Praise Before the Battle Begins

In 2 Chronicles 20, the Israelites are facing a big battle against their enemies and things look grim. Jehoshaphat cries out to the Lord, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.”

He also proclaims, “O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? 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.”

Oh, I have said this: “I do not know what to do, but my eyes are on You.” What a precious image. In those times when we have nothing left, we can look to Him and realize we actually have everything! The war is never too big for Him.

After Jehoshaphat’s prayer, the Spirit of the Lord comes upon one of the Levites, and he encourages the people not to be afraid because the Lord is indeed with them.

Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,

“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his steadfast love endures forever.”

I can only imagine this sound. The singers declare the same words found in Psalm 136:

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever . . .

They are using these words as a battle song, as a cry to the Lord—and what does the Lord do? He moves against their enemies!

Verse 22 says, “And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against their enemies . . .”

Victory is theirs! Even a great spoil is gathered!

And finally, verses 27-28:
Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies. They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the Lord. And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel.

They returned in the same manner as they had gone out: with music and worship and praise. The people began their praise before the battle was won! That is faith! We can give Christ our worship before we enter our battles. We “give thanks to the Lord, for His steadfast love endures!” And we can offer the same praise following the battle, regardless of the outcome, knowing He is on His throne as our Sovereign Lord.

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