Just Your Garden-Variety Jealousy.

"It happened after this..." (Second Chronicles 20:1)

AFTER King Jehoshaphat instituted his reforms, opposition arose against him from the kings of neighboring cities. Three kings banded together to fight against Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah.

Why?

Maybe it was Jehoshaphat's religious reforms that brought the light and wisdom of God to the kingdom of Judah. Maybe the opposing kings didn't like the idea of an educated community that obeyed God. Or maybe they just didn't like Jehoshaphat.

Well, I would argue that it's the same problem in our day. Even in Bronx Bethany, there seems to be a thinly veiled opposition to those who make great effort to learn the word of God, hold it dearly in their hearts, express what they know by humble obedience to the Lord they love, and therefore receive public commendation from God.

Oh, what to do when evil kings are after you?

Let's do what King Jehoshaphat did:

Call a fast.
Pray.
Seek the face of God.
Make no distinction between young and old, male or female: everyone is needed in a critically important intercessory event.

To paraphrase Reverend Anthony, "the answer is not within us nor around us: the answer can only be found in God."