Do you ever have a month, a week, or a day that you kept
hearing the same message from different sources – almost like God had a theme
message just for you? Maybe it was more than just a theme – maybe God was
saying something very specific.
In the last few weeks, I’ve heard the same message in a few
different places – a Beth Moore simulcast (from the worship leader there), a
sermon on Moody radio, a podcast, and a Bible study called Wisdom for Mothers.
All of these messages are unconnected to each other, except that they all are
Christian speakers/studies to which I have chosen to listen. And they all
either directly or indirectly mentioned Jehoshaphat’s battle with the Moabites
and Ammonites. Why does this little story from ancient times keep popping up in
my life? It seems that there are treasures in it that I need to keep finding.
And I know today that I found one… one that keeps being stated over and over
again to me, and I finally absorbed it… worship is a battleground!
I know that praising God is good. But sometimes I don’t
really connect to a particular song in church, and I think about other things
while I sing. Sometimes I am so focused on the sound of the music, that I
forget the message. Or sometimes I mentally critique the odd, sometimes
antiquated, language or the mindless repetition of a particular phrase. Sometimes I think a different song
would have emphasized the message of the sermon better. And maybe these
thoughts have a level of validity. But worship is so much more.
Worship is weird. It is us singing. If you are not a
musician, singing is not a normal part of life. BUT then again, we listen to
music all the time. In the car, while running, while cleaning - it soothes, it energizes,
it motivates. So why is it so weird to come together and sing in church? Maybe
we are embarrassed by the passionate spirituality of others. Maybe it feels contrived. Maybe it feels
forced. Maybe there is no feeling.
But just like music in the car, it can soothe. Or just like
while running, it can energize. And just like in cleaning, it can motivate!
Worship can do a lot for us. It helps us gain perspective. It helps us focus on
God. It prepares us to listen to the message. It teaches us – Colossians 3:16 Let
the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one
another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit,
singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
But there is more involved than just us! God is praised in worship.
And that means something. It is one of those marvelous mysteries, but worship
matters to God. And it moves him. It doesn’t have power over him, but somehow
it moves him! Just look at 2 Chronicles 20. When Jehoshaphat was faced with a
vast army intent on destroying his people – he had no power to defeat them. And
he was afraid. But he focused on God, called the people to pray and fast, was
told the battle was God’s, not his, and he marched out to meet them. And do you
know who he put in the front lines? A choir!
2 Chronicles 20:21-22
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, saying:
“Give
thanks to the Lord,
for his love endures forever.”
As
they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon
and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
Jehoshaphat’s men did not even have to fight. It was God’s battle! But
God allowed them to take part by singing! Isn’t that amazing?!
I don’t know what battle you are facing. Maybe it is a battle within
your family. Maybe it is a battle against your family. Maybe it is an addiction
or a financial strain or an illness. Maybe you don’t even have words for it.
Whatever it is – it is God’s battle. And the battlefield may be out there, or
it could be inside you. But God can win. And you can join in the battle just by
singing his praise.
So turn up your favorite worship music, and sing!
