June 21st.
📅 June 21, 2025
📖 Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 6–7, 2 Chronicles 20, 1 Timothy 3
📖 Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 6–7, 2 Chronicles 20, 1 Timothy 3
📜 Scripture Focus
“Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!”
2 Kings 6:16 NLT
“While Elisha was still saying this, the messenger arrived. And the king said, ‘All this misery is from the Lord! Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?’”
2 Kings 6:33 NLT
“Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting.”
2 Chronicles 20:3 NLT
“Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s... But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you... Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”
2 Chronicles 20:15, 17 NLT
🧐 Observation
In 2 Kings, we read testimony after testimony of the amazing works of God. Elisha was a prophet who didn’t live in fear or doubt but in complete confidence in the power of God. When a great army came against them, Elisha told his servant, “Don’t be afraid.” He prayed, and God opened his servant’s eyes to see the heavenly army surrounding them.
But in contrast, the king of Israel—who lived in disobedience—was paralyzed by fear and famine. Instead of turning to God, he blamed Him, saying, “Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?” His story ends in spiritual darkness and despair.
Now shift to 2 Chronicles 20, where we find King Jehoshaphat—also facing a mighty army. He was terrified, but instead of blaming God, he cried out to Him, called a fast, and led the people in seeking the Lord. Because of his obedience and faith, God responded with a powerful promise: “The battle is not yours, but God’s.”
💬 Devotional
I call these accounts testimonies—because that’s exactly what they are: God working in the lives of His people.
We see two very different responses to trouble:
One king lived in sin, blamed God, and doubted His goodness.
The other king feared God, humbled himself, and trusted in His help.
Both were leaders of God’s people, but their hearts made all the difference.
These stories remind me that the way I respond in crisis will often reflect how I’ve been living before the crisis came. Will I live close to God and respond in trust? Or will I drift from Him and respond in fear and blame?
🧠 Lesson for Me
I don’t know what future attacks or trials may come, but I do know the enemy will come against me.
The question is: How am I living today?
Am I building a foundation of faith and obedience that will help me stand strong?
When the battle comes, will I:
- Wallow in self-pity and blame God for my pain?
- Or will I cry out to the Lord, stand on His promises, and let Him fight for me?
📝 Application Questions
1. What do my current habits say about where I turn when I’m overwhelmed?
2. Am I blaming God for something that’s really the result of disobedience?
3. How can I build spiritual strength before the next battle comes?
4. What practical steps can I take today to fast, pray, and seek the Lord like Jehoshaphat?
🙏 Prayer
Lord, help me not to wait until I’m in crisis to turn to You.
Give me the heart of Jehoshaphat—a heart that seeks You first, humbles itself before You, and trusts that the battle belongs to You.
Open my eyes, like Elisha’s servant, to see that I am not alone—You are fighting for me.
Forgive me for the times I’ve lived carelessly or blamed You when life got hard.
Teach me to live every day in obedience and faith so that when trials come, I can stand firm in Your strength.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
🌟 Seeing Jesus in Today’s Reading
As we reflect on 2 Kings 6–7 and 2 Chronicles 20, we find powerful glimpses of Jesus throughout these stories. Though His name is not yet revealed in these Old Testament chapters, His presence, power, and patterns of redemption are unmistakable.
✨ 1. Jesus is the unseen Deliverer.
In 2 Kings 6:16–17, Elisha says, “Don’t be afraid! For there are more on our side than on theirs.” The Lord opens his servant’s eyes to see the heavenly army.
➤ Just like this, Jesus surrounds us, fights for us, and defends us—even when we cannot see it (Romans 8:31, Revelation 19:11–14).
✨ 2. Jesus is the One who opens eyes.
Elisha’s prayers cause the blind to see and the seeing to be blinded.
➤ Jesus is the Light of the World who gives sight to the spiritually blind (John 9:39). He opens hearts and minds to recognize the truth.
✨ 3. Jesus is the Bread in the famine.
In 2 Kings 7, God miraculously provides food to a starving city.
➤ In our own spiritual hunger, Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:35). Just like the lepers who found the feast and shared the good news, we are called to share the hope and provision found in Christ.
✨ 4. Jesus is the One who fights our battles.
In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat hears, “The battle is not yours, but God’s.”
➤ On the cross, Jesus won the greatest battle—defeating sin and death for us. Now we can “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 20:17; Colossians 2:15).
✨ 5. Jesus leads through worship.
The people went into battle singing praise—and God brought the victory.
➤ Jesus is enthroned in our praises (Psalm 22:3). Worship isn't weakness—it’s our weapon in spiritual warfare (2 Corinthians 10:3–5).
✨ 6. Jesus brings peace after the storm.
After the battle, the people gathered in the Valley of Berakah (“blessing”) to rejoice.
➤ Jesus is our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and every storm becomes a testimony when we follow Him.
John 5:39
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.”
Jesus was referring to the Old Testament, which was the only Scripture the Pharisees had at the time. He was showing them that the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings all ultimately point to Him as the Messiah—the fulfillment of God's promises.