In the narrative of Jehoshaphat's reign over the kingdom of Judah, as recorded in II Chronicles, we are told that when Jehoshaphat was informed that a large army had invaded Judah to war against his people, he was afraid. But his thought turned to God. And as all Judah gathered to seek help from the Lord, to Jahaziel came this inspired assurance (20:15): "Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not your's, but God's." He further said, "Set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you." The enemies of Judah then destroyed one another, and "the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet."
This instance of victory gained without actual warfare is one of several related in the Old Testament which prove that there is always a way by which the enemy, evil, may be compassed and dominion gained. The way is spiritualization of thought. And the three qualities which stand out in this experience are self-immolation or humility, absolute reliance upon God, and obedience.
Humility is a purifying quality in human consciousness. It is not a passive quality; it casts out rivalry, jealousy, resentment, and opens thought to the Godlike qualities of loving-kindness, justice, mercy, and purity. Humility is the result of recognizing man's unity with the divine source of all action, being, and intelligence, because it acknowledges that of himself one can do nothing. So important does our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, regard this quality that she says in "Miscellaneous Writings'" (p. 356,) "Cherish humility, 'watch,' and 'pray without ceasing,' or you will miss the way of Truth and Love."
The demand to stand still is a test of loyalty and obedience. Mortal mind tends to express itself in much talking, in physical activity, or in will power. Willingness to be still, to listen, and to trust God, divine Mind, is obedience. Out of spiritual stillness comes divine strength.
Mrs. Eddy gives great emphasis to the power of a single idea when she says (Rudimental Divine Science, p. 9), "The spiritual power of a scientific, right thought, without a direct effort, an audible or even a mental argument, has oftentimes healed inveterate diseases." When a right idea is revealed to us, we must rely on that idea, and to do so requires that we stand still, stay right with the idea until we see the salvation of God.
When one receives a spiritual idea, recognizes it as the voice of God, stays right with it, and listens to no other voice, he finds the solution to his problem. Certainly humility is required to know when God speaks to us, and certainly obedience is requisite to follow the path He points out.
The consecrated, unyielding adherence to a right thought or idea, full recognition that this idea is proof of God with us, brings the realization of divine might. The writer proved this after a sense of pain and fear had persisted for many days. As she again reached out for more light, this statement from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy came clearly to thought (p. 409): "Intelligent matter is an impossibility."
As the writer recognized this truth to be a right idea and saw that it was nearer God than her previous line of thought had been, she determined to set herself, to stay with the spiritual idea and trust the law of God to operate through it. She began to base her reasoning on the scientific fact that "intelligent matter is an impossibility" rather than on the fears and suggestions of error.
From the moment of right determination to consign the claim to the realm of unreality, mortality, nothingness, the result was instant and beneficial. God's law operating through a right idea became the law to the situation. Perfect healing was the result. The spiritual power of a single right thought prevailed.
Jesus' statement to the Jews also came to the writer (John 8:31, 32): "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Almost as though answering an audible voice, she replied, "I have done that; I have stayed with the right idea, and it has made me free."
We may sometimes be led to think that many words are essential to demonstrate a truth, yet Jesus said that much speaking was not essential that prayer might be heard. To be still, to recognize a right thought when God gives it to us, to stay with it, and to set ourselves to see the operation of divine law in consciousness is salvation. The same law declared by Jesus to the Jews is operating here and now to meet our every need.
So we can say as was said in Jehoshaphat's reign (II Chron. 20:30), "His God gave him rest round about."
