Prayer and Praise in Difficult Times

There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). We see in the days of the kings that a great multitude came against King Jehoshaphat to do battle against him. The king was told that “a great multitude came against him.” Did Jehoshaphat panic or just sit there and do nothing? NO, neither!!! 2 Chronicles 20:3 says, Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

v. 4 – And Judah gathered themselves together TO ASK HELP of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to SEEK the LORD.

v. 5 - …Jehoshaphat stood…

v. 6 – And said, O LORD God of our fathers, are not thou God in heaven? And rules not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in thine hand is there not power and might, sot that NONE is able to withstand thee?

v. 7 – Art not thou our God…

v. 9 – If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. (see also 2 Chronicles 7:14)

v. 12 - …we have no might against this great company that cometh against
us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. (see Zechariah 4:6)

As we read the whole chapter we see that the LORD heard their cry and came to their deliverance (answered prayer). The LORD told them not to be afraid, that it was His battle. They were to stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. However, as we see them waiting, they are praying and praising, they aren’t simply sitting around doing nothing. They were also to have faith and trust in His Promises:

v. 20 – BELIEVE in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established;
BELIEVE His prophets, so shall ye prosper.

v. 21 - …praise the beauty of holiness…Praise the LORD; for His mercy endureth forever.

v. 22 – When they began to sign and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against (the enemy)…they were smitten.

So let us walk circumspectly before our God for the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16). Let us be sober, vigilant, watchful (Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:6; 1 Peter 4:7, 5:8-9; Revelations 3:3). Now is not a time to have a half-hearted walk, a barely making it relationship with the LORD (this is never good, but these times call for a complete, unwavering surrender to Our King). Stay in His Word, hear His still-small-voice and praise Him in the beauty of holiness.