on August 11th 1940 when the Battle of Britain began. The skies over Hertford were covered with little Spitfires and Hurricanes flying to the south coast.
There were further calls for Prayer in 1941. And two more in September 1942. The final call was in the spring of 1944 immediately before the D Day landing when again the rough sea became calm. The war in Europe began to end.
Seven times -the number of spiritual perfection- the King and Parliament called the whole nation to prayer and seven times the nation turned out and filled the churches including many who had never been in a church. The Vicar of All Saints at that time told us that only our Monarch could call the nation to prayer.
Each time God answered by a miracle of deliverance. It is no less important now that we must concentrate on prayer for our nation and our world.
Psalm 33:12. Ephesians 6:12
Post by Anne-Marie Parker, Picture of LONG QUEUES TO PRAY https://allsaintshertford.org/2017/nov17np.pdf)
God spoke to the people of Judah through Jahaziel, a Levite, one of the assembly;
15 He said: ‘Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them.
Judah still had to go onto the battlefield, but once they began to sing and praise God, their enemies fell.
JEHOSHAPHAT MOVED THE BATTLE AGAINST THE ENEMY, FROM THE EARTH REALM TO THE HEAVENLY SPHERE AND THAT’S WHERE OUR VICTORY ALSO LIES.
God bless and keep you victorious in your battles today.