Praise – walklikejesus

A crisis is due (time of arrival uncertain)

September 11, 2001 is a day that no New Yorker (or our generation) will ever forget. It started off as another ordinary day as people hurried into the day. Someone overslept, another had a fight with his wife, someone’s car broke down, one planned to get engaged that evening. But for more than 5000 people in the Twin Towers it was the last day of their lives.

We never schedule a crisis in our dairy – no one knows when disasters is going to hit. A sudden death of a loved one, news of cancer, robbers in your home or a letter of retrenchment. These things happen to someone every day. Jesus spoke the truth: “in this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). All we can do is “be watchful” and ready (1 Peter 5:8) and respond in a godly way.

Judah’s king Jehoshaphat had such a day as three big armies crossed the sea from Syria to invade Judah. Yet this Godly man did not panic or run away. His response to this crisis is recorded for our comfort, encouragement and learning (Romans 15:4).

Comic_1 — Photo-documentary of 2 Chronicles 20 (1 of 3)

Photo-documentary of 2 Chronicles 20 (2 of 3)

Photo-documentary of 2 Chronicles 20 (3 of 3)

What can we learn from this great historic account deliverance?

DEVOTION: Live ready (v6-13)

Jehoshaphat is a king that served God with the devotion of king David, “walked in his commandments” (2 Chronicles 17:3-4) and had his “heart set on God” (19:3). Not only did he serve God in the privacy of his heart and personal life, but this righteous ruler courageously brought about a great reformation in the nation of Israel by destroying Baal worship with its immoral public practices, and by further commissioning priests to teach the Law of God throughout Judah and later judges to bring about justice in his kingdom.

So when the news of this crisis came to his palace, Jehoshaphat did not fear but did what he did every day: he went into his inner room and prayed to the God whom he had faithfully served all his days. I love the way the book of Daniel records how that godly prophet responded to the death threats of not worshipping the emperor: “and Daniel went to his house… and he kneeled on his knees three times a day and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since his youth.” (Daniel 6:11)

So what do we learn from this? A crisis may hit any of us at any moment, and the best way to be prepared is to be securely rooted in a devoted relationship with God. When war breaks out the soldiers should be disciplined and trained; when exam day comes the student should be prepared; when a fire rages the fireman should be trained. When a crisis hits, the believer should be firmly established in the devotional disciplines and relationship with His God – just like Jehoshaphat was.

Secondly, Jehoshaphat was ready because he was forewarned about some impending doom (2 Chronicles 19:2). Peter teaches us to “be watchful because the devil walks around like a prowling lion” (1 Peter 5:8) and Paul urges the believer should “not be ignorant if [Satan’s] plans” (2 Corinthians 2:11). We are ready by staying close to God and watching in prayer, listening to what the Holy Spirit reveals to us.

PRAYER: Run to God (v13-14)

As soon as the news of the approaching armies reached the king he proclaimed a fast, and everyone in this reformed nation ran to their God. Jehoshaphat’s prayer is deliberately included as an example prayer for a crisis such as this. This is how he prayed:

Praise: Even with the crisis looming Jehoshaphat starts by praises to God, allowing his (and the assembly) to consider Whom they are praying for: the Almighty God who Rules from Heaven and has power over every nation, and he is the God who made covenant with them!
Remind: The king reminds himself (and the assembly) of what God has done in the past, which immediately makes this present crisis seem less dooming since God has done many similar miracles for Israel in the past. Furthermore Jehoshaphat reminds himself (and the assembly) of the promises of God, stirring faith that God had already promised to do the thing he was about to ask. These two reminders stirred the assembly’s hope that God is at hand and for them, and therefore he is willing and able to deliver them from this disaster.
Confess: “You have not because you ask not”. Only after praising God for his attributes and faithfulness does the King confess his problem to God and asks for intervention, but he adds their helplessness in the situation and trust in God’s willingness and ability to help. He prays “For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” (verse 12). God promises “grace to the humble” – and that is exactly what the nation needs in this crisis!

WAIT: Let God direct you (v13-15)

After the prayer the whole nation “stood before the Lord” (verse 13) – just waited patiently, quietly for God’s direction or instruction. Each minute that they stood waiting they knew the army marched closer to Jerusalem. But no-one did anything to prepare for war or flight – they abstained from all food and rest and entertainment because they knew that all their efforts will be futile – they literally looked and waited for God to save them.

Just like Habakkuk did years later, the Jews took their eyes off their enemies and looked towards God: “I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me” (Habakkuk 2:1). Then God answered through the prophet Jahaziel that he will destroy their enemies – they simply had to walk to the edge of the desert and see what He was going to do. Juda was encouraged by God and worshipped God with relief and gladness. God heard their prayers and would save them from certain destruction!

Because they waited, God answered the questions “Lord, what do you see?”, “Lord, what will You do to save us?” and “Lord, what must we do?” In every crisis the Word of God is what changes the situation from trial to triumph.

FAITH: the worship of faithful obedience (v16-21)

But as in almost every situation, God involves us in His salvation. What did the Jews have to do? In simple obedience walk head-on towards the enemy. As Moses had to face Pharaoh, Joshua had to encircle Jericho, David had to walk up to Goliath, and Gideon had to walk into the Midianite camp, so Judah had to march in faith towards this massive army. As Daniel’s friends discovered, God’s Great Plan sometimes requires us to walk through the fire. But as they obeyed in faith, they started singing the ancient Israeli song associated with God’s faithful deliverance of the Egyptian Army after their Exodus “Praise the LORD, for His mercy endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 20:20)

And this act of faithful obedience and praise resulted in God’s intervention into the situation: the three invading armies turned on each other and completely annihilated each other so that “No-one had escaped.” (v24) All Judah had left to do was carry the spoils of war back – for three full days! What a marvelous victory by the Lord!

THANKS: Stop to give honour (v24-26)

But the story does not end with the spoils and peace – Jehoshaphat had the wisdom to end where they began: at the House of God. The whole nation returned to God’s Temple in Jerusalem to give thanks to God and make His praise glorious. They returned to the place where they prayed, waited and received the Word and direction from God.

Just like one of the ten lepers who had received healing from Jesus returned to give thanks and “was made well (or whole)”, so Jehoshaphat and Judah was reward with “quite” and “rest all around” because of their gifts of thanks.

The other day the Lord said to me as something happened which was out of my control, “Don’t walk around defeated.” I want to leave you with this phrase – when Crisis hits don’t walk around defeated, like heathen who live “having no hope and far from God in this world” (Ephesians 2:13).

Rather, like King Jehoshaphat, devote your life to seek and serve God. When news of crisis comes, turn to Him in prayer, reminding yourself of Who He is and what He has done, present your problem to Him and confess your helplessness and trust in Him. Ask Him what He will do and what you should do. Then wait – let Him direct your response. Act confidently – God is in control of your life, and you are precious to Him. And once He has saved you, make His praise glorious!

“Wherever you go, there you are.” Grin or laugh about the silly statement, but it is a truth with significant consequences. The older we get the more we realize that we cannot run away from ourselves – the painful or shameful memories of past failures and disappointments with oneself, our emotions or our own shortcoming – because “wherever you go, there you are.” Sadly we can’t outrun ourselves. Where you go, these aspects of your life follow you.

But we also realize that the people in our lives come and go because we move on, because we hurt or get hurt, or because inevitably our loved ones pass away. So apart from the constancy of God in our lives, only “you are wherever you go” – no one else. Good or bad – this truth requires some reflection and response.

Sooner or later in life you will find that you are left to face a big, troubling situation all by yourself. With no-one else to spur you on, you will need to encourage yourself in God.

ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN GOD

Although he did not live an isolated life, David had to face many critical situations alone with his God. In 1 Samuel 30 we find David at a very vulnerable position in his life: he and his group of mercenaries (all refugees from Israel) just returned to their refugee-town of Ziklag after being rejected by the Philistines to participate in war on Israel. As this agitated group of warriors returned to their hometown they found it plundered by a band of Amalekites who left with all their possessions and loved ones. The historian records that “David and the people who were with him wept until they had no more strength to weep… And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters.” (v3-5)

David was at the end of himself, and so were all the soldiers with him. They have been living with the Philistines for the last 16 months as foreigners far away from family and familiarity. They were tired and without income. The last bit of comfort were their homes, family and community – now this too was taken away. They worried what those savages would do to their loved ones. The anguish was great and brought David to an all-time low – it seemed as though God had rejected him.

But our shepherd-king knew his God, and “strengthened himself in the LORD his God.” (v6) David knew he needed courage to go on, and he knew where he would get it. Better yet – he knew from WHOM he would get courage – “the God of Encouragement and Endurance.” (Romans 15:5)

How did David encourage himself in the Lord his God?

THE DISCIPLINE OF PRAISE

I bet that this psalmist sang a song that he wrote just over a year earlier, after God had delivered him from Abimelech the Philistine King (Psalms 34). In that song David vowed to “bless the LORD at all times” (verse 1) – in all circumstances, good or bad. Why? Because the Lord is always God, always good. Then he vowed “his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (verse 1) – leaving no space for negativity, grumbling, complaining, fearful or hopeless confessions. David’s mouth was dedicated to speaking of God’s power and goodness – he therefore his heart was encouraged to move on in faith.

REMIND YOURSELF HOW BIG AND CLOSE GOD IS

This discipline of praise lead David to “magnify the LORD, and …exalt his name” (verse 3). Is it possible (or even necessary?) to make God bigger than he is? No. God’s magnitude will not change with David’s praises – but when you tell God of his rehearse his great attributes and benevolent, righteous character, your perspective of our circumstances does change. By making God bigger, you make your problems smaller. You see life from God’s perspective, and that makes your troubles seem smaller. When we praise God we remind ourselves that God can make a way where there seems to be no way – even in this hopeless situation we now face. That reminder stirs hope, the confidence that this troubling situation will “work together for the good” (Romans 8:28) and that God “will make a way” where it seems impossible (Isaiah 43:19). Hope stirs courage – it gives strength to the heart.

REMIND YOURSELF OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE

Then, in the praises, David reminds himself of how God “answered and delivered” (verse 4) him in the past. He probably recalled how the Lord saved him from the lion and the bear while he was watching his father’s sheep, and how the Lord gave him victory over the giant Goliath and later as captain in Israel’s army. He probably recalled how the Lord had delivered him many times from the hand of the jealous King Saul and the barbarians he fought as mercenary. David truly experienced how “the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (verse 18)

This gave David strength to get up from the pit of despair, to get out of his raided house, face the angry mob of mighty men outside and encourage them to pursue their enemies!

WAIT ON THE LORD FOR INSTRUCTION

But David was wise enough to not act in presumption. David knew how to “wait on the Lord [to] strengthen your heart” (Psalm 27:14), and that it requires patience and discipline until God gives the go-ahead. The historian records that before David got up to pursue the band of Amalekites he “inquired of the LORD, ‘Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?’ [God] answered him, ‘Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue’” (1 Samuel 30:8). Only then did David encourage the men with this prophesy of success, turning their hopeless frustration into hopeful fortitude.

David and his men were so invigorated by this encouragement from God that they pursued the Amalekite army for two days and then engage them in combat “from twilight until the evening of the next day” (verse 17). A promise from God gives one strength to go on.

A NEED FOR ENCOURAGEMENT

Had David not leaned the discipline to encourage himself in God, his story might have ended in this chapter. But he gained the necessary courage to press on in the presence of God. Not only did David himself benefit from his self-encouragement: his army of mighty men got turned around from self-pity to strength, their wives and children got rescued, and everyone was prospered through this pursuit to such an extent that David even had wealth to share with the tribal leaders in Israel – the very thing that turned their hearts and attention to him and invite him to return from exile and receive his kingship. All because David could encourage himself in the Lord his God.

Can you identify with David’s feelings of frustration, loss and despair? Then follow his example: shut the door to all the noises and demands, praise God and remind yourself how powerful and close he is, and what he has done for you and others¹ in the past. Then wait patiently on him for direction, and see how the Lord “encourages your heart and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” (2 Thessalonians 2:17)

You’ll be surprised to find that – like for David – self-encouragement not only changes your mood, but your circumstance and the lives and destinies of those around you. After all, what else would you expect from a meeting with Allmighty God?

Footnote

When one is in despair it is often difficult to remember good times and breakthroughs of the past. I find it helps to rehearse and reflect in prayer on what God had done for others as recorded in Scripture. I would recall Gods saving intervention in the lives of Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Samson, Gideon, David, Daniel etc… Their life stories as recorded in the Bible give me courage in my times of difficulty. This is what Paul referred to when he wrote “whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Try this.