The war was won with a song. Sounds like an unlikely scenario, doesn't it? Imagine a great nation today abandoning tanks and missiles for flutes and drums. Hardly a winning strategy. Yet this was the very plan used by King Jehoshaphat of Judah:
"When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the LORD and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, "Give thanks to the LORD, for His lovingkindness is everlasting." When they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed." (2 Chronicles 20:21-22)
The victory was won when the people focused on praise and worship. But this was no casual sing-and-raise-your-hands-in-praise worship. Notice: "Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to seek help from the LORD; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD ... All Judah was standing before the LORD, with their infants, their wives and their children." (vss.3,4,20)
There was urgency and singleness of heart in what they did. Fasting and hungering for the One true God was foremost with all the people. A consecrated people came to seek the Lord - and His victory - through wholehearted worship.
I'm wondering what battles we face today. Are we seeking to wage war with force and conventional weapons, or through wholehearted worship? Do we fight with tanks or thanks?
There is no greater army than the people of God worshipping in spirit and truth (John 4:24). In the face of genuine worship the enemy is defeated and the kingdom of God is advanced. And perhaps that is why worship is often a battle. The battle lines are sometimes drawn over traditional or contemporary music; clapping or non-clapping; raised hands or bowed heads.
Satan-defeating worship isn't about form; it's about function, namely the function of the heart. Sincere worshippers gathered to sing "Give thanks to the LORD, for His lovingkindness is everlasting", whether to a contemporary tune or a traditional hymn, please the heart of God and move Him to secure the victory.
Worship isn't so much about place and time as it is lifestyle. What happens on Sunday, Wednesday or whenever the people of God meet is only as effective as what has happened in individual lives the other days of the week. Group worship is the overflow of personal worship.
There are battles to face today. Worship wins the war. Citizens of the Kingdom of God, focused on training and preparing for the Age to Come, worship rather than worry.
Sing out your song of praise today. He will carry the battle regardless of whether you can carry a tune. If it's the song of your heart for the God of the ages then it's sung in perfect harmony.
Sing out, saints!
Steve
"When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the LORD and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, "Give thanks to the LORD, for His lovingkindness is everlasting." When they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed." (2 Chronicles 20:21-22)
The victory was won when the people focused on praise and worship. But this was no casual sing-and-raise-your-hands-in-praise worship. Notice: "Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to seek help from the LORD; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD ... All Judah was standing before the LORD, with their infants, their wives and their children." (vss.3,4,20)
There was urgency and singleness of heart in what they did. Fasting and hungering for the One true God was foremost with all the people. A consecrated people came to seek the Lord - and His victory - through wholehearted worship.
I'm wondering what battles we face today. Are we seeking to wage war with force and conventional weapons, or through wholehearted worship? Do we fight with tanks or thanks?
There is no greater army than the people of God worshipping in spirit and truth (John 4:24). In the face of genuine worship the enemy is defeated and the kingdom of God is advanced. And perhaps that is why worship is often a battle. The battle lines are sometimes drawn over traditional or contemporary music; clapping or non-clapping; raised hands or bowed heads.
Satan-defeating worship isn't about form; it's about function, namely the function of the heart. Sincere worshippers gathered to sing "Give thanks to the LORD, for His lovingkindness is everlasting", whether to a contemporary tune or a traditional hymn, please the heart of God and move Him to secure the victory.
Worship isn't so much about place and time as it is lifestyle. What happens on Sunday, Wednesday or whenever the people of God meet is only as effective as what has happened in individual lives the other days of the week. Group worship is the overflow of personal worship.
There are battles to face today. Worship wins the war. Citizens of the Kingdom of God, focused on training and preparing for the Age to Come, worship rather than worry.
Sing out your song of praise today. He will carry the battle regardless of whether you can carry a tune. If it's the song of your heart for the God of the ages then it's sung in perfect harmony.
Sing out, saints!
Steve
posted by steve @ 8:29 AM
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