Music

"While the harp was being played, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha." 2 Kings 3:15

"...David would play the harp, then Saul would feel better and the tormenting spirit would go away."  1 Samuel 16:23

I was struck with the place of music in God's spiritual work in our lives.  It is not only a means by which we can express our worship to God, it also is an avenue  by which God's Spirit's presence and work touches and enters into our lives.  

Bring on the music! May it permeate pour hearts and minds as we wake in the morning, as we walk through our day and as we lay our heads on our pillows at night.  "O worship the King, all glorious above, O gratefully sing His power and His love."

Sometimes life feels like "a vast army marching against me." That was the backdrop to an amazing story of victory in Jehoshaphat's life.  His immediate response: he was terrified.  Next, he begged the Lord for guidance. Then he called everyone else to come alongside by fasting.
Jehoshaphat's prayer is a powerful proclamation: You alone are God, You rule, You are powerful and mighty, No one can stand against You.  Then he recounts God's victories for His people.

God responds immediately by His Spirit coming over one of the people who proclaims God's intention: "Don't be afraid or discouraged by this mighty army.  The battle is NOT yours, but is it Mine!"  Then He sets forth the battle plan:  March out before this mighty army, take your battle positions but DON'T fight, stand still and watch the Lord's victory."

The next morning as Jehoshaphat and his men go out for battle, he reminds them to believe in the Lord their God so that they will stand firm and believe in His Word so they will succeed.  This is truly a formula for victory.

The procession into battle is led by singers who lead by praising God for His holy splendor!
              "Give thanks to the Lord, His faithful love endures forever"

The "battle" that ensues is crazy!  The moment they begin to sing, God causes the enemy armies to begin fighting against themselves! When Jehoshaphat and his army reach the lookout point, all they see is dead bodies in the valley below!  It says that not a single one of the enemy escaped.  Then there is so much plunder, they name it the Valley of Blessing.  

What was the word that spread to the surrounding nations?  That the Lord himself had fought against the enemies of Israel.

Next time I am feeling like the enemy is too much or the problem too vast, is there really any grounds for worry?  Absolutely not. Believe in the Lord my God. Believe His Word. Let Him do the fighting.  Approach it with singing!

Shorting Ourselves the Victory

It is said of King Asa of Judah that he did what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God.  He removed pagan shrines and incense alters and he commanded the people of Judah to seek the Lord.  God honored him with peace in land; no one tried to make war against him.  He recognized this and gave God the credit.

Once when an Ethiopian army did attack, Asa deployed his armies and cried out to the Lord his God for help, "O Lord, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty!  Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in you alone..."  The Lord defeated the Ethiopian army in the presence of Asa and his army.  Wow! 

Later in Asa's reign, the king from Israel invaded Judah.  Asa responded this time by taking the silver and gold from the temple treasuries and paying off the king of Aram to attack the towns of Israel for him.  Acting in his own power, he shorted himself victory!  God sends his spokesman to Asa to tell him that because he trusted in the king of Aram rather than the Lord his God, he missed his chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram and would continue to be at war. "Remember the Ethiopians...at that time you relied on the Lord, and He handed them over to you.  The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.  What a fool you have been!"

The challenge...  Am I trusting God alone? Or am I trying to work it out my way? Do I truly believe that only He can help against the mighty?  When He is searching the whole earth, I want to be one whom he chooses to strengthen.  Oh for a heart fully committed!