Post by Les Brewer on Nov 9, 2023 15:19:18 GMT
Jesus’ Ultimate Victory By: Karen Pimpo
Click here for the Audio Message
As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes . . . and they were defeated.
2 Chronicles 20:22
Today's Scripture & Insight:
2 Chronicles 20:15–22
At some military camps across Europe during World War II, an unusual type of supply was air-dropped for homesick soldiers—upright pianos. They were specially manufactured to contain only ten percent of the normal amount of metal, and they received special water-resistant glue and anti-insect treatments. The pianos were rugged and simple but provided hours of spirit-lifting entertainment for soldiers who gathered around to sing familiar songs of home.
Singing—especially songs of praise—is one way that believers in Jesus can find peace in our battles too. King Jehoshaphat found this to be true when he faced vast invading armies (2 Chronicles 20). Terrified, the king called all the people together for prayer and fasting (vv. 3–4). In response, God told him to lead out soldiers to meet the enemy, promising that they’d “not have to fight this battle” (v. 17). Jehoshaphat believed God and acted in faith. He appointed singers to go ahead of the soldiers and sing praise to God for the victory they believed they would see (v. 21). And as their music began, the Lord miraculously defeated their enemies and saved His people (v. 22).
Victory doesn’t always come when and how we want it to. But we can always proclaim Jesus’ ultimate victory over sin and death that’s already been won for us. We can choose to rest in a spirit of worship even in the middle of a war zone.
Reflect & Pray
How can you praise God right where you are today? How can you press into the victory that Jesus has won for you?
You are stronger than my enemies, dear God. I lift up Your name in faith today.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
To “stand before the Lord” is a Scriptural expression for waiting in God’s presence (see Leviticus 9:5–6; Deuteronomy 4:10–14). In 2 Chronicles 20, the word stand is a significant theme. Jehoshaphat “stood up in . . . the temple of the Lord” to pray (v. 5), saying “we will stand in your presence . . . and you will hear us and save us” (v. 9 ). Then all the people of Judah “stood . . . before the Lord” (v. 13). In response, God encouraged them to “stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord [would] give [them]” (v. 17).
Monica La Rose
2 Chronicles 20:15-22
King James Version
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.
18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord.
19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high.
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.
Click here for the Audio Message
As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes . . . and they were defeated.
2 Chronicles 20:22
Today's Scripture & Insight:
2 Chronicles 20:15–22
At some military camps across Europe during World War II, an unusual type of supply was air-dropped for homesick soldiers—upright pianos. They were specially manufactured to contain only ten percent of the normal amount of metal, and they received special water-resistant glue and anti-insect treatments. The pianos were rugged and simple but provided hours of spirit-lifting entertainment for soldiers who gathered around to sing familiar songs of home.
Singing—especially songs of praise—is one way that believers in Jesus can find peace in our battles too. King Jehoshaphat found this to be true when he faced vast invading armies (2 Chronicles 20). Terrified, the king called all the people together for prayer and fasting (vv. 3–4). In response, God told him to lead out soldiers to meet the enemy, promising that they’d “not have to fight this battle” (v. 17). Jehoshaphat believed God and acted in faith. He appointed singers to go ahead of the soldiers and sing praise to God for the victory they believed they would see (v. 21). And as their music began, the Lord miraculously defeated their enemies and saved His people (v. 22).
Victory doesn’t always come when and how we want it to. But we can always proclaim Jesus’ ultimate victory over sin and death that’s already been won for us. We can choose to rest in a spirit of worship even in the middle of a war zone.
Reflect & Pray
How can you praise God right where you are today? How can you press into the victory that Jesus has won for you?
You are stronger than my enemies, dear God. I lift up Your name in faith today.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
To “stand before the Lord” is a Scriptural expression for waiting in God’s presence (see Leviticus 9:5–6; Deuteronomy 4:10–14). In 2 Chronicles 20, the word stand is a significant theme. Jehoshaphat “stood up in . . . the temple of the Lord” to pray (v. 5), saying “we will stand in your presence . . . and you will hear us and save us” (v. 9 ). Then all the people of Judah “stood . . . before the Lord” (v. 13). In response, God encouraged them to “stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord [would] give [them]” (v. 17).
Monica La Rose
2 Chronicles 20:15-22
King James Version
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.
18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord.
19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high.
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.
