Last week, in the first part of this two-part series, we learned a vital lesson for carrying us through the upcoming new year: No matter what comes upon us, God is greater; and if we ask Him, He will reveal Himself to us! And sometimes God wants us to join in the battle! He wants us to take our stand of faith and put it into action!
There is one more powerful lesson from the prophets of the Old Testament for this upcoming New Year, and this one comes from 2 Chronicles 20…
Three major kingdoms, the Moabites, the Ammonites and the Meunites joined forces to attack Jerusalem. In his fear, Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, sought the Lord. He declared a fast throughout the land, and “So Judah gathered together to seek help from the Lord; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the Lord.” (Vs 4 NASB). Jehoshaphat’s heart-felt prayer is a lesson in itself, and we invite you to read it: 2 Chronicles 20:5-12. Neither was he in this alone, for the Bible records: “All Judah was standing before the Lord, with their infants, their wives, and their children.” (Vs. 13 NASB).
There was a little-known prophet in the midst of the people, named Jahaziel. We only know that he was a descendent of the sons of Asaph, and that “…in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel” (Vs. 14a).
Well-known or not, his message is vital for the trials that will be upcoming in this new year: “Listen, all you of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat: This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s. Tomorrow, go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel. You need not fight in this battle; take your position, stand and watch the salvation of the Lord in your behalf, Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow, go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.” (Vs. 15-17 NASB).
Jehoshaphat’s response? “Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and from the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel, with a very loud voice.” (Vs. 18-19 NASB)!
Quite simply put, the response was … worship and praise!
I’d like to say that this is all it took. The enemy simply turned around and ran! But this isn’t true. The Bible records that they kept advancing.
So often, when we get a positive word from the Lord, we expect immediate response, but as we see in this story, this isn’t always the case. The enemy just kept coming on! And herein lies the lesson we can learn from Jahaziel and Jehoshaphat… They didn’t get discouraged! Instead, the prepared for battle. They went out to meet the enemy head on!
Did this mean that they didn’t believe the promise?
Not at all! Jehoshaphat instructed the people to: “Put your trust in the Lord your God and you will endure. Put your trust in His prophets, and succeed.” (Vs. 20b NASB). He then went one step farther: “…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 faithfulness is everlasting.'” (Vs. 21 NASB). The ,men complied, and, “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 struck down. For the sons of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, completely destroying them; and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.” (Vs. 22-23 NASB)!
What do you do in this upcoming new year when you are faced with insurmountable circumstances?
You consult the Lord!
And when the positive answer you receive doesn’t seem to do anything to stop the circumstances?
You prepare for the spiritual battle! You remind yourself to put your trust in the Lord, and then … You sing praises to His name, giving thanks for the victory that He will bring about!
There’s power in praise. Praise in the face of what you don’t yet see is an expression of faith, and this faith-driven praise causes the enemies to turn on one another.
Whatever it is you are facing this year, remember these lessons from the little-known prophets of Israel and Judah. Remember that God is greater, if we ask Him, He will reveal Himself to us, and sometimes God wants us to join in the battle! He wants us to take our stand of faith and put it into action, and one powerful way to do that is through praise and worship in the face of what you don’t yet see!
Happy New Year to each of you!
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Author, Moderator, Acting Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries
