On Praise and Thanksgiving

For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us.  We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you (2 Chron. 20:12).

In the days of Jehoshaphat, king of Israel, vast armies of the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Meunites began to gather against Israel.  When Jehoshaphat heard that the armies were marching against his people, he called an assembly "to seek help from the Lord."  During the assembly, the king stood up and prayed to God, ending with the words quoted above. 

The "The Spirit of the Lord" came upon one of the Israelites, who told the king:

Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God's....You will not have to fight this battle.  Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you...Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.

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...who were invading Judah, and they were defeated....When the men of Judah came to the place...and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped (2 Chron. 20).

In times of fear and discouragement, the last thing we want to do is to sing and praise the Lord with thanksgiving, but to do so is to acknowledge that "the battle is not ours, but the Lord's."   We cannot sing and fear at the same time, and we are often more defeated by fear than by reality.  Jehoshaphat did not fail to muster an army to defend Israel, but they were led by the singers; they were led by praise. 

Even as we prepare our own defenses and resources, we need to sing and praise God, for ultimately, the battle is not ours, but His!