Friday, August 23, 2024
Topic: "Praise, a musical style or a lifestyle?"
Text: 2 Chronicles 20:19-22
19. The Levites from the sons of the Kohathites and from the sons of the Korahites stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a loud and high voice. 20. Early the next day, they set out for the wilderness of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Trust in the LORD your God, and you will be established; trust in his prophets, and you will prosper." 21. Then he appointed singers, in agreement with the people, who would go before the army and sing praises to the LORD, saying, “Praise the LORD, for his mercy endures forever!” 22. And as they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the Ammonites and Moabites and against the people of Mount Seir, who had come against Judah. And they were defeated.
Remember:
Note that God’s people had put God first, not battle. Instead of using the usual strategy of war, Jehoshaphat entrusted the people to God’s grace by proclaiming a fast. He assembled the people before the house of God and offered a prayer of consecration, relying on God. That day, the spirit of the LORD came upon the Levite Jahaziel, who prophesied. Through him, God gave the directions to follow. Among other things, God says through Jahaziel in verses 16 and 17: "Tomorrow, go down against them; they will come up by the hill of Zits, and you will find them at the end of the valley, opposite the wilderness of Jeruel. You will not have to fight in this matter: present yourselves, stand there, and you will see the deliverance that the Lord will grant you." Starting from this instruction, King Jehoshaphat, the Levites and all the people raised the praises to their God. On the way to war, they put the Levites in front of the warriors. Clothed in sacred ornaments, and marching in front of the army, the Levites celebrated the Lord and said: "Praise the Lord, for his mercy endures forever." Thanks to songs and praises, the Lord placed an ambush against their adversaries and they were defeated. Praise is a powerful weapon, it is a war strategy. As praise is a lifestyle, so even in times of war, praise has its place of honor. Excellent Friday. Amen
Alain Louz.-
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