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Come join our army - Reflections on 2 Chronicles 20
by Major Bruce Power

What sort of salvation army are you a part of? Perhaps a view from the past, can help us to define a prayer for the future.

As the curtain opens on our story the scene is frightening. News delivered to King Jehoshaphat is dire: ‘A vast army is coming against you’ (20:2). But that’s not the worst part. Taken by surprise, the advancing force is already within the borders. In fact, it’s about 25 miles away! Talk about an unanticipated crisis! That’s not all. The narration suggests the army of Judah is not in very good shape. Here we need a little background.

Jehoshaphat though a godly man, had made some poor decisions. Those decisions led to a war which went badly, and in other ways cost him dearly. His alliance with Ahab, marked by the marriage of Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram, to Ahab’s daughter Athaliah would prove to be disastrous for Judah. But those repercussions would come later. Jehoshaphat’s alliance with Israel was also played out in a war with the Arameans which almost cost Jehoshaphat his life. In response to an urgent cry the LORD delivered him as he faced certain death (2 Chronicles 18:31), but the army of Judah clearly took a beating. When he returns to the palace, Jehu the seer announces that the king’s choice in allying himself with Ahab had led to ‘the wrath of the LORD’ being upon him. Clearly Jehoshaphat had created an environment in which he found himself in big trouble. Now a ‘vast army’ of invaders attacks from the south, likely hoping to take advantage of a weakened Judah and completely destroy the state. While such a surprise attack would present a crisis at any time, in its weakened state Judah can offer little resistance.

In this we can find a word of comfort — good people can mess up big time! But the key to understanding Jehoshaphat is how he responds to a crisis. When facing death in the battle with the Arameans he cries out to God. In this crisis he ‘resolved to inquire of the LORD’ (20:3). And before the assembled people of Judah he concludes a prayer to God asking for deliverance with this declaration: ‘We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you’(20:12).

As Jehoshaphat and all the people of Judah wait before God, ‘the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel … a Levite … as he stood in the assembly.’ His message from God is simple: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged by this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s’ (20:14-15). After providing explicit directions as to where they are to meet the enemy, the final word is given: ‘You don’t have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you. Go out and face them tomorrow and the LORD will be with you’ (20:17). In response to this promise king and people bow in worship, and some of Levites stood and praised the LORD (20:18-19). The curtain closes and we wait in the dark for the next scene.

‘Early in the morning …’ the narrator begins. As the curtain rises on this new day we have so many questions. How did Jehoshaphat and the people spend the night? Were they in an all night prayer meeting? Did they sing and praise God until the wee hours or go home to attempt a good night’s sleep? Was each response unique? We don’t know. But as morning breaks the people are again assembled, and when they set out to meet the advancing foe, Jehoshaphat declares: ‘Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld’ (20:20). Assured by God’s promise of victory the text implies that the army which advances in Yahweh’s strength includes women ‘and children and little ones’ (cf. 20:13, 20). This is an incredible picture. The people moving forward to face a ‘vast army’ includes women and children and even infants who must be carried. Does everyone have to go because otherwise there would be no army to meet the enemy? Or is this a recognition that if this battle fails there will be no future anyway? We can only guess, but in any scenario we might imagine logic would declare this to be a death march!

‘After 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’ (20:21). Again the narrator teases us with what we are told and not told. What is the nature of this consultation? Is it a poll to identify the good singers? Or the most talented lyre players and percussionists? Does he seek spiritual leaders?

The ‘winners’ of this consultative process also got to be at the head of the army! On the front of the front lines holding their lutes or lyres or drums. And singing! How do you sound when you’re shaking like a leaf? OK. Maybe that would only be me — but they marched forward waving their flags and shaking their timbrels. Yikes! I slipped into another salvation army for a moment.

The narrator tells us that in this moment when the future hung in the balance they sang:
‘Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever.’

Imagine taking your place as a leader at the front of the front lines, knowing, sensing the enemy could be over the next hill. And stepping up until there is a clear view of the valley below. But as your eyes focus on the approaching enemy, they are still. Stopped silent in their tracks. Defeated by their own weapons and rage.

When had the victory taken place? When the king looked to God confessing ‘We have no power … and don’t know what to do, but our eyes are upon you’ (20:12)? Or was it when both king and people assembled and prayed and listened intently as God sent the word through an otherwise unknown prophet? Did events change when everyone ‘fell down in worship before the LORD (18)? Was the critical moment when some of the Levites stood and praised the LORD (19), or when the chosen singers took their place at the front of the line? Or when the whole contingent began to sing and praise? Again we are teased both by the facts provided and the lack of thereof. In any case the enemy was defeated, and praise and thanks directed to God in anticipation and remembrance of faithfulness led to a new experience of deliverance and joy. And further reasons to celebrate the enduring love of God.

As we face the crises in our lives, homes and communities of faith, in our army or neighborhood or world, God remains sovereign. Whether that crisis has been brought on ourselves or dumped on us, though it is overwhelming and we may feel completely boxed in, though we are powerless — we can turn our eyes to God. In faith we can take our places, trusting God ourselves and encouraging one another to believe God’s resources are adequate to our need. Transformed living begins with worship, celebrating the God who is good, whose love endures forever! We don’t have to know how our crisis will be resolved to have faith in the God who resolves crises. And as we praise and honor God in word and action we actively call him to our battlefield.

Jehoshaphat’s salvation army believed these truths and put them into practice. Our Salvation Army can do the same. But to be successful we need God and we need each other. Reflect for a moment on the events. Some men warned of the crisis (20:2), Jehoshaphat inquired of the Lord and proclaimed a fast (20: 3), the people came together to seek the Lord (20:4), the Spirit come on Jahaziel who spoke a word from God (20:14), and some of the Levites stood to praise the LORD (20:19). Then those appointed to sing to Yahweh at the front of the people took a deep breath, gulped and stepped forward! And others filled in the ranks behind them. Everyone had a part to play, and when they worked together in faith and prayer, in praise and obedient action God worked wonders. An army, overwhelmed, overpowered and afraid truly became a salvation army. God wants to do the same thing for us.

 

 

 

   

 

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