The Battle Is Not Yours

You will not have to fight this battle.  Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem.  Do not be afraid; do not discouraged.  Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.

-2 Chronicles 20:1

Recently I woke up, as I often do, with words to a song in my head.  I couldn’t remember the name of the song or who sang it, just lyrics that throughout the morning kept coming to me, “he’s in the waiting.”   I know well enough by now that usually means God has something for me.  So, I did what any almost-middle aged woman does when they can’t remember something, I googled it!  The song that came up was Take Courage by Kristene DiMarco.  As I listened to the song, I was overcome with encouragement, care and like I was given a big hug!  We think a lot of time when we read scripture or when we listen to music with biblical words how much of an impact it has.  But both of these things hit very differently when we are in the middle of our own battles, our own crisis or chaos, which is where we feel we are right now.  That is what is so amazing about the God-breathed scriptures, they aren’t static, just as God is not static.  He is always moving WITH and AMONG us.

After listening to this song on repeat for awhile, I wanted to know how it came about so I researched what caused the writers to write it.  It was based on 2 Chronicles 20 which talks about Jehoshaphat.  He is in the middle of a crisis for sure.  The chapter starts with Jehoshaphat getting some bad news that a huge army was coming.  His first response was to inquire to the Lord and fasted together with all of Judah.  Jehoshaphat stands up and gives a shout out to God and His faithfulness in the past.  He ends this by saying,

” For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us.  We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” (v12)

After that the Spirit of God came to some of those standing in the assembly and spoke to Jehoshaphat saying THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SAYS TO YOU:

“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (v15)

So after he hears this, Jehoshaphat bowed down and all those with him did too in worship to the Lord (v18).  Some stood up and praised Him.   The next day they left and Jehoshaphat stood up and said “Listen to me, have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in His prophets and you will be successful.”  After this he appointed people to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the SPLENDOR OF HIS HOLINESS as they went out at the head of the army saying:

Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever.

When they began to sing the army was defeated by the Lord. (v20-23)

So when I read this, there was just SO MUCH speaking, so much good and hope and praise!  It hit me differently because of what we are currently facing, challenges in ministry and it feels like our days are just filled with new problems and fires to put out.  It’s heavy and today, I even said to myself, “things feel very hopeless.”  I talked with my spiritual director about this today and we walked through this passage of scripture and came up with some great points to focus on that bring hope.

• Jehoshaphat admits he has no power and doesn’t know what to do.
  • This is likely something most people (myself included) wouldn’t admit right away.  We want to figure things out and fix them.  We don’t want to admit we are powerless.  But here’s the amazing thing, I think it takes us getting to this point to realize we are at the end of ourselves to fully focus and let go of all we think we know to allow Christ to take over.  Jehoshaphat does this first thing, showing truly that his eyes were on God (v12)
• Jehoshaphat allows others to speak God in to His life.
  • Sometimes we get very consumed and inward focused when we are in the middle of a battle.  We lose where we are supposed to be looking and who we are supposed to be listening to.  The Lord spoke to members of the assembly that were gathered.  They were obedient to not only listen to what the Lord said, but to pass it on to Jehoshaphat.  I know a lot of times when I am in the middle of the battle similar to I am now, it may take a little bit more for me to hear.  In the hearing from God, he had to listen to others who were seeking him out in obedience.  They actually said, “LISTEN, this is what the Lord says to you.”
• Jehoshaphat is told that he didn’t need to be afraid or discouraged and will not have to fight the battle.
  • Imagine the peace would have been felt just by hearing that this huge battle that was upon Jehoshaphat would not have to be fought.  A vast army on his doorstep and he didn’t have to do anything!
• In response to this news, Jehoshaphat bows down and worshipped.
  • What a beautiful scene this is of the kingdom of Judah bowing down in worship and what a beautiful example to us to do the same.  They could have done a hundred other things in this instant, but they bowed down and worshipped.
• In the worshipping, Jehoshaphat recognizes that it wasn’t what God did or would do to rescue them, but WHO He was.
  • He experiences the holiness of Christ himself and the result of that is thanks, praise and HOPE! (v21).  What a beautiful psalm they are living out saying “praise him for the splendor of his holiness.”
• As they sang praise, the Lord set ambushes against the army and they were defeated.  Others turned on themselves and defeated each other.
  • “As they sang praise”…in the middle of praise, God worked, God acted on behalf of Judah.

We may think this is just a story nestled in the heart of the Old Testament.  But this passage speaks to us and gives us a blueprint that in the praise, in the waiting, in the battle, God is fighting with us and for us.  He does not let us fight the battle, but is fighting the battle for us.  In the praise, we can experience hope and the realization of the holiness of Christ himself.