Worship Leads Into Battle

Can I tell you quickly about one of my favorite stories in the bible? Here we go, it’s found in 2 Chron. 20. King Jehoshaphat gets word that three kings are getting ready to attack Israel. No time to get an army together, he’s got to move fast. So, what does he do? He orders the people to fast and pray to the God of Israel for an answer, for the help that destroys an army. Then Jehoshaphat prays to the Lord. It’s a simple pray, but the way it ends is just amazing to me. “We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” (vs. 12) Simple! He reminded God of what God had done for Israel in Egypt and the Exodus and then he simply cries out – WE NEED YOU! Isn’t that a prayer that you’ve lifted up before? I sure have, I’ve been at the end of my preverbal rope and had nothing left. I couldn’t help myself, so all I could do is cry out to God for wisdom and his intervening in my life. All I knew to do was put my eyes on God. Prayer is all we have sometimes, it’s the difference between you fighting for God and God fighting for you. It’s time to hit our knees and hit the button of our hearts to begin to praise God for His moving in our lives. Jehoshaphat gets a prophecy from Jahaziel, and he says, “Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (vs. 15) What does Jehoshaphat do next? He does something that just blows my mind (this is why I love it so much), he sends the worship team out in the lead, ahead of the army. When the pain gets bad in life, you’ll either turn it into pride or praise! Well, long story short: as the praise team leads the way by singing praises to God, “Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful endures forever.” (Vs. 21). At that moment God causes the armies to turn against each other and they kill each other leaving all the plunder to be picked up by Jehoshaphat and his men. Wow! Did you see the simplicity of people praising God and God fighting our battles? Turn on the praise music today and praise the Lord for his faithful love that endures forever. Let’s pray and praise today and watch God work.