First Seek the Counsel of the Lord

The Principle and Creeds of Victory

Plans fail for lack of wise counsel, but they succeed with many advisers.

First Seek the Counsel of the Lord

King Jehoshaphat of Judah said to King Ahab of Israel, before you can go to war, “First seek the counsel of the Lord.”  This was his victory principle.  Jehoshaphat knew that plans fail for lack of counsel.  Be sure you commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.  The name of the Lord Almighty is a strong tower; the righteous person runs to it and is safe.  Christians should recognize the battle situation that confronts them on a daily basis. It will be helpful to apply Jehoshaphat’s victory principle always.

Counsel must be sought from the right source.  That source must be God.  King Ahab was in error when he sought counsel through false prophets.  King Jehoshaphat rejected their message and asked King Ahab, if there was no a prophet of the Lord around whom they could inquire of.  King Ahab was a very bad King of Israel who, with his wife Jezebel committed horrible crimes against God.  God was not happy with King Jehoshaphat of Judah for his friendly overtures toward the wicked King Ahab of Israel.

To determine the will of God before taking any action is very important.  You must tell God about your plans so that you will be able to determine if they are consistent with the will of God.  Your plans must be the plans of God if you expect them to succeed.  After all, apart from Jesus you can do nothing.  If Jesus must fight the battles, he should be given the chance to utilize his own battle plans.

King Jehoshaphat’s Application of his Victory Principle

Seek the counsel of the Lord first.

It is easy for many people to talk about faith when they are advising other people.  However, when it comes to their personal problems, doubt replaces faith.  King Jehoshaphat was not that sort of person.  To him, faith in God was the factor that drove his principle irrespective of who was involved.  Some allied forces from different countries had come against Judah.  King Jehoshaphat was alarmed and therefore resolved to inquire of the Lord.  This means that he immediately applied his victory principle.

To apply his victory principle, he did certain things that revealed his respect for divine authority.  He first humbled himself and his people through a national fast.  The people came together from every part of Judah to seek help from the Lord.  In his prayer during the fast, King Jehoshaphat convincingly showed that he was a man of faith.  As all the families of Judah stood before the Lord, he concluded his prayer for victory against their enemies as follows, “O our God, will you not judge them?  For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us.  We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”  This was a prayer of total dependence on God for victory.  He recognized that, apart from God, they could do nothing.  Jehoshaphat’s prayer has been described as the best for us.

The Articles of the Divine Victory Creed

Jehoshaphat’s response to the battle of life was a clear indication of his thorough understanding of precepts of God. God said, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know,”  “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will