Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Marching Into Battle
Have you ever watched war movies and thought to yourself, “Why would they line up in straight lines and shoot at each other?” When I see movies about the Revolutionary War here in America, it makes me think of that. It looks like a 100 man duel. War is not a good thing for the most part, in my opinion. But if one is going to fight, why not fight to win? It just always seemed odd to me. As I was pondering this point this morning, it occurred to me that there is something about marching into battle, or even this lining up in lines, that we can learn. It would take a certain discipline, a certain trust in someone or something, to be willing to do such a thing. There are stories like this in scripture.
2 Chronicles 20:12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
13 And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation;
15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.
Here the Judah was in trouble. They were about to be overrun. They gathered together as a nation and cried out to Yahuah. A prophet stood up and said just go and march out in front of the enemy and watch God win the battle for you. So here was there response.
2 Chronicles 20:20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.
22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
The king, Jehoshaphat, believed God, as did the people. They believed the prophet, and they did prosper. The king put the singers to march out front. I suspect those would be motivated singers at that point. The sang, “Praise Yahuah (Lord); for His mercy endures forever.” The result was Yahuah (Lord) set His forces to lie in wait, to ambush, the enemy. Imagine being them, seeing tiny Judah come marching out against you, and they put all of the singers in front, singing. They were doing nothing to defend themselves. As you draw your weapons thinking it will be like shooting fish in a barrel, out jumps 20 foot tall beings with swords of light, and they cut down everything in their path! All because they had the discipline to believe Yahuah (Lord) and to believe His prophets.
Today, if the enemy seems to be trying to overwhelm You, pray to our Father and ask Him for direction, and then do what He says to do. March into battle singing, “Praise Yahuah; for His mercy endures forever.” Watch as He sets His angels to destroy the enemy and his works in your life!
Praise Yahuah; for His mercy endures forever!
Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are King. We need Your kingdom here. Praise Yahuah (Lord); for His mercy endures forever! Send us today Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us for our sins. We are a frail people, but we want to learn and do Your ways. Heal us up on the inside. Cleanse us. Deliver us from the enemy that is stealing from us now. Set ambushers to destroy those works! Let all men know that You alone have done this, and that You alone are King, that You alone are God. We ask these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.