Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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2 Chronicles
Book: 2 Chronicles
Chapter: 20
Overview:
The danger and distress of
Judah.
(1-13) Jahaziel's
Prophecy
of victory.
(14-19) The thanksgiving of
Judah.
(20-30)
Jehoshaphat's
Alliance with
Ahaziah.
(31-37)
1-13 In all dangers, public or personal, our first business
should be to seek help from
God. Hence the advantage of days for
national fasting and
Prayer. From the first to the last of our
seeking the
Lord, we must approach him with humiliation for our
sins, trusting only in his
Mercy and power.
Jehoshaphat
acknowledges the sovereign dominion of the Divine
Providence.
Lord, exert it
On our behalf. Whom should we seek to, whom
should we trust to for relief, but the
God we have
Chosen and
served. Those that use what they have for
God, may comfortably
Hope he will secure it to them. Every true believer is a son of
Abraham, a friend of
God; with such the
Everlasting Covenant is
established, to such every promise belongs. We are assured of
God's
Love,
By his dwelling in human nature in the person of the
Saviour.
Jehoshaphat mentions the
Temple, as a token of
God's
favourable presence. He pleads the injustice of his enemies. We
may
Well Appeal to
God against those that render us evil for
good. Though he had a great
Army, he said, We have
No might
without thee; we rely upon thee.
14-19 The
Spirit of
Prophecy came upon a
Levite in the midst of
the
Congregation. The
Spirit, like the wind, blows where and
On
whom He listeth. He encouraged them to trust in
God. Let the
Christian soldier go out against his spiritual enemies, and the
God of peace will make him more than a conqueror. Our trials
will prove our gain. The advantage will be all our own, but the
whole
Glory must be given to
God.
20-30 Jehoshaphat exhorted his troops to firm
Faith in
God.
Faith inspires a
Man with true courage; nor will any thing help
more to the establishing of the
Heart in shaking times, than a
firm belief of the power, and
Mercy, and promise of
God. In all
our trust in the
Lord, and our praises of him, let us especially
look at his
Everlasting Mercy to sinners through
Jesus Christ.
Never was an
Army So destroyed as that of the enemy. Thus
God
often makes wicked people destroy one another. And never was a
victory celebrated with more solemn thanksgivings.
31-37 Jehoshaphat kept close to the
Worship of
God, and did
what he could to keep his people close to it. But after
God had
done such great things for him, given him not only victory, but
wealth; after this, to go and join himself with a wicked
King,
was very ungrateful. What could he expect but that
God would be
angry with him? Yet it seems, he took the warning; for when
Ahaziah afterward pressed him to join him, he would not, 1Ki
22:49. Thus the
Alliance was broken, and the Divine rebuke had
its effect, at least for a season. Let us be thankful for any
losses which may have prevented the loss of our immortal souls.
Let us praise the
Lord, who sought after us, and left us not to
perish in our sins.