An Example Worth Remembering

Hello, dear friends!  Happy Sunday!  Today, we are gathering in many different places to worship together as a family of believers.  What an awesome privilege!  I’m so grateful we live in a country where we are free to worship as we choose and I hope and pray that doesn’t change.  I love Sundays.  I also love that our worship is not limited to Sundays.  As we make it a daily practice, God opens doors and miracles happen.  This reminds me of an article I wrote not too long ago for our church newsletter:

“An Example Worth Remembering”

Do you remember the story of King Jehoshaphat of Judah as told in 2 Chronicles 20? I really like this story.  And I find the name quite amusing.  I’ve shared this story with my praise team because it centers on the importance of worship. It’s one for the memory bank.

King Jehoshaphat was facing a battle. After going out among the people and working to bring them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers (2 Chronicles 19:4), he found his good work met with much opposition and his army having to prepare for the worst. “Great multitudes” were coming against him and his men. It was confusing and terrifying…and I love Jehoshaphat’s immediate response:

“O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hands are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.”

First response: prayer.

First response: perfect.

To read this entire prayer, see 2 Chronicles 20. But let me fast forward a bit and tell you how the prayer ends:

“For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

Clearly, this was a man who trusted the Lord, even when all odds were against him and many lives were at stake. That in itself could make a valuable teaching; about the power of first response. How many of us really do find ourselves turning to God first in crisis? How many of us exhaust a whole lot of other “resources” before we seek Him? And how many of us could actually know our blessed victory a lot sooner and with a lot less agonizing if we just went to the Source of Light and Love first?

But it’s the next part of the story that intrigues me most.

In response to Jehoshaphat’s deeply sincere and trusting prayer, God sent a powerful message through Jahaziel, son of Zechariah, as they were gathered in the assembly. Jahaziel’s name means “God sees” and through him, God lovingly placed a prophetic message of victory with these words:

“Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

The next morning, they rose early and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. Jehoshaphat stood among them with a passionate plea, “Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established!” And then, after taking counsel with the people, he assembled a “praise team” of sorts and sent them out first, singing ahead of the army.

Hmmmmmm…I don’t imagine these musicians were the sturdiest of all the men. We’re usually not much for physical battle. (I can say that because I’m a musician.) And yet, Jehoshphat’s big plan was to send the singers out first.  Apparently, he was not afraid of being mocked.

And now the cool part:

As they marched out singing the words, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever”, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir who had come against Jehoshaphat and Judah. These “great multitudes” fell…by destroying one another! Jehoshaphat’s army was not only completely safe but after the smoke cleared, they got to collect the spoil: “…in great numbers, goods, clothing and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more.”

God had blessed them…greatly.

For trusting prayer and sincere worship.

How much do I love this story!

Can I lovingly suggest something to you? Memorize Psalm 100. It is an easy little psalm completely devoted to the praise of God but it’s also a powerful tool. Praise is a force like no other. It sends Satan fleeing and can completely turn your attitude around in a matter of minutes or even seconds. Fear cannot exist when we look to God.

So, use Psalm 100. Speak it aloud when you need a reminder of Who is in control. And while you’re speaking it, remember a few key things:

1. God wants to fight your battle for you
2. God is love. Scripture makes this clear. If God is love, then you are in GOOD hands.
3. Any teaching that would make you think you are fighting a battle alone is false. Let it go, turn back to the Word of God which is TRUTH.
4. God is blessed and moved by your trusting praise.

You see, when we take the focus off of ourselves and put it on the One who deserves it, we will see amazing things happen! Practice your trust by offering praise in your fearful circumstances. And watch God turn everything around.

“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” – 1 John 4:18

Oh, how I love the God we serve.