There are two main reasons why this story speaks to me. First, there's Jehosophat's prayer (verses 5-12):
Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord before the new court, 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. 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? They have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary there for Your name, saying, ‘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.’ 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), see how they are rewarding us by coming to drive us out from Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance. 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.”
That's quite a prayer:
God, You are so mighty. You provided this land for us. We've trusted You and honored You in this land You gave us. And now -- by the way, You let this happen by not letting us get rid of these people in the first place -- we're under attack. Will You not do something about it?
(Wow, that reminds me of things I've said to God.)
It ends well, though:
“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.”
God, we're in over our heads. We don't know what to do. But You know what to do. And we trust You.
A simple prayer of dependence and trust. Like the ones Jesus prayed. And then this (verse 21b):
[Jehoshaphat] 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.”
They stepped out in praise and thanksgiving, just as Jesus always did. And they were led to victory.
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"Thank you" is the language of the Christian life.
(Charles Price)