Despair and Praise

2 Chronicles starts out with some terrifying news, and the people were desperate. A multitude of the enemy army was coming against them!  Through their leaders, they shared their desperation to God, with entire families there before the Lord. He told them through Jahaziel, a priest, not to fear; that the battle was the Lord’s. PRAISE was the catalyst God used to rout the enemy.

Jehoshaphat was King of Judah in this story. All of Judah was in desperation.  He said to God, in the company of a great gathering of very desperate, terrified people, “We are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 

Then “the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel”, and he said, “Do not be afraid. You will not need to fight in this battle…. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on our behalf.” (2 Chronicles 20:13-17)

We are not the first people who have lived in desperate times. We have great throngs of witnesses who have gone before us and now cheer us on. This story represents just one example. They are cheering us on to trust God. To rivet our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. To praise Him in all circumstances. Especially when we do not know what to do.

How can I praise God when I feel so desperate? Certainly I do not feel like praising; instead, I weep. I cry out to God in loud laments and protests: “Where are you? What are you doing? Are you doing ANYTHING? Because I don’t see it.”

And then.

I am still.

I listen.

I hear a song, sung over me.  A song of deliverance. Of love. Of strength. And I remember. 

I praise God for Who He is.  For His character. He is always faithful, always merciful, always loving, always compassionate, and always with His children. I can praise Him for His absolute good rule and reign over everything.  He overpowers evil with His goodness for our good and His glory. It is a promise! Sing praise to God! And sing loudly!