Reflections: Praise like Jehoshaphat

When my kids were young, one of their favorite Bible stories was about King Jehoshaphat. When Jehoshaphat’s story came up in a Bible study recently, I realized that the lessons we learned with the kids, years ago, are still applicable. 

Like most of us, Jehoshaphat made some mistakes—for example, entering into an unwise alliance with the ungodly King Ahab. He was a little shaky when interacting with false prophets, too. But when he received news of an approaching enemy army, he remembered to do some things right. 

First, Jehoshaphat turned to God; he called the people to a fast, and he assembled them to collectively seek the Lord and remember God’s past provision and faithfulness. He admitted his own powerlessness in the situation: “. . . For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (2 Chronicles 20:12). 

One of the people assembled was Jahaziel. Interestingly, he was a descendant of Asaph, a Levite who served in King David’s court leading the people in worship. Jahaziel shared with Jehoshaphat and the people an encouraging word from the Lord: “’You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you’” (v.17). 

Doing Bible study with my kids, I sometimes went to the piano and we came up with a catchy tune to help them remember the lesson. I found one of those in an old notebook recently, triggering memories of my 8-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son helping me create rhyming lines to sing: 

            Jehoshaphat was in a fix, and knew it all too well; 

            He thought he’d better talk to God, so on his knees he fell; 

            He said, “That’s a great big army, with an awful lot of men;

            God said, “That doesn’t matter, son, stand back and watch me win.” (©Thomas family)

Jehoshaphat did as God instructed, and sent singers ahead of the troops to thank God in advance for the victory. Scripture records that as the people praised the Lord, God ambushed the enemy, exactly as He promised. Or as my kids and I put it,

            Jehoshaphat believed that God would do just what he said, 

            So when the army started out, he sent the choir out ahead. 

            As they went singing praises to the Lord with all their might, 

            He ambushed all their enemies; they didn’t even have to fight! (©Thomas family) 

We all have those advancing armies—a scary medical diagnosis, a family member’s poor choices, even anxiety about the daily news. But like Jehoshaphat, we can choose to rely on God as we seek Him earnestly, obey His Word, and sing His praises. 

Jehoshaphat isn’t our only example; many others in the Bible and over the centuries have chosen to thank God and remain faithful, no matter what. My son—who helped come up with those lines we sang—is now a worship pastor. As our preemie grandson fought for life in the NICU, Brian himself fought to stand strong and continue leading his church family and friends in singing praise to God. 

Whatever we’re facing, expressing gratitude for God’s presence and power helps us face it with confidence. He is in control of our outcome, and we know we will win with Him.