Singing and Praising

War was imminent, and defeat seemed inevitable. The mighty Assyrian army was on the way! Filled with fear, King Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast and directed that everyone seek God. In his prayer, Jehoshaphat recognized God’s sovereignty, power, and authority over all the earth: He could do anything. Recognizing the Lord as their only hope, Jehoshaphat acknowledged, “We are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us.”

After he prayed, “the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel,” who delivered a powerful prophecy. God wanted them to know He had heard their prayers. They didn’t need to be concerned about the size of their enemy, for the Lord was in control: “The battle is not yours but God’s.”

This message filled everyone with peace. A spirit of worship swept the nation, and the Levites praised God “with a very loud voice.”

As they faced the approaching army the next morning, Jehoshaphat reminded them, “Put your trust in the LORD your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed.” Then he appointed singers and praisers to lead them into battle, giving thanks to God, “for His lovingkindness is everlasting.”

As they sang and praised, God brought the victory, and the opposing army was completely destroyed. The “bounty” was so great that it took three days to collect the spoil that was left for them, “because there was so much.”

Today, you might feel overwhelmed, discouraged, defeated, or afraid. But the message God gave to Judah is true for you as well: God can do anything. You need to seek Him, turn to Him, trust in Him, and enter into praise and worship. Thank Him for His blessings, and trust Him for victory!