Worship Wednesdays # 3 - Worship is My Warfare - Part II

Worship Wednesday #3 - Worship is My Warfare - Part II

Read Part I here.

As I mentioned last week, over the next few weeks I will be sharing a few Biblical examples of how God brought victory to His people through the power of worship and praise. One of my very favorite stories is found in 2 Chronicles 20, when King Jehoshaphat was faced with a huge army coming against the people of Israel. 

Example #2: King Jehoshaphat's Final Battle

Read it now: 2 Chronicles 20

Quick Summary:  Probably the most quoted scripture from this story is "...the battle is not yours, but God's." 2 Chronicles 20:15

As powerful and as edifying as that Word is, it's important to understand the entire context of that promise. God declares that He will fight for us, if and when we walk in obedience to Him.

Jehoshaphat was afraid because a huge army was coming to battle against him. They were totally outnumbered and defeating them was humanly impossible. But what did Jehoshaphat do?
" ...Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD."  2 Chronicles 20: 3-4

It is easy to allow our life challenges to completely overwhelm us and paralyze us with fear and anxiety. However, the answer is not to run away or wallow in our own self pity. The answer is always to seek God first, putting aside everything holding us back, and asking the LORD to guide our steps. As Jehoshaphat cried out to God in verses 6-12, he ended with this:
"...For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." 2 Chronicles 20: 12

Say it with me now, "I don't know what to do, but my eyes are upon You." Is that not the most freeing sentence?!

Once Jehoshaphat completely surrendered it all to God in that moment, God responded. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel (a descendent of a Levite - a worshiper!) and God gave the people of Judah a profound Word to believe in and stand on:

"...Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's...You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you." 2 Chronicles 20:15-17

In response, Jehoshaphat and all of Judah bowed down their heads and worshiped the LORD, while the children stood up to praise with voices loud and high. (V 18-19).

They were rejoicing in the promises that God declared over them and even though they still had to battle the next day, they were giving God all of the glory now - ahead of the battle.

In the same way, when we are facing challenging times, we need to put our trust completely in Him and worship God for He promises to be with us and to fight for us.

We need to praise Him before, during, and after the battle, just as the people of Judah did, in order to release God's power on the scene.

On the morning of the battle, Jehoshaphat reminded the people of Judah to "Believe in the LORD your God." (V20) Even though God gave them all a powerful and uplifting Word the night before, now that they were preparing for the battle, it was critical for them to put away any doubts or fears that may have started to creep in, and to remember and most importantly BELIEVE that God would do what He said He would do.

Now, what happens next is completely mind blowing. Jehoshaphat appointed and sent out a group of worshipers to go out BEFORE the army:
"...and were saying: 'Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever.' Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated." 2 Chronicles 20:22

JUST. LIKE. THAT.

When the worshipers sang, the enemy was defeated. They literally did not have to fight, just as the LORD said. They just had to worship. 

And this isn't the first reference to worshipers being a part of the army of God.

In 1 Chronicles 25, we read that David literally had an army of 288 worshipers. TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY EIGHT!

If David held worship as such a high priority, and if we see how God continues to bring victory to the people of Israel when they worship Him, why aren't we tapping into this power?

Not only does our praise and worship usher in the presence of God, it defeats the enemy!

We need to realize that we cannot overcome the trials and tribulations of this world by our own strength and might. In fact, there is a better way - trusting and continuing to offer our praises to Jesus, declaring His power over our situations, and then standing still and allowing Him to do what He needs to do. 

After Jehoshaphat humbled himself in fasting and prayer, sought direction, believed in God's promises, and worshiped God, he received the greatest victory he had ever experienced. And then God gave him rest. (V30)

So today, I encourage you to listen and worship to the song "See a Victory" by Elevation Worship while presenting all of your trials and tribulations before the LORD. Visualize all of those problems and enemies being defeated as you sing and proclaim the victory of the LORD over each and every one of them.

Surrendering the battle to the LORD with you,

Sara-Marie 

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