Jumping Jehoshaphat!

I said we would be exploring more about praise and worship this week, and jumping Jehoshaphat we will! Let’s look at 2 Chronicles 20: 12b, 15b, (KJV), and 18- 30. (The Message)

12b for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.15b Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.18 Then Jehoshaphat knelt down, bowing with his face to the ground. All Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping God. 19 The Levites (both Kohathites and Korahites) stood to their feet to praise God, the God of Israel; they praised at the top of their lungs! 20 They were up early in the morning, ready to march into the wilderness of Tekoa. As they were leaving, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, "Listen Judah and Jerusalem! Listen to what I have to say! Believe firmly in God, your God, and your lives will be firm! Believe in your prophets and you'll come out on top!" 21 After talking it over with the people, Jehoshaphat appointed a choir for God; dressed in holy robes, they were to march ahead of the troops, singing, Give thanks to God, His love never quits. 22 As soon as they started shouting and praising, God set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir as they were attacking Judah, and they all ended up dead.23 The Ammonites and Moabites mistakenly attacked those from Mount Seir and massacred them. Then, further confused, they went at each other, and all ended up killed. 24 As Judah came up over the rise, looking into the wilderness for the horde of barbarians, they looked on a killing field of dead bodies-not a living soul among them. 25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to carry off the plunder they found more loot than they could carry off-equipment, clothing, valuables. It took three days to cart it away!26 On the fourth day they came together at the Valley of Blessing (Beracah) and blessed God (that's how it got the name, Valley of Blessing). 27 Jehoshaphat then led all the men of Judah and Jerusalem back to Jerusalem-an exuberant parade. God had given them joyful relief from their enemies! 28 They entered Jerusalem and came to The Temple of God with all the instruments of the band playing. 29 When the surrounding kingdoms got word that God had fought Israel's enemies, the fear of God descended on them. 30 Jehoshaphat heard no more from them; as long as Jehoshaphat reigned, peace reigned.


Wow, what a story, and what an example for us. Are times hard? Are you facing enemies all around? First, keep your eyes on God. When your eyes are looking in a direction that is the direction you head. Ask any batting coach you screams ‘keep your eye on the ball’ or hall monitor that yells ‘watch were you are walking’. Psalms 121:1 says “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help” God is our help. God holds us under his wing, and sings over us. He knows our comings and goings. He loves beyond measure and is faithful all the days of our lives. Look to Him!


Verse 15b shows us, that when our eyes are fixed on Him, when we trust in Him, He answers us! We are not alone in this life. God will never leave us or forsake us. (I Kings 8:57) That promise of God, in itself, is reason to worship God. And the children of Israel did. Verse 18 and 19: they worshiped at the word of the Lord and the priests praised with a LOUD voice (as one) on high. They sang at the top of their lungs! (I will say here, that not all of us can sing well, but all of us can make a joyful NOISE! It is a heart issue, not an ear issue!)


Next, you must understand that PRAISE GOES BEFORE YOU! In verse 21 we see that a choir (or troop) of singers was appointed to go before the army: singing “Give thanks to God, His love never quits.” There is something that happens when we are worshiping God, which is this: He is moved to work on our behalf! Take a close look at verse 22 through 23, because here we see God set ambush Israel's enemies and He causes them to turn on one another and they kill every single one! There wasn’t just one enemy, but many! God was big enough to take care of them all.


In addition to taking care of His people, God supplies the spoils! (Verse 25) there are benefits to worship beyond in that moment. God lines up His blessings for us when we worship. (Ps 84:7 says we go strength to strength)


Now what? The battle is over! So worship the LORD! Sometimes, when the trouble is past, it is easy to fall back into complacency and forget to worship God for what He has done! Israel marched all the way back home jamming out to praise and worship. The band was in full swing! I know God loves worship because creatures in heaven are seated around the throne saying day and night “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”


Finally, when the other nations and kingdoms saw that God fought His children’s battles, they backed off and there was peace! Peace! So lay down your desire to fight all your battles on your own. When we worship, God fights on our behalf and does so for His glory. (Ps 19:1-10)


Worship is a reasonable response to His faithfulness, to His goodness, to His love. Worship solidifies our relationship with God, and moves God to act on our behalf. Worship is an extension of who we are: God’s creation, just like those around the throne singing “Holy, Holy, Holy!” So rock out readers! Crank it up, and shout it out! Our God is faithful, and He deserves our Praise!


Be blessed and be a blessing and remember: sing is a verb!