Seek & Worship

After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. (2 Chronicles 20:1,3)

This king set such a good example of how to respond when faced with bad circumstances. Here’s what we can glean from king Jehoshaphat:

When you’re afraid, seek the LORD!

As a great multitude had come against Israel, King Jehoshaphat faced an inevitable battle that he knew he couldn’t win and he was afraid, yet he set his face to seek the LORD and proclaimed a fast to seek Him as a whole people. The result of seeking the LORD was hearing directly from the LORD. The Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel, the son of Zechariah, and he boldly spoke, saying, “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s… You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.” (2 Chronicles 20:15,17)

When the LORD answers you, respond in worship!

After receiving this word, king Jehoshaphat “bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.” (2 Chronicles 20:18-19)

The king led his people in worship, responding to the goodness of God with praises. They had received a gracious word that God would fight on their behalf, which would be a very big victory, so they responded with a very loud voice.

Show up in great faith!

“And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” (2 Chronicles 20:20)

They had heard that the LORD would fight this battle for them, and they followed the instruction to go out against them believing that it would be just as God had promised them. The king encouraged the people to believe in the Lord their God and spoke in faith, himself believing the promises of God would be fulfilled.

Keep worshiping God in the battle!

And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.” And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. (2 Chronicles 20:21-22)

The people had rose early and believed God, yet even still in a further display of trust in God’s promise and adoration of Him, king Jehoshaphat appointed worship leaders to go before the army, singing and praising God in thanksgiving of what He was about to do for them. Even further on in this chapter we read the details of the LORD working on their behalf and the victory He gave them over their enemies.

What Are You Facing?

What battles are you currently facing? Are there many sources from which the battle is coming at you? Are you finding yourself in times of fear thinking about what possibly lay ahead in these battles? Set your face to seek the LORD! God will draw near to you as you draw near to Him. You may not know what to do, but keep your eyes on Him, not being anxious but lifting everything up to Him in prayer with thanksgiving.

When you receive a gift, do you thank the person who gave it to you? Similarly, when God does respond to you, respond to Him in worship, and don’t be afraid to fully surrender yourself to unabandoned worship with a loud voice lifted to your God.

Do you need to know the details of God’s plan to have faith that He will work all things for your good? God may or may not decide to fight the entire battle for you, but whatever He tells you to do, do in faith, trusting that our faithful God will keep His promises to you.

Do you tend to go into circumstances you feel is bad with your battle gear on first? Instead of going in facing it as a soldier in an army, first face it as a worshiper. Instead of going into that meeting or conversation with proverbial guns ready, go into it with a song of praise as you trust the God who is walking before you in it.

My friend, if God is for you, who can be against you? Whatever battle you find yourself facing, set your face to seek the LORD and worship Him today!