July 27: Of Favorite Stories, and Early and Long Reflections

2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37
Romans 10:14-11:12
Psalm 21:1-13
Proverbs 20:4-6

Let's think about this for a second.  I tried to do some research, and I think that by the time Jehoshaphat found out about the army of the Moabites, the Ammonites and the Meunites coming to wage war, they were already in En Gedi, along the Dead Sea.  That was a mere 45 mile hike to Jerusalem going by today's roads.  They were already THATCLOSE.  

Today, a general would revert to training.  He might call up what troops he could quickly muster, and send them to fight a sacrificial moving engagement meant to slow the enemy and buy the nation time to mount a more effective defense.  

Jehoshaphat did no such thing.  "Alarmed," we read, he "resolved to inquire of the Lord."  Instead of strengthening his soldiers with food and drink ahead of the battle, he proclaimed a fast.  Instead of sending out his troops, he called the people of Judah "together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek Him."

It gets better.  Where earthly leaders might address their people with words to inspire confidence, Jehoshaphat did the opposite: before everyone, he cried out to God with the utmost honesty: "we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us.  We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You."

But wait, there's more.  It wasn't just Jehoshaphat that stood before God: "all the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord."No one was second guessing Jehoshaphat, demanding he send troops into battle; no one was calling for his overthrow.  No - together, father, mother and children, king and citizens, they stood before God, confessed their helplessness, and sought His favor.

And finally, as they were marching to what they had reason to believe would be a bloody battle, Jehoshaphat, in response to what I can only imagine was a palpable fear that threatened the army's resolve, "appointed men to sing to the Lord", to "praise Him for the splendor of His holiness...saying 'Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever."

Wow.  I read this and realize it's going to take me a few days to take in everything that's happened to this point.  But for now, here's what I want to focus on: when they began their march, THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT FORM GOD'S FAVOR WOULD TAKE.  If I were to guess, the best they hoped for was a victory that wasn't too costly. And let's face it - God's favor could have just as well taken a form similar to the favor Jesus gave the one criminal crucified beside Him - an earthly death, admission to Paradise.  

What I DON'T think they expected, don't think they could have possibly imagined, was that they'd find the battle already won. That, just as they were marching off, the enemy had already been defeated, their carcasses strewn across the ground.  That the arms they anticipated would be burdened by sword and shield to be laden with plunder instead.  And I don't think they expected the time they thought it would take to fight - and hopefully win - the battle would instead be spent gathering "a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value".  

Three things I pray the Lord let me take away in my heart, let change my life:

1.  The Lord is omnipresent, in space and time.  Everywhere is here to Him, everywhen is now to Him.  The time and place of my problem, the future of its resolution - to Him they are both right here and right now.  

2.   The Lord's solutions aren't just always going to be better than mine, they are always going to be better than anything I can imagine.  Even if they don't look very good from where I'm standing.  

3.  The best response to a problem, no matter how BIG?  Turn to Him in surrender.  And however difficult, praise and trust Him.  

4.  Like the general, and like Jehoshaphat, whom we know followed the Lord, the best way to respond this way, every time, is to train for it.

Father, give us the wisdom to know You are always and everywhere in control; that Your ways are perfect and ours are not; and the best we can do when faced with a problem however big, is to delegate upwards to You, and trust You to deal with it.  Give us the opportunity to develop this perspective, so that even in the midst of greatest trial, we can sing your praise.