The Valley of Jehoshaphat

2022-01-17

When the Lord returns, the armies of the world will gather against Him to fight:

Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. (Joel 3:12)

Why is it called the Valley of Jehoshaphat? It points us to a familiar passage in the Old Testament, where the armies of three nations came to fight against Judah. The Lord told them, “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you” (2 Chronicles 20:17).

Instead of sharpening swords, Jehoshaphat positions his singers to praise the Lord. “And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten” (2 Chronicles 20:22). His challenge to his army? “Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper” (2 Chronicles 20:20).

After gathering the spoils, we read this of the Lord’s people: “And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day” (2 Chronicles 20:26).

This will be like how the battle will be when the Lord returns when He fights the armies of the world. This is how the Lord fights His battles: 100% Him, 0% us.