There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under the Sun. Ecclesiastes 3:1
The Army that Sings and Wins
Imagine the scene a small frightened people about to be slaughtered by a vast army of warriors. They know they cannot win, death and destruction is certain and they have lived through this type of tragedy before. Their history is cluttered with battles and blood, tragedy and destruction. It’s real to them and all arrogance and pride is gone in the certain knowledge of death and enslavement.
What to do? What to do? What to do?
The king steps up and speaks, not a rousing speech or a noble one but a speech filled with wisdom, a speech that opens up the possibility of success and survival.
It is a simple plan it requires only a single act. They must all stand before God. They must look to him. Husbands, wives and small children, babes in arms, the elderly and infirm everyone in the whole nation comes and faithfully stands before God’s temple to see what he will say.
The king in humility and honesty explains their plight and adds
“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you." 2 Chronicles 20:12 (NIV)
And so they wait until the prophet gives the answer they are waiting for, longing for and hoping for.
“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.” Verse 17 (NIV)
And just then and right there a small frightened people began to hope and all were ready at morning’s light to go out to the battle plain and see what was meant. So it was in the dawn’s gentle light that a fragile fearful people could be seen leaving the safety of their cities and travelling towards a battle they knew they could not fight and win, and they only paused once to begin to sing.
Now they had not been told to sing, but their hearts were too full for silence and so they sang thanks to God before the battle even began. And at the exact time they began to sing, at that very moment on that very day, their enemies began to turn on each other and fight and kill and destroy until every last man lay dead.
So it was that when the singing army reached the mountainside and paused to look down on the vast army that had driven them to prayer and despair all that was before them was a valley of dead bodies. The battle had already been won with a prayer and a song.
Now we face many battles and oftentimes feel small and afraid. Our worries and problems grow large and our hearts grow small and faint. We try so hard to figure it all out to find our way somehow despite impossible odds. We feel burdened, almost crushed and alone.
Just stop, stand still, take a long deep breath and then try again with a prayer and a song.
Imagine the scene a small frightened people about to be slaughtered by a vast army of warriors. They know they cannot win, death and destruction is certain and they have lived through this type of tragedy before. Their history is cluttered with battles and blood, tragedy and destruction. It’s real to them and all arrogance and pride is gone in the certain knowledge of death and enslavement.
What to do? What to do? What to do?
The king steps up and speaks, not a rousing speech or a noble one but a speech filled with wisdom, a speech that opens up the possibility of success and survival.
It is a simple plan it requires only a single act. They must all stand before God. They must look to him. Husbands, wives and small children, babes in arms, the elderly and infirm everyone in the whole nation comes and faithfully stands before God’s temple to see what he will say.
The king in humility and honesty explains their plight and adds
“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you." 2 Chronicles 20:12 (NIV)
And so they wait until the prophet gives the answer they are waiting for, longing for and hoping for.
“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.” Verse 17 (NIV)
And just then and right there a small frightened people began to hope and all were ready at morning’s light to go out to the battle plain and see what was meant. So it was in the dawn’s gentle light that a fragile fearful people could be seen leaving the safety of their cities and travelling towards a battle they knew they could not fight and win, and they only paused once to begin to sing.
Now they had not been told to sing, but their hearts were too full for silence and so they sang thanks to God before the battle even began. And at the exact time they began to sing, at that very moment on that very day, their enemies began to turn on each other and fight and kill and destroy until every last man lay dead.
So it was that when the singing army reached the mountainside and paused to look down on the vast army that had driven them to prayer and despair all that was before them was a valley of dead bodies. The battle had already been won with a prayer and a song.
Now we face many battles and oftentimes feel small and afraid. Our worries and problems grow large and our hearts grow small and faint. We try so hard to figure it all out to find our way somehow despite impossible odds. We feel burdened, almost crushed and alone.
Just stop, stand still, take a long deep breath and then try again with a prayer and a song.
“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."