Armed and Ready

“They went out at the head of the army saying, ‘Give thanks to the Lord.’”  2 Chronicles 20:21

The message was brief but alarming.  “A vast army is coming against you. It is already in En Gedi”(2 Chr 20:2).  The attack was unprovoked and undeserved, and the ones arriving as enemies should have been Israel’s allies.  The Moabites and Ammonites, descendants of Abraham’s nephew, Lot, had been spared destruction when Israel journeyed from Egypt many years before, but the present generation failed to retain gratitude for such grace, and with Israel now divided, they saw its southern section as easy prey.  

Jehoshaphat, the fifth king following David, sprang from his throne into immediate action.  “Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah”(2 Chr 20:3).  With the odds on earth against him, Jehoshaphat cried to heaven for help.  He praised God for who He was and what He had done.  He repeated Solomon’s pledge to stand before God’s temple and call out in distress.  He recounted Israel’s past obedience and restated their present plight.  And he ended his plea with the prayer which should echo often in our own uncertain hearts, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you”(2 Chr 20:12).

God delighted in the humble dependence of His people and sent His strategy through the prophet Jahaziel.  “Don’t be afraid or discouraged.  The battle is not yours but God’s.  You will not have to fight.  Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you”(2 Chr 20:17).  Grateful for the answer, Jehoshaphat and the people worshiped, went to bed, and went out the next morning to do what God said.

Since initial contact in a battle is always crucial, the fiercest fighters are usually placed up front, but that day, the soldiers carrying swords and spears marched behind a choir armed only with thanksgiving.  “Singers went out at the head of the army saying, ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever’”(2 Chr 20:21).  God’s people were grateful that though life wasn’t always good and times were often tough, His unfailing love would never let them down.

And He didn’t.  Divinely inspired ambushes caused the enemy to turn against each other in total annihilation.  “When Jehoshaphat’s army came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped”(2 Chr 20:24).  It took the Israelites three days to carry off the plunder; then they returned joyfully to Jerusalem to celebrate God’s triumph.

When difficulty comes and you don’t know what to do, stay focused on Jesus and step forward with thanksgiving.  Gratitude may seem like a strange way to get ready for battle, but more wars are won by yielding than wielding.

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world”(2 Cor. 10:4).

Give thanks.