21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to SING TO THE LORD AND TO PRAISE HIM FOR THE SPLENDOUR OF HIS HOLINESS sing to the Lord and as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
‘Give thanks to the Lord,
for his love endures for ever.’ 2 Chronicles 20
Judah went into battle Praising the Lord and He moved most wonderfully on their behalf. As I said yesterday THEY MOVED THE BATTLE INTO THE HEAVENLY REALM. They couldn’t match the strength of the combined armies coming against them so they focused on their God and asked Him to intervene on their behalf.
There’s quite a touching scene described earlier as Jehoshaphat and all the people stood in silence before their God,
13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.
The vulnerability of all the people, including wives and children standing before God, waiting for His Response. God reassured them and they believed Him and went out the next day led by those appointed to Praise Him.
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.
The Lord destroyed their enemies WHEN PRAISE began to rise from the people of Judah. Move your battle into the hands of the Lord and expect His help to manifest.
Judah spent three days picking up the plunder from those who’d come to harm them. All their enemies were slain without a single casualty in their own people.
26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah (means Praise) to this day.
They assembled after collecting the spoils and Praised the Lord.
27 Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets.
They returned to Jerusalem and praised the Lord once more in His Temple.
I knew an apostle who had many pithy sayings and one of them was, ‘If you Praise in the victory, you won’t have to plead in defeat’.
The Lord then blessed Judah with Peace, no more attacks by their enemies.
29 The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.
Praise does change our situations, lift up His Name over our circumstances today. HE IS MIGHTY TO SAVE!
Wishing everyone a blessed and peaceful weekend.
Immanuel, God is with us.