"Put the Musicians at the Head of the Parade!"

Scripture Passage

1 Kings 22:10-28; 2 Chronicles 18:9-27; 1 Kings 22:29-35; 2 Chronicles 18:28-34; 1 Kings 22:36-40; 1 Kings 22:51-53; 2 Chronicles 19-20:30

Scripture Focus

“After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang:

“Give thanks to the LORD;
     his faithful love endures forever!”
                        (2 Chronicles 20:21 NLT)

Observation

Once again, we’ve stumbled into one of my favorite Biblical stories. Judah is in trouble, being attacked by the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites. King Jehoshaphat does not know what to do and cries out to God in a desperate prayer!

“O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” (2 Chronicles 20:12 NLT)

And the Spirit of God moves in a way any 21st century Pentecostal believer would rejoice in. A man named Jahaziel begins to prophetically declare God’s promise of victory. The beautiful thing is—the people receive it, believe it, and prepare to act! Early the next morning, the army sets out for the battle field. And on the way, Jehoshaphat has an idea.

“After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang:

“Give thanks to the LORD;
     his faithful love endures forever!”
                      (2 Chronicles 20:21 NLT)

Okay—as a musician—though I’m somewhat grateful I wasn’t actually there and called on to participate that day, I’ve got to tell you—I love it that the musicians led the charge! It was really nothing more than a faith-filled response to God’s promise—but…well…that’s what really matters, isn't it?  It was a faith-filled response to what God had promised.

God said He’d deliver, and God’s people praised Him for it, believing what He’d said. And guess what? God did just what He promised He’d do.

Perhaps it’s coincidence, or perhaps divine providence. But this post goes out on Sunday—and today is an opportunity to “sing to the Lord and praise him for his holy splendor.” Who knows what might happen if the people of God dare, today, to praise Him as faith-fully as the people of Judah did that day? I say we give it a shot!