I read a story in the bible this week that reminded me of the old adage
“Don’t bring a knife to a gun fight”. If you are not familiar with that
adage it’s premise is simple. If you are going into a fight make sure you
bring a weapon that will at least measure up to what your enemy is holding.
Pretty sound reasoning, huh? So I can’t help but think that the singers
Jehoshaphat appointed in the story below were feeling like they were
bringing a “knife to a gun fight”:
2
Chronicles 20:14-22 14Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Jahaziel son of
Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a
Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. 15He said:
“Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! 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. 16Tomorrow march down
against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find
them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17You 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 be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be
with you.'” 18Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all
the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD.
19Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised
the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. 20Early in the morning
they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and
said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD
your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be
successful.” 21After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men 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.” 22As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set
ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading
Judah, and they were defeated.
Just imagine for a moment. You and your people are heading out to do battle
with a “vast army” and then your commander comes over to you and says, “I
would like you to be in the front line of our troops”. Probably not the
words that you would want to hear. Perhaps if your commander then said to
you, “Do not fear, for you will be equipped with the best offensive and
defensive weaponry and the opponent will be no match for you” you might gain
some heart. But just say that the commander then says, “And to prepare you
for this battle, I give to you the song that is in you!”. Okay, so I don’t
know about you guys but I would have two thoughts at that time. First, “This
guy is nuts”. Second, “I am soooo dead.”
As you have read, for the singers and all who lived in Judah and Jerusalem
at the time the story ended well. God worked it out that the enemies turned
and killed one another. The story is fascinating and several things are
worth mentioning. It took faith for King Jehoshaphat and those listening to
Jahaziel to believe that he had received a word from The Lord. It took even
more faith to believe his message – that God would fight for them in battle
and that they would be victorious. Surely when they considered the vast army
they were to face their hearts should have melted. But instead, by faith the
people heard and believed God’s message. How do we know? Because of what
followed. “18Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the
people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. 19Then
some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the
LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.”
Indeed a praise service broke out as they celebrated The Lord’s deliverance
before it even occurred. The singers who were at the front of the line were
just continuing the praise.
What I am about to share with you I know you have heard before, but it is
worst saying again. We need to bring our battles to The Lord. We need to
trust in His protection alone (as I do each time I enter the prison). We
need to know who goes before us, “The King of angel armies” who is always by
our side. We are too quick to size up the enemy and then try to marshal our
own resources while looking right past what The Lord wants to do in the
circumstances we face. The people of Judah and Jerusalem praised the Lord
through song when they faced troubles. Next time you are facing troubles,
try singing praises to The Lord about who He is, what He has done, and what
He is able to do. No matter what happens in your battle, you will be better
off.
Bring a song to a knife fight? If it is a song of praise, then yes.
For Him,