Learning The Value Of Praise

2 Chron. 20:12&17

12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”

This story about Jehoshaphat is powerful.  He knew the enemy was coming in great numbers against him.

He knew that in the natural he was in trouble, so he went to the Lord with a problem that he knew was too great for him.

2 Chron. 20:12
O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

We don’t know what to do, BUT our eyes are on you.
Would to God that the church could get this!

Lord, I’m in trouble but my eyes are on you.  The doctor says cancer, but my eyes are on you.  My bank says broke, but my eyes are on you.

Then the word of the Lord came to Jehoshaphat.

2 Chron. 20:15, 17
15 And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”

Think about God saying, “This is not your battle but mine, you don’t have to fight this battle, I will, so don’t worry about it, JUST PRAISE ME!”

So He appointed Praise/Worship.  Watch.  Without one visible sign of victory they sang praise – RIGHT IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY.

Praise God, right in his face.  And while they were praising, God was setting up ambushes against the enemies and they were defeated.  (Vs. 22)

Two of the opposing armies began to fight the third and when they demolished it, then they turned on each other until the valley was full of dead bodies and NO ONE ESCAPED.

Their praise brought not only victory but also great reward.

2 Chron. 20:25
When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much.

They had added riches and reward they never dreamed of and the way of the wicked was turned upside down.

There were two songs in this battle.
1.  A song of praise
2.   A song of deliverance afterward

Remember, if you choose to deal with your pain and your past God’s way, then THE BATTLE IS THE LORDS.  And you can know both victory and reward by praising Him.

Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong