While there is no guarantee that God will shield us from all harm, all we can do follow him and ask for his grace and mercy.
For Jehoshaphat, God came through.
3 The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals 4 but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel.
It was more than just a personal devotion - it was a devotion that was so powerful it extended all throughout Judah:
7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah. 8 With them were certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.
With such a following, God's grace fell on the people of Judah:
10 The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat.
My Prayer: Lord, you ARE my shield. Your power and might is great and you have shielded me from destructive forces in all areas of my life. Yet I continue to sin and for this I am truly sorry and I seek your forgiveness. I want to spread your good news and your power to others yet my own behavior is not a witness to others. Help me and purify me. Help me so that I can do as Jehoshaphat does and spread your good news.
