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Thursday, August 14, 2008

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Praising Your Way to Victory

Around 850 BC, the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites, some of the fiercest nations of the time, decided to make war against the nation of Judah.  King Jehoshaphat was alarmed when he was told that they were already in En Gedi on the east side of the Dead Sea and only about 40 kilometers from Jerusalem.  His first response, however, was exactly what we all need to do when confronted with imminent danger.  He "resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast" (2 Chronicles 20:3).  And, the people of Judah came together to seek help from God.  This should always be our first line of defense and our first line of attack.

They sought the Lord and they admitted that they were weak but he is strong.  "You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations.  Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you" (2 Chronicles 20:6).  I love the next part:

"For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us.  We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you" (2 Chronicles 20:12).

Is there anything that we are facing right now in any area of our lives — finances, health, relationships, church, work, family, marriage — that seems like a vast army moving against us?  Maybe even more than one?  It is the time to pray and fast if necessary.  It is time to admit that we need help and turn our eyes toward heaven.  Look away from your problems and look to Jesus.  We don't know what to do most of the time.  He always does!

And, the word of the Lord that came to them is just as true for us today as it was for them.  "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God's" (2 Chronicles 20:17).  Do we know that God wants to fight on our behalf?  He doesn't want us to do anything alone.  Why else would he tell us over and over not to be afraid or discouraged and that he will be with us no matter what!

Most of us have learned to pray when we are faced with difficulties.  Interestingly, even many unbelievers do that!  Is there more that we can and should do?  Look what happens next.  Jehoshaphat bowed his face to the ground, the people fell down in worship and then some of the Levites "stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice" (2 Chronicles 20:19).  They had prayed and even fasted and they had even received an answer.  Wasn't that enough?  No, no they pressed in even harder in worship and praise to the Lord.

The next morning, they went out to meet the enemy.  And, after a brief faith forward challenge — "Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful" (2 Chronicles 20:20) — Jehoshaphat appointed singers to lead the army out in praise and adoration of God.  And, the song that they sang was most likely all of Psalm 136 with its recurring chorus:  "Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever."

As they praised and marched toward their enemy, the opposing armies killed each other.  God had set up ambushes.  When the army of Judah reached the actual battlefield, there were no soldiers left alive for them to fight.  It took three full days for them to carry away the plunder.  The battle had been won and they had done nothing other than pray and fast and praise their way to victory!  What did they do the next day?  They gathered in the valley of Beracah (which means "praise" and I'll bet it was named after this event) and they praised some more.  Then they returned joyfully to Jerusalem because of what God had done.

Do we struggle with our problems more than we need to?  Does God ever wonder why we are trying to do it alone?  We have here a paradigm for anything that we face no matter how small or overwhelming it might seem.  Pray.  Fast.  Turn your eyes to the Lord.  And praise your way to victory!  And then, when you win, praise some more!

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