On Sunday, I preached from 2 Chronicles 20, and whilst the main theme of my message was the Valley of Berakah (living in God’s blessing), this passage always speaks to me about the power of praise. Jehoshaphat, when facing multiple armies against him, sent the priests out in front, declaring God’s praise – a strategy unlikely to be found in any war manual.
In response to a specific word from the prophet Jahaziel that this battle belonged to God and He would fight for His people, Jehoshaphat did what he could do. He praised God. So often, we focus on all the many things we can’t do (and boy! there are lots of those!!) and pretty much throw the towel in at that point. We feel what we can do – sing praise to God, declaring truth about Him – is a cop-out which cannot achieve anything.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Singing your praise to God is a profound act of trust. It’s always the right time to praise God, and if you’re in big trouble, as Jehoshaphat and the people of God most definitely were, that is precisely the time it matters that you raise your voice and sing.
The story shows us the miracle of God’s victory that day. He stepped in so that the enemies killed each other and all God’s people then had to do was collect the plunder they had not earned. I’m convinced their act of worship was significant in this battle, even though it looked so insignificant.
Be encouraged today to sing praise to God, wherever you are and however you feel. Sing your way out of trouble, as Martin Smith puts it (see here) . Raise a hallelujah, as the song says. Sing praise and see what God does. Then you’ll have even more reasons to worship!
