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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