This story is a wonderful example of the power of God and how praise can prompt God to release his glorious power. Warfare examples from the Bible also serve as excellent examples of how we can fight spiritual warfare battles, relying on God to fight for us!
Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-30
Jehoshaphat’s first actions:
Pray and seek the Lord
Proclaimed a fast for all of Judah (3)
Gathered the nation together to seek God (4)
Jehoshaphat leads the nation in prayer (6-12)
God Answers the peoples’ prayers:
Don’t be afraid – the battle belongs to God (15)
You won’t have to fight, God will fight for you (17)
Take up your positions, stand firm and see God’s hand deliver you (17)
The People’s Response:
They praised God with loud voices (19)
Jehoshaphat appoints praisers and singers to go out ahead of the army into battle (21)
God’s Power Released:
As they praised, God set up ambushes against the enemy (22)
The enemy fought and destroyed one another completely (22,24)
There was so much plunder that it took 3 days to carry it all off (26)
The People’s Final Response:
On the fourth day, the people praised God all day long (26)
Returned to Jerusalem, praising God, singing and playing musical instruments (27-28)
Results of the Encounter:
All surrounding kingdoms feared the Lord when they heard how God had responded to His people
Jehoshaphat’s kingdom had peace on every side
Practical Application: Like Jehoshaphat, we are leaders of our lives. Leaders have the choice of giving praise to God and submitting to Him. Jehoshaphat found that great things can be accomplished through God when He is given due praise and petition through prayer. We face battles daily that we are not strong enough to fight on our own. We need God’s help and strength to overcome our sinful nature and the forces of evil that oppose us.