2 Chronicles 20:27 - God Makes Me

(2 Chronicles 20:27 ESV) Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies.

This is odd. The first thing that jumps out at me when reading our JOY verse of the day is that the Lord MADE them rejoice. In fact, I just read a prayer in Psalm 25 and I wrote study thoughts how David prayed for God to "make me to know your ways, O Lord." When I have such a coincidences occur, I call them "God winks" which call me to pay attention.

From my Psalm notes I just wrote the other day, “Make me” sounds so pushy! I catch myself sometimes saying, “I made so-and-so do yada yada,” and I think to myself how wrong it was to make anyone do anything! Did I really make them do it? Or did I ask them to do it for me? Here is a prayer to God to make me know His ways. It feels like I’m asking to be taught a lesson! I do not always like to be taught lessons the hard way, but here is a humble prayer to have it done to me."

In Psalms God is teaching a lesson, and applying that thinking, in 2 Chronicles, God is teaching the people to rejoice. I have never considered God teaching me to be happy and I do not think that is what it means. As I ponder, when one rejoices, they are honoring and praising God for what He has done. Therefore, God is teaching the people to praise Him for the victory that they won.

In this story, King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah and Jerusalem are returning full of JOY after God granted them victory over their enemies. It was God who gave them reason to rejoice over their foes. The people were celebrating with triumph that which God had secured for them. In verses 4 & 13, all of Judah, including wives and children, sought help from God. In answer, in verse 15, the Spirit of the Lord said, "Listen, ...Do not be afraid . . . for the battle is not yours but God's," and continued to instruct them to only stand firm and witness God's salvation. God caused the enemy to be confused. God delivered. People rejoiced.

Helplessness. Prayer. Worship. Deliverance. Overflowing Joy. Praising Him.

To rejoice over an enemy just feels wrong to me. I ponder those words too. At first read, it seems as if the people are gloating over the losers and with glee over their suffering. That is wrong! Mocking is a big no-no! Delighting in another's misfortune is sinful! However, that is not what is happening here. If a person gives credit to self, the oh-so-wrong gloating happens. If a person gives credit to God, the oh-so-right worship and praise and honor happens.

Please pray with me. God, thank You for teaching me to praise You always by making me rejoice. Amen.

The King James Version of the concordance has 93 references in 89 verses to this certain word for "joy" as reference H8057. שִׂמְחָה is pronounced simchâh (sim-khaw) an relates to a religious or festival blithesomeness (cheerful disposition) or glee, which is fitting for this scene. H8057 is also translated in other Bible verses as exceeding(ly), gladness, joy(fulness), mirth, pleasure, rejoice(ing).

January 14, 2026