2 Chronicles 20:21

2 Chronicles 20:21

Anybody can sing the Te Deum when the battle is over. The difference between an ordinary man of war and a Christian is this: a Christian shouts before the victory, because he knows it is sure to come.

I. We learn here, first, a lesson of patriotism. The foreign policy of Ammon and Moab seemed very brilliant for a time. They carried everything before them, but in due time they were overthrown. We must not trust in the number of our soldiers, in the boundless resources of our country, but in the beauty of holiness, in the justice of our cause, in the purity of our motive, in one word in the blessing of our God.

II. The special object of the lesson is to illustrate the history of the Christian Church, for the Christian Church is engaged in a holy war. If we go forth to war, we must do as Jehoshaphat we must be clothed with the spirit of holiness. God came down to fill the hearts of His children; then they were ready for the great work. The pentecostal blessing delivered the early Christians from the three hindrances to the progress of the Gospel cowardice, selfishness, and ignorance. Catch the spirit of the Apostles, and you will save the whole world.

H. P. Hughes, Contemporary Pulpit,vol. vi., p. 152.

References: 2 Chronicles 20:20. Sermons for Boys and Girls,p. 185. 2 Chronicles 20:26. Homiletic Magazine,vol. xi., p. 140. 2 Chronicles 20:30. E. Monro, Practical Sermons,vol. iii., p. 97.