Imagine yourself in a situation where your country’s defence force is preparing for an imminent war. For example, either Australia or the USA against an enemy. They are marching/driving up into their battle positions with the commanding officer of the thousands and thousands of soldiers, as well as battle equipment.
There are long-range cannons, rockets and rocket launchers, well-equipped infantry, ground-to-air missiles, advanced electronic equipment, drones – everything! But the commander does a thing that gets everyone buzzing. He appoints a choir with musical instruments in the advance party singing the praises of the Lord of heaven and earth, leading his forces into battle.
It is unlikely to happen today, regrettably. Christians will squabble if it is a good idea to get killed, and then who must lead? For starters: will it be Catholics, Lutherans, Calvinists, Evangelicals, Pentecostals, Seventh-Day Adventists or any other? Then it will be about the types of instruments to play: guitar, flute, harp or organ? Then comes “the real” issue around gender – must it be gender-based? What songs are theologically “valid”? It will end in a nightmare, referred to a committee to report back in a year!
This unity has happened in the reign of Jehoshapat, king of Juda. In preparing for fearful combat against a force much stronger than them, he appointed men to form a choir walking in front of his army, singing the praises of the Lord.
In a time where there should be the greatest of fears and trembling to face a superior enemy, and in all probability death and destruction, a whole army was guided by the singing: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” [1 Imagine yourself using times of great threats and crises to sing the praises of God instead of playing the victim card.
Not praying feverishly for oneself and solutions for oneself. This does not happen often. Collectively, the people of Juda, but specifically the army of Juda, sang the praises of the Lord, knowing they were marching on to death and destruction. What was their secret? What helped them to do this?
One finds the answer in verse 13: “All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.” [2]
They acted as ONE. Everyone, including the “little ones” stood before the Lord before entering battle. Yes, this can also be attributed to Jehoshapat’s efforts to reintroduce the ways of the Lord in Juda. He sent government officials around to re-educate the people in the Lord’s laws.
However, when they were asked, everyone was of the same mind, heart and spirit. They acted. Needless to say, they won that battle without one soldier of Juda drawing a sword since the Lord fought on their behalf.
If we could act in this way! Singing praises in times of challenges and uncertainty. Not focusing on my little world that can fall to pieces. Being of one mind from the youngest to the oldest.
This message echoes in the New Testament in the prayer Jesus prays to God for his disciples before His crucifixion in John 17: “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.[3]” This is again echoed in verses 21 and 22. Acting as one is an important characteristic. When this is done, one can sing praises in the face of life-threatening challenges, knowing God will provide!
Heavenly Father, by making us one in the Spirit, we will be able to face adversities with praises and singing glory! Amen
[1] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 2 Ch 20:20–21.
[2] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 2 Ch 20:13.
[3] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Jn 17:11.