Praise God In Anticipation of Victory
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. After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
"Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever."
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 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.
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. So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder . . . There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the LORD.
. . . Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem . . . They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the LORD with harps and lyres and trumpets.
The fear of the LORD came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side. 2 Chronicles 20:20-30.
"Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever."
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 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.
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. So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder . . . There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the LORD.
. . . Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem . . . They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the LORD with harps and lyres and trumpets.
The fear of the LORD came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side. 2 Chronicles 20:20-30.
Faced with imminent invasion by a vast army, King Jehoshaphat entreated the entire nation to petition God in fasting and prayer. God answered by assuring them that the battle was His, not theirs. Judah was simply to march out the next day and expect God to give them victory. With full confidence in God's ability to deliver His people, Jehoshaphat appointed a Praise Team to lead the army into battle. Their battle cry was: "Give thanks to the LORD, for His love endures forever." They praised God in anticipation of victory.
Often times, we remain fearful even after we have heard a clear word of assurance from God concerning our situations. The circumstances might seem so overwhelming that praising God in the midst of the situation might be the very last thing on our minds. But there is something spiritually powerful about having an attitude of praise and worship even when we are drowning in problems and fearful situations.
Praising God in the midst of our challenges tells Him that we have confidence in His power and ability to deliver us! Praising Him and giving Him thanks means that we are confident that God has already won the victory for us. We praise in anticipation of victory. That is what Jehoshaphat did, and God annihilated the enemy. God caused the vast invading army to turn on themselves. They slaughtered each other without Judah lifting up a finger in battle. All they had to do was to spend three days to carry off the plunder of battle! Jehoshaphat and his men continued to praise the LORD after the victory and the fear of God fell on all their adversaries.
May God fight your battles for you like He fought for Jehoshaphat. May He cause your adversaries to turn on themselves. May God give you plunder from the camp of the enemy.
Put your trust in Jesus for He never fails! Have faith in God's deliverance like Jehoshaphat did, and praise God in anticipation of victory.
Prayer: Father, I am confident that no matter how overwhelming and fearful my situations may be, you are more than able to see me through. My lips will be filled with continual praise for you have already won the battle for me. Thank you, Father. Amen.