Norwegian 2018 (Bibelen - Guds Ord Hverdagsbibelen (Hermon Forlag))
Herren sa dette gjennom ham: «Hør nøye etter, hele Juda og dere som bor i Jerusalem, og du, kong Josjafat! Dette sier Herren til dere: ‘Frykt ikke og bli ikke redde på grunn av denne store hæren! Dette er ikke deres kamp, men Min kamp. I morgen skal dere møte dem. For de vil bevege seg oppover stigningen ved Hassis, og dere skal finne dem ved enden av bekken foran Jeruelødemarken. Men det er ikke opp til dere å kjempe denne kampen. Dere skal bare stille dere opp og bli stående, og så skal dere få se hvordan Herren vil redde dere. Å, Juda og Jerusalem! Bli ikke redde og fulle av frykt! I morgen skal dere gå uskadd fra dem, for Herren er med dere’.»
What Does This Mean?
This verse is about God giving encouragement to King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah. God tells them not to be afraid of their enemies because the battle belongs to God, not to them. This message reassures them that God will fight for them.
Explained for Children
Imagine you're in a big game of tag, and you're scared because there are lots of people trying to catch you. But your best friend, who is super fast and can outrun everyone, says, 'Don't worry, I'll handle it.' That's like what God is saying to King Jehoshaphat and the people: 'Don't worry, I'll handle the battle for you.'
Historical Background
This verse is from the Book of 2 Chronicles, written by a priestly author in the post-exilic period, around the 4th century BCE. The audience was the returning exiles to Jerusalem, and the cultural setting was one of rebuilding and re-establishing the covenant relationship with God after the Babylonian exile.
Living It Out Today
In modern life, when you face overwhelming challenges at work or in your personal life, remember that the ultimate outcome is in God's hands. Instead of panicking, you can focus on doing your part and trusting God to handle the rest.
What does 'the battle is not yours, but God's' mean?
This phrase means that when facing challenges, especially those that seem too big to handle, we should trust that God is in control and that the outcome is ultimately up to Him, not our own efforts.
Who is speaking in 2 Chronicles 20:15?
The speaker is God, speaking through a prophet to King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah, offering reassurance and guidance.
How does this verse apply to modern believers?
This verse encourages modern believers to trust God in difficult situations, understanding that God is working behind the scenes to bring about His purposes, even when we can't see how.
What can we learn from Jehoshaphat's response?
Jehoshaphat's response, though not directly in this verse, shows that he listened to God and acted in faith, which can teach us the importance of heeding God's word and acting on it with trust.