When Praise Is At Work..
2 Chronicles 20:1-21
After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites[a] came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.
2 Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom,[b] from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.
5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said:
“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7 Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9 ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’
10 “But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12 Our God, will you not judge them? 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 on you.”
13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.
14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”
18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his[c] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his love endures forever..”
The scriptural Bible verses quoted unravel some mysteries in the word PRAISE. Which many Christians have forgotten.
It was an ungodly day when War rose against the people of Judah and Jerusalem under the kingship of king Jehoshaphat. It wasn't just an ordinary war but a strong war from mighty nations. But the attitude of king Jehoshaphat towards it makes it easier for God to intervene.
In verse 3 of the chapter above says
3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him .
The King and his people called upon the Lord who can rescue them from their enemies.
The problem of many people is inability to call on God in difficult situation. They prefer to call and rely on mortal being or idols instead of calling on God. According to the book of
Act 2:21... And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. That is the major reason why many people are disappointed.
" God is the answer in all situation"
When the people of Judah and Jerusalem seek the Lord's help. Then,God spoke.
14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you..’
Imagine what God told Jehoshaphat that he did not even have to fight. Because, he has surrender the battle unto God.
It is true, as human we always think of the fastest way to solve our problems. But God is faster than 4G in everything. Learn how to surrender all your worries unto Him.
In Hebrews 4:15... For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
After the Lord have spoken to King Jehoshaphat he appointed SINGERS UNTO GOD to sing praises unto His name right at the war front. When did songs became a war equipment? But it does. God needed to put something irresistible at work for Him to fight for His people; and that is PRAISE.
There are two reasons why God must fight.
1. They seek is Help
2. Judah and Jerusalem are the city of God.
The word Judah means PRAISE and the word Jerusalem means the CITY OF PEACE. They are the apple of His eye just like you. So God must arise.
Let us discuss 3 things things that will happen when PRAISE is at work.
1. God will Arise.
In my ministerial experience in the ministry. The only thing impossible for God is to fold His arms when you praise Him.
Praise releases God's action. And when God arise, everything must be set to respond including you. Throw away you bag of sorrow and files of disappointment. Turn to Him and praise Him in that your situation and you will experience His mightiness.
2. Heaven must open..
The master key that can open heaven is praise. Immediately the appointed singers began to sing praises unto God. God set ambushes against the enemy of His people.
Verse 22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated..Who does that. It was His angles. How? Because heaven opened. I prayer for you today God will set an ambush against all your enemy. God will open heaven for your victory and breakthrough as from today. Change your PAINS to PRAISE and you will see that you are serving a living God.
3. Your adversary must surrender..
One thing about your enemy that you must know is, they are not powerful than your God.
Isaiah 8:10. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
When praise is at work. Your enemy have no other choice than to surrender. Because " He that lives in you is greater than he that lives in the world".
Read this carefully.
22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
24 When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing[d] and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord... This is how God will embarrass all your enemies and problems.
When your praise is at work. God will automatically rise for your help.
Brethren, what are your worries, problems, challenges of life that you are facing right now? I careless to know because God is ready to handle it right now if you can ACTIVATE YOUR PRAISE by singing praises unto Him. The SOLUTION for what you are passing through now is in PRAISE.
When you PRAISE God, He will RAISE YOU.
Don't just pray. Praise Him too and unlimited Joy shall be yours. Amen.
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