Scripture:

“After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat. Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at Hazazon-tamar.” (This was another name for En-gedi.) Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the Lord’s help…As all the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, wives, and children, the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph.

 

He said, ‘Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!’

 

…After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: ‘Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!’

 

At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other. So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.” 2 Chronicles 20:1-4, 13-17, 21-24 (NLT)

 

Perspective:

The people of Judah were being attacked by three of their enemies who had come together against them. When king Jehoshaphat received this news, he immediately called the people to pray. In his prayer in front of the people, he told God that they didn’t know what to do, but they were looking to Him for help. A man stepped forward with a Word from God, stating that God would give them victory. So King Jehoshaphat embraced God’s Word by having the choir go before the army. These people were brave singers, because if God didn’t show up, the outcome would be bleak. The singers were not equipped with military arsenal to fight, but they had something more powerful. They were welcoming God’s presence into their situation. They took God at His Word, and the praise of the people caused God to move on their behalf. When God was fighting for them, they didn’t have to stress about how God would win; they only had to trust that God would win.

 

When the Word of the Lord came to the people, it changed their perspective. They were able to rally with courage and strength by believing God’s Word would come to pass. It would be God’s battle and God’s victory. You may be facing a battle that you are trying to wage on your own. God’s Word to you today is that the battle is the Lord’s, and the victory depends on Him. You can’t outsmart, outplay, or strategize your way out of some battles. Yet, when God takes a stand, the battles that leave us terrified give us an opportunity to praise Him even before we see any evidence of a victory. Victory was coming for the people of Judah, but they participated in the victory by praising God. It’s time to break out your praise. Each step we take and song we sing that help us recognize God’s power is one less step that the enemy has power over us. God wants to help you fight your battles. Thank Him for how He is helping you even now.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. 

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About Hona Amer

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