The battle is not your's, but God's.--Comp. David's words to Goliath, "The battle is Jehovah's" (1 Samuel 17:47); and the Divine title Jehovah Sabaoth, i.e., Jehovah, the leader of the hosts of Israel. "It was on the battle-field that Jehovah's presence was most clearly realised."--Prof. Robertson Smith. (Comp. also Psalm 46:2; Psalm 46:7; Psalm 46:9.)
20:14-19 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.
And he said, hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou King Jehoshaphat,.... There is a climax or gradation in these words rising from the lowest to the highest; from the people of the cities in the country, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem the metropolis, and from thence to the king the supreme governor:
thus saith the Lord unto you, be not afraid, nor dismayed, by reason of this great multitude; whose numbers were discouraging to the king, and he had taken notice of them, which this respects:
for the battle is not your's, but God's: the cause was his, and he would espouse and maintain it; not they, but he, would fight the battle, and therefore they had nothing to fear.
Be not afraid nor dismayed.--Isaiah 51:7; Deuteronomy 1:21; Chron. 22:3; 2 Chronicles 20:17, infr.
Great multitude--i.e., "great company" (2 Chronicles 20:12)
The battle is not your's, but God's.--Comp. David's words to Goliath, "The battle is Jehovah's" (1 Samuel 17:47); and the Divine title Jehovah Sabaoth, i.e., Jehovah, the leader of the hosts of Israel. "It was on the battle-field that Jehovah's presence was most clearly realised."--Prof. Robertson Smith. (Comp. also Psalm 46:2; Psalm 46:7; Psalm 46:9.)
thus saith the Lord unto you, be not afraid, nor dismayed, by reason of this great multitude; whose numbers were discouraging to the king, and he had taken notice of them, which this respects:
for the battle is not your's, but God's: the cause was his, and he would espouse and maintain it; not they, but he, would fight the battle, and therefore they had nothing to fear.