The Power of Praise
We all have many things in life that we love and appreciate. However, there are also pet peeves; things we need a lot of grace for. One of those things for me is traffic. I don’t know about you, but I cannot stand traffic. It is a constant point of frustration for many people, no doubt.
I remember a time in particular when I was stuck in a long line of traffic. There was a wreck and so traffic had slowed to one lane. Due to the situation, a truck decided to pull over the shoulder and down the median. They decided to take matters into their own hands. Soon after that, another vehicle followed. Then another followed after that. Soon enough, there was a complete new path created for vehicles to take. However, not every vehicle took that path. Now we have all been there. We all are tempted to do the same thing. In fact, I wanted to do the same thing.
Miraculously, I chose not to. After a while, traffic began to clear and we were moving a little faster. Eventually, we were able to pass the wreck and were able to go on about our business. As for the others, those that took the path found themselves in another predicament. Those vehicles found themselves in dead stop traffic due to the on-ramp being closed. Although the path down to the feeder road seemed like a better path to take, it ended up being the opposite. While we moved on, they were stuck in a worse situation.
Driving by those vehicles who got stuck in worse traffic made me thankful that I stayed on the intended path. I’m glad I didn’t follow them. Although we couldn’t see it, there were people already on the job. If I had followed the other vehicles and took matters into my own hands, I would have found myself stuck in a much worse situation.
This is a similar situation that King Jehoshaphat found himself in. King Jehoshaphat was a good king. When he became king, he removed the idols from the land, raised up teachers of the word of God with his alliances, and he created peace among the neighboring nations. He was doing all the right things. However, there were enemies from abroad who sought to battle against the king. In fact, there were three nations that banded together and rose against Jehoshaphat. They had already passed his defenses with the neighboring nations he was in alliance with; they were on his doorstep. The Bible says that fear came upon Jehoshaphat.
There are times when we are serving God, following His Word, doing the right thing, and yet the enemy somehow creeps into our life and threatens to steal our peace, joy, and security. We are doing the right things and yet situations and difficulties come upon us as if they are united themselves together against us. It is during these times that fear of the unknown begins to seep into our life and doubt tries to rattle our faith. The devil wants us to be afraid, he wants us to doubt, he wants us to tremble and imagine that we are alone. He wants us to take matters into our own hands.
This is where Jehoshaphat was. However, he did not take matters into his own hands. Instead, the Bible says that he sought the Lord. He along with his family, his officials, and the entire nation of Judah. He had everyone begin to seek the Lord. He didn’t take matters into his own hands. He cried out to God; the Lord heard, and the Lord answered.
When we find ourselves in trouble in difficulty, the temptation is for us to take matters into our own hands. However, in times of difficulty we must cry out to God. We must seek God for His intervention and deliverance. The Lord will hear our cry and He will answer, just like He did for Jehoshaphat.
Let us see what God said to Jehoshaphat:
2 Chronicles 20:15
“Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
2 Chronicles 20:17
“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.”
God speaks and tells them that they do not need to fight in this battle, this battle belonged to the Lord. This was not a physical battle, this was a spiritual battle. This was a battle that God was going to fight on their behalf.
There are situations God has given us resources to fix on our own, and then there are circumstances that only God can handle. It is because they have a spiritual root. We must bring the matter to the Lord and give it to Him. He will fight that battle for us.
God told Jehoshaphat to position themselves and to see the salvation of the Lord. He was telling Him to stand firm on His promise and watch Him win the battle. Although it was the Lord’s battle, Jehoshaphat had to trust in Him.
We too must trust in God and His promises for the victory.
Proverbs 21:31 - “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.”
Although we may not see it, God is working on our behalf. He has already sent his angels to begin bringing about the solution. He is working on removing the obstacles in front of you. We must simply stand firm on His promises and trust in the Lord.
God tells Jehoshaphat to not be afraid. He tells him to take courage. The enemy wanted Jehoshaphat to be afraid. They wanted him to be shaking in his boots and crumble under the worry and stress. They wanted him to panic and make a poor decision. However, the Lord encourages Him not to be afraid and to trust in Him.
The devil uses fear to grip our hearts into worry, stress, and panic. He wants us to be afraid at the thought of what could happen. He wants us to be focused on the problems in front of us. However, God is encouraging ys to not be afraid and to trust in Him. Let us not allow fear to cause us to panic and taking matters into our own hands. Instead, when fear comes upon us, let us trust in God.
God encourages Jehoshaphat to move forward and to go out against the enemy. He promises that He would be with Jehoshaphat the entire way.
There are times when obstacles inhibit us from moving forward non the path God has put us on. The temptation is to take matters into our own hands and to take a different route. However, the best possible decision is for us to trust in God and to continue moving forward. Even when things are difficult, even when you don’t know what the future holds, keep moving forward. It is the Lord’s battle, the victory is in Him.
So that is exactly what Jehoshaphat did. He moved forward and he chose to trust in the Lord. How did he do that?
V21 - And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.”
Jehoshaphat
Jehoshaphat showed his faith by choosing to exalt the Lord. He began to praise His name. He began to exalt the Lord for the battled belonged to Him. As he did this, something happened…
V22 - Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.
The Bible says that when they began to praise the Lord, their enemies began to crumble. They had no power against the mighty hand of the Lord. However, it was their praise that shifted the battle.
It is important to know that praising the name of the Lord worked then, and it still works today. When we find ourselves surrounded by a situation that seems like there is no way out, when it seems like there is no end in sight, when fear begins to try to grip your heart, begin to praise His name. Begin to lift up the name of Jesus and magnify His name! God will begin to work on your behalf.
Here are a few things the Bible says about praise:
Psalm 42:5-6 (NLT) - “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you”
When we are feeling down and feeling discouraged, let us begin to praise His name. Our own soul will begin to line up with the spirit inside of us.
Psalm 69:30 (AMP) - “I will praise the name of God with song And magnify Him with thanksgiving”
When we praise God, we begin to magnify Him in our hearts. While we were once focused on the problem, we begin to focus on the God who can fix the problem. He says that we can magnify Him through thanksgiving. Praise Him by thanking God for what He has already done. You will be encouraged that God can do it again.
Psalm 140:13 (NIV) - “Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence”
As we praise the name of the Lord, God shows up. The atmosphere shifts. The Bible says that God inhabits the praises of His people. He enthrones Himself upon our praise. Therefore, when we praise God, His glory is made known.
Psalm 71:8 - “My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.”
The more we praise Him, the more we live in His presence and the more His presence is with us. Fear must go, depression must go, anxiety must flee, and His peace fills our hearts. The atmosphere shifts when we praise His name.
Therefore, let us praise the name of the Lord!
Psalm 150:1-6
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
Praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
Praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
Praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
Praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
Praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Takeaways:
When you find yourself surround by circumstances and sense the enemy is encamped all around you, remember:
