Soldiers or Singers?

2 Chronicles 20:20-24

Message No. 0660 | Twitter @GodandUs | www.wisdom-speaks.ca

Has anyone heard of a nation going into battle with other nations and putting forward their unarmed civilians in the battlefront ahead of their soldiers? Even the dumbest of presidents or prime ministers would not try this, as it would amount to bloodbath and murder charges filed against the commander-in-chief. When nations go to war, it is always soldiers against soldiers, while the civilians stay in their homes, praying that their armies win. The commanders-in-chief do all the talking and politicking and seeking of support from allies and the international community. That’s how battles are fought, or that’s how we see it from our distant locations.

In 2 Chronicles chapter 20, the exact opposite is what happened. In this scripture, we read of three armies conniving together to wage an unprovoked war against Judah and Jehoshaphat was king at this time. After exhibiting fear and panic (who wouldn’t when three armies decide to wage war against his country), the king remembered that He had access to a stronger army and a greater Ally than the three nations. He consulted God and God told him he needed not to fight in the battle.

Is anyone waging an unprovoked war against you? There’s always two options open to you: fight for yourself or ask God to fight for you. The latter will lead to success as God is not known to have lost any battle. In Matthew chapter 21 verse 44, the Bible says:

Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”

And in Isaiah 41:10-13, the Bible further says:

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

When Jehoshaphat knew that God was on his side, he glorified Him and adopted an unheard-of method for the battle. In 2 Chronicles 20:21, the Bible says After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. From this moment on, the king was saying Lord, I have an army with weapons of war, but this war is not for them. This war is different. This war will not be fought with earthly methods and weapons, but with Heaven’s method. My army is second place. Your army (the singers) are at the battlefront.

In Ecclesiastes 9:11, the Bible says the race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong. If we learn to make ourselves vulnerable before God, we will be saying to Him, Lord, please take complete control. My weapons are useless before you, my wisdom is foolishness, and my methods are fruitless. I surrender completely to you, to your methods and to your army. Please fight for me. As you did for Moses and Israel in Exodus 14:13-14, please do for me also. Make my Egyptians disappear and grant me eternal peace.

God has never stopped fighting for His children. Will you please surrender your battles to Him? The arm of the flesh will fail you (Jeremiah 17:5-8). All of the armies of the three nations against Judah killed themselves, not one soldier escaped. Even the last soldier standing among them must have committed suicide. Jehoshaphat and Judah spent three days gathering the goods left behind by their enemies. Leave the battle in His Hands and prepare for the plunder.

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 Lord I know that I am a sinner and I am unable to save myself. I am sorry for my sins and I pray that you please forgive me. I am aware that Your Son Jesus died for my sins and I accept Him as my Lord and savior. I surrender my life unto you from this moment. Please take control of my entire being and help me to be obedient to your Word, going forward. Thank you, Lord, for hearing me. I have prayed in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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