God’s past deliverances inspire present trust in His power and covenant love.
“Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?” (v.7)
In this verse, King Jehoshaphat of Judah (reigned c. 873-848 BC) addresses the Lord in prayer during a time of crisis, when enemies threaten his kingdom. He appeals to God’s past faithfulness, recalling how the Lord graciously removed previous inhabitants from the Promised Land, often referred to as Canaan, so that His covenant people could dwell there. By reminding the Lord of His mighty deeds, Jehoshaphat humbly acknowledges that Israel’s possession of the land was never due to their own strength but wholly dependent upon God’s sovereign power and kindness.
The reference to “the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever” (v.7) underlines the deep covenant bond between the Lord and Abraham, who lived approximately 2166-1991 BC. God chose Abraham to be the father of many nations, and through Abraham, He promised that all the families of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). Calling Abraham God’s “friend” adds a personal dimension and emphasizes God’s enduring commitment. Jehoshaphat stands on this covenantal heritage, fully aware that if God bestowed the land in ancient times, He still has the power to protect His people from danger.
By anchoring his appeal in God’s historic actions and His unchanging nature, Jehoshaphat reveals a posture of dependent faith. He prays not in self-assurance but in the knowledge that, just as the Lord once expelled the inhabitants from Canaan to provide for His people, He can again rise to deliver Judah. This appealing to God’s character and promises resonates throughout Scripture, where believers are encouraged to remember God’s faithfulness as grounds for confident prayer (Hebrews 10:23).
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2 Chronicles 20:7 meaning
“Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?” (v.7)
In this verse, King Jehoshaphat of Judah (reigned c. 873-848 BC) addresses the Lord in prayer during a time of crisis, when enemies threaten his kingdom. He appeals to God’s past faithfulness, recalling how the Lord graciously removed previous inhabitants from the Promised Land, often referred to as Canaan, so that His covenant people could dwell there. By reminding the Lord of His mighty deeds, Jehoshaphat humbly acknowledges that Israel’s possession of the land was never due to their own strength but wholly dependent upon God’s sovereign power and kindness.
The reference to “the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever” (v.7) underlines the deep covenant bond between the Lord and Abraham, who lived approximately 2166-1991 BC. God chose Abraham to be the father of many nations, and through Abraham, He promised that all the families of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). Calling Abraham God’s “friend” adds a personal dimension and emphasizes God’s enduring commitment. Jehoshaphat stands on this covenantal heritage, fully aware that if God bestowed the land in ancient times, He still has the power to protect His people from danger.
By anchoring his appeal in God’s historic actions and His unchanging nature, Jehoshaphat reveals a posture of dependent faith. He prays not in self-assurance but in the knowledge that, just as the Lord once expelled the inhabitants from Canaan to provide for His people, He can again rise to deliver Judah. This appealing to God’s character and promises resonates throughout Scripture, where believers are encouraged to remember God’s faithfulness as grounds for confident prayer (Hebrews 10:23).